The No. 13 University of Arizona men’s basketball team (17-6, 11-1 in Big 12) looks to take on Kansas State University (12-11, 6-6 in Big 12) on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.
History vs. Kansas State
Arizona trails Kansas State 6-8 in the series record, with more than 10 years since their last matchup. The two programs first faced off in 1951 and the over next 14 years traded wins and losses. The most recent matchup between the programs was Nov. 25, 2014, resulting in a 72-68 victory for Arizona.
Kansas State players to watch
Kansas State is led by head coach Jerome Tang. Tang is in his third season with the program and guided the team to 45 wins in his first two seasons. Prior to coaching for Kansas State, Tang spent 19 seasons as part of the coaching staff at Baylor University.
David N’Guessan, a 6-foot-9 senior wing, leads Kansas State in scoring, averaging 13 points per game. In addition to his offensive contributions, N’Guessan averages seven rebounds per game, tying with Coleman Hawkins for the most rebounds of any player on the team.
Kansas State defeated Arizona State University by 1 point, 71-70. N’Guessan had a game high of 22 points. On top of his offensive efforts, he secured eight rebounds. He went 8-for-11 in field goals and 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. N’Guessan also went 5-for-6 from the line.
A 6-foot-10 senior wing, Hawkins has impressive stats across the board. He averages 11.2 points per game and seven rebounds per game, leading alongside N’Guessan. Hawkins leads Kansas State with 107 assists, 46 steals and 33 blocks for the season.
Hawkins stayed consistent against ASU as well, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. Effective on both ends of the court, he contributed seven assists, the most for either team, and he also added on one steal. These numbers helped lead Kansas State to victory against the Sun Devils.
Brendan Hausen, 6-foot-4 junior guard, trails N’Guessan in points, averaging 12 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Notably, he shoots 41% from the 3-point line and also from the paint. Hausen proves himself dangerous to foul, earning an 81% shooting percentage from the line.
Kansas State’s win over Iowa State University highlighted Hausen’s efforts as he put up 15 points and brought down four rebounds. Hausen’s scrappiness earned three steals for Kansas. Additionally, he shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Wildcats to watch
The Wildcats are led by fourth-season head coach Tommy Lloyd. The team has had a successful streak in Big 12 conference play, entering this game with six consecutive wins under their belt. Lloyd is known for his impressive win record, having achieved 88 victories through his first three seasons as head coach, the second most in NCAA history.
Caleb Love, a fifth year guard, has been consistently on his game in recent matches for the Wildcats. Love led the team into an overtime win against Iowa State on Jan. 27 with a beyond half court buzzer beater. Aside from his impressive shot, he put up 22 points, despite shooting just 8-of-22 from the field.
Love leads the team in points, averaging 16.3 per game and 374 total points for the season. Notably, he averages 4.4 rebounds per game. Out of 181 3-pointers attempted this season, Love has made 58, achieving an average of 32% when shooting from beyond the arc.
KJ Lewis, a sophomore guard, has also been a crucial player for the Wildcats in past games. Against Texas Tech University, a team in which the Wildcats had previously lost to Jan. 18 when the Red Raiders snapped Arizona’s seven-game win streak, Lewis put up 15 points and brought down six rebounds. He shot 6-for-10 from the field in the matchup.
For the season, Lewis averages 10.3 points per game, ranking third for the Wildcats. He also averages 4.6 rebounds and has collected 32 steals on the season. Lewis’ defense plays a crucial part in the Wildcats’ success, with his efforts often seen on the floor scrapping for the ball.
Against Texas Tech, Henri Veesaar, a 7-foot forward, played a big role beneath the hoop. Veesaar brought down eight rebounds and managed to score 15 points. He blocked two Texas Tech shots and had one steal, making efforts all across the court. Veesaar excelled at finding shots, going 6-for-10 inside the paint.
Veesaar is effective on both ends of the court, averaging 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He leads the Wildcats with 26 blocks for the season, proving he is a difficult player to go up against as his size advantage serves as a huge asset as well.
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