K-Stated

Earlier in the week, Frank Martin said he didn’t consider Syracuse losing to Division II Le Moyne as a meaningless loss.

Even though it was labeled as an exhibition game, the Orange still sold tickets and tried to win. The loss may not have done anything to their record, but it was real and so was all the talk about it on ESPN the next day.

Maybe he brought that up to his players on Sunday. Maybe he didn’t. But Kansas State easily avoided the same outcome, and pounded Pittsburg State 89-53 in its exhibition opener at Bramlage Coliseum.

After the first media timeout, the game was horribly lopsided and Martin got to experiment with different lineups. The results were overall good.

Jacob Pullen hit five three-pointers and led all scorers with 17 points. He also dished out seven assists. Jamar Samuels scored 16 points playing at small forward, and Denis Clemente added 14 points.

Combined with the good efforts of their newcomer teammates, K-State never lacked for offense.

Curtis Kelly, a junior big man who transferred from UConn, recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Next to him in the front court freshmen Wally Judge and Jordan Henriquez looked good, too.

Judge scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Henriquez, who started in place of the injured Luis Colon (he still has a brace on his hand and was held out for cautionary reasons that aren’t expected to keep him out of the lineup in the regular season) snared six rebounds and blocked six shots.

Samuels was most impressed with Henriquez.

“My biggest surprise today was Jordan Henriquez,” Samuels said. “I think he played very well for us. He makes the game much easier. He can block shots, rebound for us, I think he played very well.”

Freshman Nick Russell also looked good scoring 10 points.

Overall, a good start for the Wildcats.

Player of the game: Jacob Pullen. He came out in the second half and made four quick three-pointers to help K-State extend its lead out to 43 points at one point.

Play of the game: Wally Judge and Dominique Sutton each had an impressive dunk. Not sure which was better.

Do that again: Share the ball. K-State finished with 20 assists and afterward Martin said they left a few more out there. That type of unselfish play on offense will take you places.

Try to avoid it: K-State committed 18 turnovers, and many of them were pure slop. That will change as the season goes along and the nerves disappear, I’m sure. Just sayin’ that number is a little high.

Bottom line: Curtis Kelly, Jordan Henriquez and Wally Judge all had their moments inside. Throw Luis Colon into that mix and the Wildcats could be very good down low.