No matter the question, as long as it pertains to Wednesday’s game in Manhattan, Jeff Martin is your guy. The Wichita Eagle K-State beat writer will join KUSports.com Tuesday at 3 p.m. to answer your Sunflower Showdown queries.

Moderator

Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s KUSports.com chat session. My name is Ryan Greene, and I’ll be moderating today’s chat with Jeff Martin, who covers K-State for the Wichita Eagle. Jeff joined us during the football season, and I’d like to thank him for taking the time today to answer your questions. Jeff, how’s life treating you these days on the KSU beat?

Jeff Martin

Sorry, man. Computer issues. Beat’s been fine. Can’t complain.

Moderator

All right, well lets get right to the questions, because plenty of people want to talk about tomorrow night’s game…here we go…

KoolKeithFreeze

Having not actually seen Beasley play at all this year (I live in Japan), I am curious of your opinion on the Beasley vs. Durant debate. How does Beasley’s freshman campaign so far rate against what Durant pulled off last year?

Jeff Martin

I think what Beasley has done is more impressive than Durant, mostly because Texas would isolate Durant at the top of the key on most possessions and clear out for him. With Beasley, he’s at the mercy of his guards – which I’m sure we’ll discuss this afternoon – to get touches. Actually, he’s such a hood rebounder that it doesn’t matter. He’s the most efficient basketball player I’ve ever seen.

Jeff Martin

I meant good rebounder, not hood. My bad.

Jeff Martin

What time is it in Japan, by the way?

Moderator

Haha…speaking of the guards, here’s one…

Tucker

With all this talk about Beasley and Walker, do you think the cats backcourt will be able to match up with KU’s guards.

Jeff Martin

I think K-State’s backcourt wants to make its mark against these guys. The Wildcats have been hearing about how great Russ, Mario and Sherron are, and I think they feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick. Personally, I like how Blake Young has accepted a defensive role, and Clent Stewart is about as steady as it gets. For me, it comes down to Jake Pullen, and that’s who I’m writing about in tomorrow’s Eagle. He’s one of the X factors, along with Bill Walker.

jayharchitect

I was able to see the Wildcats play againts Notre Dame at MSG. I noticed the players didn’t communicate/look at their coach during the game as most teams do. Can their recent success be attributed to a better coach/player relationship?

Jeff Martin

I think the recent success can be attributed to a comfort level with each other. Plus, winning makes everything go a lot smoother. This team isn’t the selfish group some have portrayed it to be.

DSommersby

Hi Jeff: I really enjoy reading your work. If you were coaching on the KU staff, what would you pinpoint as the main key areas for the Jayhawks to focus on and attack to be successful against the Cats? Thanks.

Jeff Martin

Nothing new here – keep the ball out of Mike’s hands. The usual methods – the guards diving down – will work, but I think K-State’s guards will knock down shots. I think more attention should be paid to Bill Walker, though. Is Brandon Rush going to defend him one-on-one? I don’t think that’s a matchup that bodes well for the Jayhawks. Call me crazy, but I think Bill can have his way inside.

Moderator

You know, a year ago I would have liked the Brandon Rush on Bill Walker matchup, since Rush was just so steady on the defensive end before the knee injury. Though now, I just don’t think he’s mentally there just yet to be that night-in, night-out lockdown defender who is going to get into the kitchen of the other team’s best perimeter player, mentally and physically. I bet Darrell Arthur sees a lot of time on Walker, actually. Rodrick Stewart could be a sleeper off the bench, too, in that regard.

trombeck

What does home-court advantage mean for the two KU-KSU games this season?

Jeff Martin

I was thinking they’d but Shady on Bill. That’s what I would do. I still think you have to play Bill for the 3, although he’s been lights out recently. Know this – Andre Gilbert or Dominique Sutton, whichever mans the 3 spot for most of the night, will have plenty of open looks. And that has to be scary for K-State fans.

Jeff Martin

I think homecourt means everything, although I think K-State fans would feel better if tomorrow night’s game was in Lawrence and the Wildcats were playing KU at home later in the year. I’m not sure K-State is ready to beat a team of this caliber yet. By the end of the season, there shouldn’t be any doubt.

Moderator

Quick question on Sutton, as you mentioned him having plenty of open looks might worry K-State fans. Do you think this would be an opportunity for him to be overlooked and have a breakout game? Or is he just not ‘there’ yet.

Jeff Martin

He struggles on the offensive end, mostly because he doesn’t have a firm grasp what is being demanded. But his athleticism makes him an asset in a game like this. This is the first time since I’ve been around that K-State can put an athlete like Sutton on the floor off the bench. That, to me, is the biggest difference in this game. The Wildcats suddenly have quality depth.

BigTamale

What approach is better to stopping the Cats defensively:

A) Keying in the other 4 players on the floor with tough team defense and allowing Beasley his points and rebounds?

B) Focusing on stoping Beasley with tough zone defense?

C) None of the above.

Jeff Martin

If you key on stopping everyone else, Beasley still gets rebounds and he still might get 50. Laugh if you want, but it’s not far-fetched with this guy. He’s awfully good. I’d go with B, if only because I’m still not sure K-State can shoot over a zone. Let’s face it – you’re best defense against Beasley is to go hard at him when you’re on offense. Get him in foul trouble and limit his minutes – that’s the best plan.

