Can anyone think of a worse possible nickname for your basketball arena than the Octagon of Doom? I’ve been trying all night and I’ve yet to come up with anything (within reason) that’s definitively worse. Then again, I’m not sure the Octagon of Doom is within reason. Seriously, if you were so fixated on shape, why not just, The Octagon? Octagon shaped buildings are rare enough as it is. That would have been plenty distinguishing and everybody would have got the UFC reference without it seeming quite so much like the originator was a 6 year old. Anyway, that’s where we’ll be playing. Onto the game.

K-State’s strength is not in their skill. It’s in their strength and their tenacity. They’re going to make you work for everything you get. They’ve got the bodies and they’ll throw them at you. They’re going to beat you up. And they’re going to crash the boards, particularly offensive, as hard as anyone in the country. This will be the most physical game we play all season and it will be in the most hostile atmosphere we see all season. To win, we’ll have to play as well or better than we have at any point during this season.

It all starts with Jake Pullen. The young Chicagoan that hasn’t yet learned how to grow a real beard is averaging just over 19 ppg on 42% shooting from the field and from three point range. Perhaps even more impressively, he’s been getting to the line over 7 times a game and is knocking the freebies down at an 80% clip. Fortunately, we have the bodies to keep someone fresh on him at all times. I expect Morningstar will get the nod from the outset, but I’d expect to see Tyshawn get some time as well as Tyrel, and maybe even Sherron at some point. Given how much they like to run him off screens and that so much of what he does is predicated on beating his man to the spot, there should be no excuse for not having someone fresh on him at all times. He’s been just a touch above worthless in Lawrence, but both times we’ve seen him in the Octagon, he’s gotten to the line (10 FTA/game) and has averaged 21 ppg. If he’s going to get there Saturday, we need to make sure it’s on about 15+ shots.

His backcourt mate Clemente hasn’t quite had the year he was hoping for statistically, but he’ll still be a handful for us with his quickness. Quite simply, we don’t have anyone who can stay in front of him 1 on 1, time after time. For the year, the little guy and his errant elbow is shooting an icy 38% from the field, including 30% from three. And that’s how we’ll have to play him. Could he get hot from there and make us pay? Absolutely. But if we crowd him, he’ll blow right by and until he proves that he’s capable of knocking them down from deep, we should let him have them and he could very well shoot himself out of the game. Despite his poor accuracy, he averages nearly 6.5 attempts a game, making just under 2.

At F/C, they’ll start Luis Colon, Dominique Sutton and UCONN transfer Curtis Kelly. Colon is just as worthless as he’s always been offensively, but he gives them 5 fouls and a big body to lean on Cole on both ends. He’s a decent rebounder, but he doesn’t leave the floor well and fouls about as often as he grabs a board. Sutton is an extremely athletic wing and it will be on X to keep him off the boards, because he crashes them well. He is nothing of a threat from outside or really with a set shot of any kind, but he’ll run the floor, crash the boards and play some D. Kelly is far and away their most skilled big, and it shows up in the numbers as he’s averaging an 11 & 6 on 57% shooting. We’ll have to get a hand up on him, because he’s got some nice touch around the basket, but he’s extremely sloppy with it as he gets into his move. I expect us to double him on occasion and make him think a little more than they want him to, because he can be forced into mistakes pretty easily.

Not mentioned with the starters is Jamar Samuels. He’s not mentioned because he wants to come off the bench so that he can get a sixth man award. Shoot for the stars, Jamar! But despite his need for petty self-recognition, Samuels is a dynamic spark for them off the bench. He’ll drive to the hole, run the floor and he’s a monster on the glass. For the year, he’s putting up a 12 & 5 on 60% shooting. However, that percentage is a result of many layups and dunks, rather than touch, as evidenced by his 53% clip from the stripe. Basically, play off him when he has the ball and put a body on him when a shot goes up and you can shut him down. Unfortunately, we box out about as well as Frank Martin dresses, so Samuels could be a problem. Also coming off the bench is freshman Rodney McGruder, who I’ve come to enjoy watching. Kid just flies around, plus he can knock down some shots. He’s just averaging a 6 & 3, but he picks his spots, rarely forces anything, takes decent care of the ball, and like everyone, crashes the boards hard. Chances are good he’s not going to go off on us, but in a tight game, he could easily be the difference on a few swing possessions.

We’re sure to also see Judge, Henriquez-Roberts, Irving, Ojeleye, and possibl even nick Russell. But despite the raw talent of Judge, all he ever seems to do is foul. The first time I saw H-R for extended time was against Baylor, so I can’tsay too much about him other than that he’s really tall, and even longer. Standing 7′, his wingspan has to be even longer, but the 245 he’s listed at seems extremely generous. He’s not a concern, but again, he gives them five more fouls and can be a shot alterer.

Planning for the Wildcats isn’t difficult. Their offense consists entirely of their guards creating and everyone crashing the boards. They’ll run basic sets on occasions, but it’s possible they won’t execute a single play as it’s drawn up. It’s ugly as hell for basketball purists, but works fine in college, because you can’t simulate how they attack the glass. Keep fresh legs on Pullen, keep Clemente out of the paint and get a body on everyone when a shot goes up and you can contain their offense. It’s pretty simple, but it’s a hell of a lot easier said than done.

Gameday will be there. The insecure Wildcats will get all the attention they so crave. The crowd will be fired up all day and roaring by tip. And a handful of them will probably be just dumb enough to put a few chickens behind the bench, if history serves as any guide. All in all, it will be a great test for our guys. Overall their guards are a little quicker than ours and as a team they rebound better. But the fact remains, we’re better in almost every way. We’re more diversified on a offense. Our bigs are more skilled. Our guards shoot it better and take care of the ball better. They’ll be more physical on defense, but we’re better, both individually and as a team. If we can stay composed, not get sped up and play offense from the inside out, we should score it just fine, and we’ve already covered how to contain them. Now it’s just a matter of getting it done. Rock Chalk!

Thoughts?