For the first time, the teacher will meet the student. Former K-State head coach and current West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins and his Mountaineers will battle K-State and Frank Martin, Thursday night at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
Martin was an assistant to Huggins when he was the head coach of K-State in 2006-07.
K-State (5-0) comes in looking for a marquee win of the season, having beaten Virginia Tech, their only BCS Conference win, 69-61. Martin won his 100th game against the Hokies.
The Wildcats are in transition as the school's career scoring leader Jacob Pullen graduated, leaving a hole in the lineup. Rodney MacGruder has filled much of that role and Jamar Samuels is finally coming into his own for the Wildcats.
K-State is averaging 44.6 points on 54.3 percent shooting (76-of-140) from the field in the second half compared to just 30.6 points on 34.7 percent shooting (51-of-147) in the opening half. The squad has shot better than 50 percent from the field in the second half in four of five games, including a season-best 65.6 percent shooting (21-of-32) with 56 points against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Nov. 22. The squad has statistically been a better defensive team in the second half, as foes are averaging 27.4 points on 28.6 percent shooting, including 17.3 percent from 3-point range after halftime compared to 31.6 points on 37.2 percent shooting, including 37.8 percent from beyond the arc, in the first half. The team has also reduced their turnovers from eight in the first half to six in the second half.
West Virginia (4-2) comes in after a loss to #24 Mississippi State on the road. The Mountaineers had won three in a row prior to the loss, including wins over 2011 NCAA Tournament teams Morehead State (83-48) and Akron (77-56). Under Huggins, the squad is averaging 76.2 points on 47.2 percent shooting (167-of-354), including 28.1 percent (27-of-96) from 3-point range, to go with 40.7 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. Once again K-State will another strong defensive team, as West Virginia allows just 63.7 points on 41 percent shooting, including 29.9 percent from 3-point range.
The two teams will play each other more often when West Virginia moves to the Big 12 as soon as next year.
Grant Meech and Bruce Haertl will head our coverage of the the Wichita Wildcat Classic Thursday on Eyewitness Sports at 6 and 10.
