3. #24 Arthur Kaluma, 6’7″, 225 lbs., Jr., W, Glendale, Arizona, Creighton Transfer
14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 43.5 FG%, 36.8 3-PT FG%, 78.9 FT%, 56 ast.-76 TO, 13 blk, 23 stl, 34.6 mpg
Brian Custer and King McClure, who called K-State’s win over West Virginia on Monday night, said at the start of the broadcast that there is no wing in the Big 12 playing better than Arthur Kaluma. He put up 28 points in a win over BYU and has been a force on the glass over the last six games with four games pulling down seven or more rebounds. He has five 20-point games this season and 19 games playing 35 or more minutes. A key thing to note about the Wildcats is that their starters will play a majority of the game, if not all of it. Like Simas Lukosius, Kaluma has played in both the Big 12 and Big East. Kaluma was a key part of Creighton’s last two teams, including the 2023 team that lost by one point to San Diego State in the Elite Eight.
4. #1 David N’Guessan, 6’9″, 220 lbs., Sr., W, De Lier, Netherlands, Virginia Tech Transfer
7.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 58.4 FG%, 3-18 3-PT FG, 42.7 FT%, 25 ast.-28 TO, 22 blk, 21 stl, 27.8 mpg
N’Guessan is having a nice second season in Manhattan, Kansas with 21 games shooting 50 percent or better from the field. He’s a force on the glass with six games pulling down 10 or more rebounds and 19 with six or more rebounds.
5. #13 Will McNair Jr., 6’11”, 265 lbs., 5th-Yr. Sr., C, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi State Transfer
7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 62.2 FG%, 1-6 3-PT FG, 52.4 FT%, 19 ast.-42 TO, 34 blk, 15 stl, 23.3 mpg
McNair Jr. leads the Wildcats in field goal percentage, with 21 games shooting 50 percent or better from the field. He also has eight games with multiple blocks. Keep in mind that he does have experience playing this time of season, helping Mississippi State and New Mexico State to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of the last two seasons.
6. #4 Dai Dai Ames, 6’1″, 185 lbs., Fr., G, Chicago, Illinois, Kenwood Academy
4.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 31.9 FG%, 30.2 3-PT FG%, 71.4 FT%, 44 ast.-40 TO, 12 stl, 19.6 mpg
Aimes is the third Wildcat to earn Jordan Brand Classic All-American honors while in high school. He’s gotten significant playing time in his first season in the Big 12, with five games in double figures and 12 games playing 20 or more minutes.
Keys to the Game
1. Confidence: March is a new season. It’s still one game at a time, but it’s a new season. Given that the Bearcats have lost five out of six and are now off the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, perhaps it’s time to wipe the slate clean. Cincinnati has an opportunity for a Quad 1 win Saturday against the Wildcats, a team that is popping up, no pun intended, on the bubbles of multiple bracketology updates. I want to see Cincinnati come out and play like that should be them. Play like they belong in the NCAA Tournament, or at least on the bubble. Snap out of this slump and send a message that they could be building some momentum for March and maybe an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2. No Easy Shots: Like Cincinnati, K-State struggles to shoot from three-point range. The Wildcats are currently shooting at 31.5% from three-point range, dead last in the Big 12. They’re a little better from the field overall, 11th in the Big 12 at 43.6%. But it’s still important for Cincinnati to force K-State into tough shots. Defense has been the Bearcats strength this season, and the Wildcats are only 11th in scoring in the Big 12. For context, Arthur Kaluma is the Wildcats best three-point shooter at 36.8%. No other player on the team with at least 25 three-point attempts has made even 33% of their attempts. The Wildcats are going to look to get the ball down low for high-percentage shots. Dare them to shoot. If they start making shots, then adjust. But don’t give them any easy looks, because that will lead to confidence and a potential inside-out game.
3. Defend Home Court: The Bearcats haven’t won at Fifth Third Arena since January 27th against Central Florida. That means they went winless at home in the month of February. The last time the Bearcats went winless with multiple home games in a particular month was March of 2008. I don’t have anything else to say other than to quote the great Al Davis: “Just win baby!”
