K-Stated

While working out for the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, former Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen fell to the ground in pain and grabbed his right knee, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.

What does that mean? At this point it’s hard to say. The extent of Pullen’s injury is not yet known. It could be serious. It could be a bruise.

But for what it’s worth, Pullen took to his Twitter account this afternoon and indicated he was upbeat heading into Thursday’s NBA Draft.

In two separate tweets, he wrote:

– “Don’t believe the hype everything u read and [sic] ain’t right.”

– “I fall a lot and get back up and keep doing my job so this is nothing new no worries.”

Attempts to reach Pullen for further comment have not been successful. Pullen has worked out for 12 NBA teams since graduating from K-State. He is projected as a possible second round pick, but has said he could see himself going higher.

Before mingling with Kansas State fans and accepting awards at the basketball team’s annual banquet earlier this week, departing seniors Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly spoke with the media about all sorts of different topics.

Both are pursuing professional hoops careers and both have signed with agents. Both are looking forward to moving on to the next level, but said they will also miss college life.

They reminisced on their careers with the Wildcats, and the season that was. They seemed to talk the longest about that lost topic.

Here is what they had to say:

“It was a great run,” Pullen said. “It was a difficult year, but at the same time it was a memorable year. We went though a lot together and we lost some players.

“We really had to find our identity. My other three years being here we found our identity a lot earlier than this year’s team did, but at the same time when we found it I felt like we were one of the best teams in the country.

“When we got hot, we were hard to beat. At the same time, some things happened, we didn’t make plays and it ended very fast and abruptly. So it was a great run. My teammates are great. They call me old now because I’m leaving.”
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On the day Curtis Kelly finally came through with a big game for Kansas State, Rodney McGruder disappeared.

That wasn’t the only reason why the Wildcats fell to Texas A&M 64-56 on Saturday at Reed Arena, but it certainly was a factor.

Kelly looked like the senior forward everyone was hyping in the preseason. He scored 15 points on eight shots, snared 11 rebounds and blocked six shots. He was a true force inside. Had he been eligible and played like that a few more times this season, K-State may not be in its current predicament.

Add his day on to 21 points from Jacob Pullen and a decent afternoon from McGruder, who has been the Wildcats’ most consistent player all year, and K-State is likely feeling good about a win today. But the sophomore guard was not himself.
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One comment I’ve seen from a number of Kansas State fans tonight in the wake of Jacob Pullen’s three-game suspension for receiving impermissible benefits, which is a secondary NCAA violation: “He should have known better.”

Yes, the senior guard should have. He admitted as much two weeks ago.

Following a win at Loyola Chicago on Dec. 11, a reporter asked Pullen if he planned on attending a NBA game later that evening between the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. His old pal, and former K-State standout, Michael Beasley was in town. A trip to the United Center would give them some time to talk face-to-face.

But, citing family demands and a fear of questions about how he might end up with tickets to the game, Pullen said he would likely stay home.

“I’m not sure if he can leave me tickets, so I think I have to go buy tickets,” Pullen said. “Because if I say he’ll leave me tickets the NCAA will be knocking on my door in the morning.”

Then he turned to K-State sports information director Tom Gilbert, and smiled.

“See Tom, I’m learning, man,” Pullen said. “I know I can’t take tickets like that.”

At the time, that comment produced laughter. Today, it causes a different reaction.