SB Nation Kansas City - Jacob Pullen, Jamar Samuels Lead Kansas State Over Alcorn State In 34-Point Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2010-12-06T23:04:55-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16243972010-12-06T23:04:55-06:002010-12-06T23:04:55-06:00Frank Martin On Kansas State: 'I Feel Like We're In Neutral'
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<p>Kansas State head coach Frank Martin and the Wildcats walked away on Tuesday night with a <a href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/12/6/1860356/kansas-state-wildcats-alcorn-state">34-point victory over Alcorn State</a>, 89-55. Following the game, Martin again said he didn't feel his team played the way they could, perhaps challenging them as the season moves on.</p>
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<p><span id="Content">"I think that I have been around here long enough where you guys know some of the things that are important to me. Guys are not excited about playing. They practiced their tails of yesterday, they were great in practice. Then we started the game, we were pretty good for the first three or four minutes of the game, and then we just go into lulls. You get to play 30-some games a year if you are lucky. If you cannot get excited about competing at your ultimate, best level 30-some times a year, you are going to have a hard life. </span></p>
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<p>"<span id="Content">I just do not understand it. We have been battling with this team from day one. We will keep battling to make us grow in that department. Right now I feel like we are in neutral. It almost cost us a game a couple of nights ago, because of that same energy level in someone else’s building, and all of the sudden we just go into a funk. I do not get it."</span></p>
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<p>Martin talked to the players at halftime and, according to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/31336/jamar-samuels">Jamar Samuels</a>, told them they weren't playing hard, and Samuels agreed.</p>
<p>34-point victory and there are still a lot of improvements to come, huh? I agree K-State has its issues but obviously K-State's effort is strong enough at this point. They're now 8-1 on the season with the only loss to No. 1 Duke. That's not a bad early resume.</p>
<p>Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com">Bring On The Cats</a> for more on the game.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/12/6/1860704/frank-martin-kansas-state-wildcats-alcorn-stateJoel Thorman2010-12-06T20:10:21-06:002010-12-06T20:10:21-06:00College Basketball: Kansas State Wildcats Vs. Alcorn State
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<p>NCAA basketball rankings came out on Monday and the Kansas State Wildcats remained at No. 5 in the top 25 poll. That was no surprise and K-State showed why they're ranked so high by beating Alcorn State by 34 points Tuesday night, 89-55.</p>
<p>The best news out of this game since we figured Kansas State would take care of business is that Jacob Pullen looked solid throughout the night. He ended with 24 points hitting on 9-of-15 shots and added five rebounds. Curtis Kelly added 15 points as he hit just 4-of-13 shots but 7-of-11 free throws.</p>
<p>Jamar Samuels, in particular, was huge off the bench with 16 points and 14 boards, seven of those on offense, and Frank Martin recognized that after the game.</p>
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<p><span id="Content">“He has been playing that way in games and in practice for a little bit now. He has really zoned in. Some people are good players because they are great shooters, some people are good players because they know how to run a team. What makes Jamar a really good player is when he plays with unbelievable energy like he did tonight, and that is a big time skill. This is an energy that our team desperately needs.”</span></p>
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<p>This is a deep team with some talented guys on the bench -- Samuels is an example of that.</p>
<p>The Wildcats now head to Chicago to play Loyola on Dec. 11. Check out<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com"> Bring On The Cats</a> for more on the game.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/12/6/2325898/college-basketball-kansas-state-wildcats-vs-alcorn-stateJoel Thorman