CaramelMacchMan

Everyone is talking about KSU’s offense and KU’s defense…

But they are underlooking KU’s offense..
The real game chaning question is Can KSU’s defense stop KU’s offense???

Jeff Martin

K-State plays solid defense. The Wildcats are better than I expected on the interior. The guards are solid, but I can’t get the Xavier game out of my head, when little Drew Lavender did what he wanted to K-State. Now, the Wildcats are so much better now than they were then, but it’s still an image I can’t shake. I don’t know if Mario or Russ can penetrate like that, but I know Sherron can. And that is what freaks out K-State fans. If Collins goes nuts, that’s not good news. Sorry to ramble, but K-State is better than most realize on defense.

leikness

Who would you say the best defensive team KSU has played this year is? How did Beasley fair? If the answer is Xavier, do you see him having some of the same issues he had against them against KU?

Jeff Martin

The whole “Xavier was physical” with Mike theme is overblown. Mike is a notorious slow starter, and the rest of the team followed his lead. That game was just a bad night for the Wildcats. I don’t know who I’d say. It probably was the Musketeers. That’s a good club, by the way. No one will convince me otherwise. But that was an aberration, in terms of what Mike did.

tdub

Beasley has only hit 16 three’s. To contrast, Durant had 82 by season’s end last year. Why don’t more teams challenge Beasley to shoot from outside?

Jeff Martin

What is his percentage on threes? I think he’s at 38 percent. How are you going to challenge him to shoot more? Sag off him? He’ll take those shots. He makes 57 percent of his shots. Instead of the three, he likes to take a couple of steps in – his intermediate game is impressive. Sorry to gush, but ask Ryan – he’s the truth, which is what Iowa State’s Wesley Johnson called him after Saturday’s game. That nickname is already taken, I believe, by a certain KU alum…

Moderator

Yeah, Paul Pierce will hold that title, too, until Beasely has some proven success in the NBA for, say, 10 years at least, too…but on a serious note, those two threes I saw him hit Saturday looked pretty casual and comfortable, to me. He has the stroke, I think, but with how strong and dominant and consistent and whatever else you want to call him he can be inside, there’s no need for him to step out…and you’re certainly not going to force him out there….not to gush too much…haha

kjay1955

In your research on “The Streak”, have you found anything else that matches it in any other sport (winning 24 consecutive games on the road to a long time rival)?

Jeff Martin

I know. I do it all of the time and people start to wonder if I’m a K-State fan. Not really, I say. But I’m a Mike Beasley fan. He’s unbelievable. If he says the Wildcats can beat KU, I have to think it’s entirely possible. He’s that good.

Jeff Martin

The Streak – someone should trademark that – is ridiculous. Never seen anything like it. For the record, I didn’t do much research on it. It kind of is what it is – 24 years of dominance. It’s impressive, and at some point, demoralizing. I think that’s why this matchup has assumed such a large stage. K-Staters feel like the time is now, and KU fans see no reason for such a fine arrangement to end. It’s compelling stuff.

Moderator

OK, we’ve got three more questions lined up…

astrofunk

Frank Martin helped secure Beasley’s commitment and this year’s recruiting class at K-Sate, but was he the right choice for the long term success of Wildcat basketball?

Jeff Martin

I’m not sure what you’re asking. I mean, was Bob Huggins good for the long-term success at K-State? Was Jim Wooldridge? This program has been down for so long recently, just getting good again is the first priority. You worry about long-term health and all of that stuff that programs like KU, UNC and UCLA obsess over once you string a few winning seasons together. Get to the NCAA Tournament, get on television, land more elite recruits and then see what builds. Can Frank do that? No question, starting this year. I don’t think Frank gets nearly enough credit for his coaching ability.

alhawk413

A lot has been made about there being more pressure on K-State to win this game than KU. What do you think? Do you think there’s any chance the K-State players feel that and come out a little tight tomorrow?

Jeff Martin

Oh, I don’t think these guys are going to be tight. I mean, ask Shady. Mike and Bill have played against the best talent in this country and elsewhere for the majority of their late teen years. This is just another game of basketball to them, especially with the game being played at Bramlage, in front of about 12,000 of their closest friends. Seriously, this isn’t a group that is going to be freaked out by the level of competition, not like we saw last year in Lawrence. These guys are used to playing at a high level, and I fully expect the rest of the guys to follow their lead. I don’t think there is pressure on either team, to be honest.

Moderator

Final question, and it’s only appropriate…

patton6

You seem pretty comfortable with what KSU has to offer – prediction?

Jeff Martin

It can’t hurt that it’s going to be at home. I think K-State finally has the big guns to compete. There won’t be any intimidation, especially in the backcourt. KU has experience there, as does K-State. Really, there’s no reason the Wildcats shouldn’t win – but I’m rolling with the Jayhawks. If they meet again in the conference tournament in K.C., I’ll change my prediction; I don’t like K-State’s chances in Lawrence anytime soon.

Moderator

So you’re taking KU tomorrow night?

Jeff Martin

Yeah. By single digits, though.

Moderator

Interesting. You cover KSU and are taking KU, and I’m the complete opposite. I say 87-82, ‘Cats.

Well, Jeff, thanks for dropping by today to answer questions. Thanks, also, to all of our readers for submitting your questions. See you at the game tomorrow, Jeff. And to our readers, see you for our next KUSports.com chat session.

Jeff Martin

Thanks. It was fun.