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http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2011-12/release/release_20120127aaa.pdf
THE TEAMS
Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger will coach against his alma mater in Manhattan, Kan., for the first time when his Sooners (12-7 overall, 2-5 Big 12) take on No. 22/24 Kansas State (15-4, 4-3) Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. OU is coming off a 77-65 home loss to No. 6 Baylor, the first of three straight games against top-25 opponents. The Wildcats, a 69-47 victor at Texas Tech Wednesday, have won three straight after a 1-3 league start.
ON THE AIR
Saturday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KOKC AM 1520 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck announcing. The game will be televised by FS Oklahoma (FS Midwest feed) and ESPN Full Court with Ben Boyle and Stan Weber calling the action.
KRUGER VS. HIS ALMA MATER
A 1975 Kansas State graduate, OU head coach Lon Kruger is 3-2 all-time against his alma mater after the Sooners’ 82-73 win over the Wildcats on Jan 14. The Big Eight Conference Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons (1972-73 and ’73-74), Kruger, whose No. 12 K-State jersey is retired, also coached the Wildcats from the 1986-87 through ’89-90 seasons. As a coach, he led the Wildcats to an 81-46 record and to NCAA Tournament appearances each of his four years in Manhattan, including the Elite Eight in 1988. As UNLV’s head coach, Kruger posted a 1-1 record against KSU (won 63-59 last season in Kansas City; lost 95-80 in 2009-10 in Las Vegas). He also notched an 81-48 home win during the 1999-00 season as Illinois’ head coach. His Texas-Pan American team lost a 75-68 contest to the Wildcats in 1984-85 in the Runnin’ Rebel Classic in Las Vegas.
PREVIEWING KANSAS STATE
After going 1-3 to start Big 12 play, No. 22/24 Kansas State has reeled off three straight wins and is tied for fourth place in the league with Iowa State. The Wildcats are 9-1 at home, with their only defeat coming by two points (75-73) to then-No. 4 Baylor on Jan. 10. They are coming off a 69-47 victory at Texas Tech on Wednesday, a game in which they outscored the Red Raiders 27-7 off turnovers.
One of the best rebounding teams in the Big 12, Kansas State leads the league in rebounds per game (39.8), offensive rebounds per game (15.7) and offensive rebounding percentage (.433). It ranks second in average rebounding margin (+6.9).
Junior guard Rodney McGruder averages a Big 12-best 20.6 points per conference game, as well as a team-high 6.4 rebounds. He is shooting .500 from the field, .444 (12-for-27) from 3-point range and .824 (28-for-34) from the free throw line in league outings. McGruder is averaging 27.7 points in K-State’s three Big 12 home games on .625 (30-for-48) field goal shooting.
Senior forward Jamar Samuels averages 10.5 points and a team-high 6.5 boards per game on the season, while sophomore guard Will Spradling contributes 10.4 points and 2.7 assists per contest. Spradling is shooting a team-high .386 from 3-point range on the year but is 5-for-22 (.227) over the last five games (was 3-for-12 against Oklahoma).
Frank Martin is in his fifth year as a collegiate head coach, all at Kansas State. He owns a 110-47 (.701) record.
OU-KANSAS STATE SERIES HISTORY
Oklahoma owns a 103-91 series advantage against Kansas State but is 35-55 against the Wildcats in Manhattan. OU is 11-6 against K-State since the start of the Big 12 in 1996-97 (4-4 in Manhattan). KSU has won four of the last six overall meetings.
JAN. 14 VS. THE WILDCATS
Oklahoma turned in its third best shooting performance of the season (.549) and overcame its worst rebounding deficit in 13 seasons (44-24) to post an 82-73 home win over 18th-ranked Kansas State. The Sooners, who shot .700 from the field in the second half (14-for-20), held the Wildcats to .391 shooting on the day and forced them into 19 turnovers (their second highest total of the season).
OU’s 20-rebound deficit was its largest in victory in 20 years (was outboarded by 30 by Nebraska in a 79-76 home win in 1991-92).
Junior forward Andrew Fitzgerald enjoyed his best shooting day as a Sooner, knocking down a career-high nine field goals on 10 attempts en route to a season-high 21 points.
Junior forward Romero Osby hit six of his eight shots and all six of his free throws to finish with a career-high-tying 18 points.
Junior guard Steven Pledger netted 18 points with the help of 2-for-3 3-point and 6-for-6 free throw shooting. He shared team-high rebounding honors (six) with Osby.
Junior point guard Sam Grooms registered nine assists against three turnovers and added a pair of steals.