K-Stated

In its first loss of the season, Kansas State made 36.7 percent of its shots from the field, 22.2 percent of its shots from three-point range and scored more than half of its points on fast break and second chance opportunities.

The Wildcats clearly struggled with Bruce Weber’s motion offense, and that’s the main reason they were unable to push No. 4 Michigan in the second half of a 71-57 defeat.

“We need to spend more time on offense, because a lot of us aren’t on the same page with knowing how to set screens and keep the offense moving,” starting forward Nino Williams said.

That showed when it took nearly 10 minutes for K-State to get its first points out of a half-court set. Seniors Rodney McGruder and Jordan Henriquez were quiet until the game got out of reach and guards Will Spradling and Angel Rodriguez were the only two players that were consistently active.

But while they held the ball or sprinted around the perimeter to get open, K-State’s interior players seemed lost. They rarely caught the ball in good position to turn and shoot, and when they tried to pass back outside Michigan made them work.

The Wolverines didn’t allow the Wildcats to make many easy passes, and that was perhaps what hurt K-State the most. When forwards have to jump or lob passes to get the ball to guards on the perimeter, everything slows down.
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When asked to name the player who has most surprised him after a few months of offseason practices, Kansas State basketball coach Bruce Weber didn’t mention any of the usual suspects.

No need for him to single out Rodney McGruder or Jordan Henriquez. Weber knew how good they were long before he moved to Manhattan.

Instead, Weber went with someone he didn’t see much of last season.

“You know who has played really well?” Weber said. “Omari Lawrence. I think he has been the surprise of the summer.”

Surprise? Shock may be a better word. Lawrence, a junior guard who transferred to K-State from St. John’s after a redshirt year in junior college, played so rarely in his debut season with the Wildcats that some fans might have trouble recognizing him. (He’s the one on the left in the above picture, by the way).

Though he played in nine games, he only saw time at the very end of blowouts. His season totals: 20 minutes, six rebounds, five points and two assists. Not much for a new coach to go by there.

But every player responds to a coaching change differently. It seems Lawrence has responded very well to Weber after struggling under former coach Frank Martin.

Weber said Lawrence has lost almost 20 pounds from the end of last season, and is putting his new 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame to good use.

“He dropped a lot of weight and came in with a good attitude,” Weber said. “He gave himself the chance to be in good shape. He has a better motor, he’s active and that’s all been good. He’s very committed right now. When he’s coming away from workouts you can tell he’s really putting the time in. I’ve seen a lot of good things from him.”
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