Why K-State basketball coach Bruce Weber is eager to rotate more guards than usual
Rotating six guards has rarely been a fun exercise for Kansas State men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber.
Whenever he dips that far into his bench, it usually means the Wildcats are battling foul trouble, injuries or worse.
But Weber is looking forward to the challenge this season. After bringing in Mark Smith and Markquis Nowell via the transfer portal and retaining the services of “super senior” Mike McGuirl, the Wildcats have six guards on their roster whom Weber trusts in just about any situation.
So much so that he joked that K-State could come close to rotating them in three-man pods, similar to the way Kentucky coach John Calipari used to rotate between two completely different five-man lineups a few years ago.
“It’s going to be a huge difference,” Weber said on Wednesday at Big 12 Media Day at T-Mobile Center. “I don’t know if we can do units, but we will have guys coming in that can really energize the game and change the game. I think it’s our strength. I’ve said that since the beginning. Our depth is really something that I hope is a real positive.”
K-State fans can count on Weber finding some creative ways to utilize his top six guards this season.
Odds are good K-State will open the season with a starting lineup of Davion Bradford, Ismael Massoud, Nijel Pack, Smith and McGuirl. But he could also shift to a four-guard lineup that gets Selton Miguel on the floor more often. Nowell figures to be an energetic sixth man who can create his own shot and defend. Luke Kasubke has also been impressing during recent practices, especially as an outside shooter.
“I feel very confident playing all of them,” Weber said.
It’s also possible Weber will find playing time for freshman guard Maximus Edwards.
That is a big change from last season when K-State took a plunge every time McGuirl (11.8 points per game) or Pack (12.7 points per game) weren’t on the floor. They were the Wildcats’ only double-digit scorers. Miguel and Kasubke had some nice moments, but they were only freshmen.
Back then, Weber didn’t like going to his bench for back court help in any situation.
Things are different now.
“Practice is it a lot more competitive,” Miguel said. “ Last season, we didn’t even have enough guys to play five-on-five most of the time because of COVID. This year, we’ve got more players and everybody is good, especially the guards. There is so much more trash talking now. I love it.”
Nowell and Smith should both bring something new to the lineup.
Weber has said that Smith has been the most impressive player on the entire team during preseason practices. The 6-foot-4 senior transfer from Missouri can score, defend and play multiple positions.
Nowell, a 5-foot-8 transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, might be the team’s best new shooter. McGuirl and Miguel said that he has impressive range and has occasionally won pick-up games by draining shots from the midcourt logo at Bramlage Coliseum. They said he is so confident in his shot that he often starts running back on defense before the ball goes through the net.
The Wildcats will face an uphill climb as they try to bounce back from a pair of miserable seasons that finished with records of 11-21 and 9-20. But K-State does seem to have upgraded its depth and talent.
Weber is eager to utilize both.
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Why K-State basketball coach Bruce Weber is eager to rotate more guards than usual."