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S. Dakota-Kansas St. Preview

Jan 2, 2010 - 6:55 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

South Dakota (6-6) at Kansas State (12-1), 1:00 p.m. EDT

Off to its best start in more than 50 years, Kansas State has generated growing enthusiasm from its fans.

Matching their longest win streak in 16 seasons should only add to the excitement for the 12th-ranked Wildcats, who will try to accomplish that feat against visiting South Dakota on Sunday.

Kansas State (12-1) has tied the 1958-59 team for the second-best start in school history, topped only by 17 straight wins to open the 1918-19 season. The Wildcats have also reached their highest ranking since they were No. 9 at the end of the 1972-73 campaign.

"It means a lot to be a part of something special," junior forward Dominique Sutton said. "Going back two years ago, nobody thought we would turn out to be this good because Mike (Beasley) and Bill (Walker) were gone. It just shows all the hard work we've put in through the summers and the hard practices that we had, it's paying off for us."

They also boast one of the nation's most dynamic offenses with 82.9 points per game and four players averaging in double figures. Junior guard Jacob Pullen has led the way, scoring 19.8 per game and shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range.

Thanks to that inspired play, Kansas State has sold out six of its eight Big 12 games. The Wildcats also drew a full house of 12,528 fans for Tuesday night's 85-56 victory over Cleveland State despite students being on Christmas break.

The Wildcats had five players score in double figures, led by Pullen's 18, and put their ninth straight win away early by jumping out to a 40-19 halftime lead.

"Our fans are unbelievable," coach Frank Martin said. "It makes me proud that on Dec. 29, understanding the places that our fans come from to get to these games, on a Tuesday night we packed this place. That's rewarding to our players."

A victory Sunday would allow the Wildcats to match a 10-game win streak from Dec. 1, 1993-Jan. 5, 1994, and would be their 23rd straight over a visiting non-conference opponent.

In its non-conference finale, Kansas State probably won't have too many problems reaching those marks against the Coyotes (6-6), who are in their second season in Division I.

South Dakota will play its second ranked Division I opponent in program history after falling 102-76 at then-No. 7 Notre Dame last season. The Coyotes, who have beaten two Division I teams this season, will face Kansas State for the first time since a 95-45 loss in Manhattan on Nov. 29, 1986.

They enter Sunday having dropped back-to-back games, including Monday night's 66-64 defeat to visiting Morehead State.

Tyler Cain reached double figures for the 10th straight game with a team-leading 17 points and 15 rebounds. The senior forward tops South Dakota with 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Kansas State leads the series 6-0.