Kansas State to face another potent scorer in Mississippi’s Stefan Moody

The last time Mississippi visited Bramlage Coliseum, all focus was on Marshall Henderson, a potent scorer known for his big talent and bigger mouth.

Two years later, little has changed.

Henderson may be gone, but Stefan Moody is doing his best impression. The senior guard is averaging 24.3 points, making him the top scorer in the SEC. He ranks fifth nationally. Moody is more subdued than Henderson off the court, but on it he is every bit as productive, if not better. He is definitely more consistent, as he has scored at least 18 points in every game with a season high of 33 against LSU.

“He was here two years ago when they came, but he was the other guy,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said. “He could still score, but Marshall Henderson had all the looks at that time. It seems like in Coach (Andy) Kennedy’s system they allow one guy to have that green light. But he still passes. He is a better passer than Marshall Henderson.”

Weber and K-State players compare Moody to Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield, who is averaging 25.9 points, and Oklahoma State freshman Jawun Evans, who scored 42 in a Big 12 game earlier this season.

Saturday’s game against Ole Miss will be a rare nonconference game in the middle of conference play for the Wildcats, part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge that was moved to January by ESPN in order to add exposure to the event, but it will have the feel of a league game.

“We are going to take the same approach we do every single game,” K-State guard Kamau Stokes said. “Our defensive approach isn’t going to change. Our defense has been solid all year, so we aren’t going to change our game plan. We don’t have to. (Moody) can score, but Evans from Oklahoma State can score. Our ability to play defense is going to effect everything in this game. We are going to have to help each other at all times, just like we always do.”

K-State has found mixed results against elite scorers this season. Hield scored 31 against it on 14 shots, helping the No. 1 Sooners beat the Wildcats 86-76. But K-State held Evans to 11 points and stomped Oklahoma State 89-63 last week.

Two years ago, K-State held Henderson to 13 points in a 61-58 victory.

Stokes played strong defense on Evans, forcing him into early foul trouble. Weber will once again call upon him against Moody.

“They will put him in ball screens,” Weber said. “If you back away from him he will jump and shoot from 30 or 33 feet. Then if you get up on him he will blow by you and make the right play. We are going to see a lot of ball screens, that is for sure. We are going to have to deal with him.

“He is a little bit like Evans with Oklahoma State, but he will jump up and shoot it more. Evans wanted to go downhill and create. Moody will do that, too, but he likes to jump up and shoot it from the perimeter. We did a good job on Evans, but it’s not just who is guarding him it’s the other people. That will all be important.”

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Kansas State to face another potent scorer in Mississippi’s Stefan Moody."