NCAA 2011-2012 Season Preview, Forum Edition: Kansas State Wildcats

PG- Jacob Pullen was a PG and SG last year and his career, probably the best overall career in KState history, is done. Jr. Nick Russell and Sr. Juevol Myles transferred after being in and out of the rotation. We have Soph. fan favorite Will Spradling looking to run the show now. The 6’2 175 Spradling is a steady guard who played much more under control than your average Fr. last year on both ends. He is a competitive guy who shoots the ball well, makes sound decisions with the ball, does the “little” things like taking charges and having a short memory after mistakes ,and never let the teams early season troubles crumble him. He’s not athletic and can be sped up by athletic guys pressuring the ball, causing ugly steals before he can even get the offense set up. He’s steady, but limited too. Fr. Angel Rodriguez will figure into the rotation too. He’s a fairly talented lead guard who can play fast-paced (although he’s not super fast), and shows a decent jumper. He’ll need to get used to Coach Martin’s style and to work on D and polishing his whole game, but he’ll play. JUCO transfer Jeremy Jones will be in the fold as a fairly quick 6’1 combo guard. Spradling will be a solid PG and Rodriguez will adjust behind him.

SG- The SG spot will be manned by Jr. Rodney McGruder, a 6’4 205 wing. McGruder is experienced and the most stable cornerstone on last year’s team. He was the only Wildcat who started every game. McGruder is tough as nails, rebounds very well from the perimeter (led the team with 6 rpg), and is a knockdown 3-point shooter when he sets his feet. He needs to work on his handle and to get more aggressive, but he’s athletic and a willing defender. He will progress next year with Pullen gone. 6’1 Jr. Martavious Irving, 6’3 210 Sr. Devon Peterson, and JUCO transfer Omari Lawrence will also play off the ball. Irving is a tenacious defender with nice athleticism and the build of a running back. He sometimes plays too fast for himself and misses layups or overruns a play on D because of it. He also has been incredibly inconsistent shooting the ball. Peterson took forever to get to Manhattan after being a hyped HS player out of NYC, and he played without a scholarship last year. He will get one this season though, and he really knows the way to get to the hole off the bounce. He needs to work on his jumper and to play better D, but he’s a strong guy who will factor more next year. Lawrence is also a physical slashing NYC guard who needs to work on his shot, but he’ll play some too. I like our depth here, and we’ll be able to throw bodies in against teams.

SF- This spot will be manned by 6’6 215 Soph. Shane Southwell, who started most of his Fr. year. Southwell is a rangy wing who defends well and is a very good passer. He’s probably the best natural passer on the team. Southwell’s ability to defend immediately made him a rotation player as a Fr. in the Big 12, which is no small task. He needs to work on his shooting skills and handle, as he too often is a nonfactor scoring the ball. It also would get him more minutes, as he basically just started each half, played limited time and sat. He doesn’t seem likely to ever be a large scoring threat though. 6’5 210 rFr. Nino Williams sat out because he just didn’t seem ready to play. He is a physically gifted wing player with athleticism, and some upside offensively. He needs to work on expanding his perimeter game, he struggles past 15 feet right now, and to make smarter decisions on both ends. He will play more next year, and he has potential. 6’6 230 Sr. Victor Ojeleye, a former walk-on who is now a scholarship guy, provides leadership and a hard-working attitude as opposed to production on the stat sheet. Guys are going to have to grow up here, but there is talent.

PF- The PF spot will be held by 6’7 220 5^th year Sr. Jamar Samuels, who is looking to rebound from a lackluster Jr. year. Samuels has had a very nice career thus far as a role player for us, and he will be asked to step up next year to be more of a feature guy. Samuels is an athletic, energetic tweener forward with nice quickness to provide a mismatch for PF’s in the conference. He has shown that he can hit the college 3 when open as well, even though he struggled with it last season. Last year he played too slim (Coach Martin said he was under 210 at the end of the year), and it made him too easy to push him out of the post and lose position on both ends. He’s looking to play at the 220-225 range he was at as a Jr., when he was Big 12 6^th Man of the Year. Also, Samuels is a poor ball-handler and can be a hothead on the court too, even though he toned down as a Jr. At his best, Samuels is a mismatch who can outquick in the post, stick open 3’s as a trailman, and get on the glass and be a factor on D with his length, energy and athleticism. Let’s hope that’s who we see next year. 6’7 245 Fr. Thomas Gipson will play too. Gipson is a wide body with a Big 12-ready build. He understands how to carve space offensively with his lower body, and shows good touch around the rim. He’s doesn’t have quick feet or great athleticism, but he does have good footwork. He’s a back to basket player who will be serviceable next year with mature style of play. 6’8 220 JUCO transfer James Watson is a PF who won’t score, but provides boards and depth. Samuels will be asked to be the leader of the team and to rebound from his off Jr. year., and he’s a fringe NBA prospect too. I think the depth here is adequate.

C- With Curtis Kelly, who was talented but not always focused enough, gone the C spot will be open. The rangy 7 footer Jordan Henriquez-Roberts will have the best chance at it. He is still growing into his body and getting stronger (240 lbs), and can collect fouls at times, but he grew up down the stretch last year. He’s a shot-blocking presence and a solid rebounder, who also has a nice touch (has 18 foot range). He has big feet that make him look awkward running the floor and making moves, but he’s got upside. Fr. Adrian Diaz is another 7 footer, but at 215 lbs, he needs time in the weight room an dhe’s also got raw skills. He will be a candidate to get hit with “the shirt.” Potential is the magic word here, a lot of length but guys are raw.

Overall- McGruder, Spradling and Samuels make up the core players on the team. Frank Martin is known to be super intense, and that won’t change, but he really is an elite level basketball coach. He has been working to develop guys, and gets guys to defend, and he makes adjustments. Him asking Tex Winter for ways to expand the offense last year instead of being stubborn speaks to Martin being a willing learner who wants the best. I think KState will be a bubble team all year long next year, who could slip in the tournament or get sent to the NIT. I think the loss of Pullen is huge, you can’t replace that kind of player with any of our current faces, and the Kelly loss was fairly sizeable as well. Frank Martin will not let them fold though, he’s far too good a coach.

Projected Stats

PG- W. Spradling (9 ppg, 3 apg, 1 spg, 40-43% FG, 37-40% 3’s), A. Rodriguez (4 ppg, 2 apg, 35-40% FG, 33-36% 3’s) , J. Jones (2 ppg, 1 apg)

SG- R. McGruder (13 ppg, 7 rpg, 1 spg, 45% FG, 38-41% 3’s) , M. Irving ( 5 ppg, 1 apg, 1 rpg 35-38 FG%, 29-35% 3), D. Peterson (4 ppg, 1 rpg, 45-50% FG, 30-35% 3), O. Lawrence (4 ppg, 1 apg, 40-42 FG%, 25-30% 3)

SF- S. Southwell (5 ppg, 4 rpg, 2-3 apg, 40-45 FG%, 20-25% 3), N. Williams (3 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 45-50% FG, 20-25% 3), V. Ojeleye (2 ppg, 2 rpg, 42-45% FG, 15-25% 3)

PF- J. Samuels (12 ppg, 6 rpg, .5-1 bpg, 45-55 FG%, 25-35% 3), T. Gipson (5 ppg, 3 rpg, 40-55% FG),  J. Watson (2 ppg, 1 rpg)

C- J. Henriquez-Roberts (5 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5-2 bpg, 50-55% FG), A. Diaz (1-2 ppg, 1 rpg)