Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen has been one of the driving forces in the Wildcats play as of late. K-State has won six of their last seven and suddenly have a meaningful -- and winnable -- game against Texas on Monday night. Because of the numbers he's been putting up lately, Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal suggests this game is a chance for Pullen build his case for Big 12 player of the year.
Among other things, the game is an opportunity for Pullen to state his case as the Big 12's top player. The case has been building, as Pullen is averaging close to 30 points during K-State's four-game winning streak. His scoring average is up to 19.7 points per game, and Pullen has hit 15 of his last 23 3-pointers and 41 of his last 47 free throws.
Pullen was the preseason player of the year in the conference so there were expectations in place for him. In the last four games, arguably when his team needed him the most, he's been on fire, so that has to count for something. He's averaging nearly 20 points a game and, as Meek points out, has been money from three point and the free throw line lately.
Pullen's one of the reasons K-State may not be the NCAA tournament team you want to face. Here you have a team that's beaten the then-No. 1 team in the Kansas Jayhawks, put together a nice winning streak, and may have the Big 12 player of the year.