Kansas State (26-7)
COACH: Frank Martin, three years at Kansas State, two in NCAA Tournament
HOW THEY GOT IN: At-large bid
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN: If North Texas keeps it close it can cause trouble after going 8-1 in games decided by three points or less. The 20-win season is the fourth in a row for the Mean Green, who prevailed in the championship game of the Sun Belt after going 13-5 as the winner of the West Division. Both teams are among the best in the country getting to the free throw line. Kansas State ranks first with 20.2 makes per game on average, while North Texas ranks second with 20.0. The Mean Green shoot better from the stripe, 71.8 percent, to 66.5 percent for the Wildcats. Senior guard Brandon Hazzard leads North Texas with a 16.6-point average and senior Michael Vogler averages 5.5 assists running the point.
GO-TO GUYS: If either of the Kansas State guards, Jacob Pullen or Denis Clemente, gets hot from 3-point range, look out. If both are connecting, the Wildcats can be unstoppable. Pullen usually makes his bombs out of offensive sets, while Clemente is adept at the pull-up 3. Clemente, a senior who transferred from Miami, has drastically cut down his turnovers, yet still was quicker with the basketball than any player in the Big 12. Inside, Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels are both capable of big nights, particularly if they're converting rebounds into stick-backs.
THEY'LL KEEP WINNING IF: Shots fall and turnovers are kept to a minimum. The Kansas State frontcourt has more trouble handling and passing the basketball than the guards. Lack of production from the bigs under such circumstances can put too much pressure on Pullen and Clemente. But the Wildcats often get into a flow with their defense. A deep bench allows them to play incredibly aggressive on both ends. No Big 12 team was better crashing the offensive glass. One huge key is Clemente must continue to play within himself and not try to do too much.
STRENGTHS: Martin insists on effort, and when the Wildcats are at their best, few teams smother opponents with their quickness and length quite like Kansas State. The team was built on the principles Bob Huggins established in his one season as the Wildcats' coach. The outside capability of both Pullen and Clemente can demoralize opponents. Bigs continue to come at you, and the Wildcats' style often influences opponents to play too fast and commit uncharacteristic fouls.
WEAKNESSES: Kansas State gets to the foul line as often as any team in America, yet only converts two-thirds of its free throws. A particularly cold night can prove costly. Two losses to end the regular season raised questions whether the Wildcats can handle pressure and expectations after climbing as high as No. 5 in the polls. This is the most wins in a season for a once-proud program that's been down a long time and accustomed to a postseason push.
