Kansas State Basketball: Analyzing the Wildcats’ rotation for 2018-19

Power Forward

Minutes Allocated (40 total): Dean Wade (24), Levi Stockard (9), and Austin Trice (7)

Wade was a high-touted prospect coming out of high school that went through some ups and downs in his first two seasons with the Wildcats. He nearly doubled his scoring average as a junior, improving in every statistical category by a wide margin. His rebounding went up, the shooting percentages soared and he went from a role player to a First-Team All-Big 12 star. Had he been healthy in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas State probably would’ve been a Final Four team.

With Wade likely to spread around the floor, look for Trice to fill in at the four-spot at times. The 6’7 forward was a JUCO star a year ago and adds size and depth to a team who lacked it this past March. He’s an outstanding post defender and rebounder and his presence will allow Wade to focus more energy on offense even more.

Stockard is another forward who played in every game last season and provided around 10 minutes of action a night. His role as a freshman was to provide energy and fouls (averaged 9.0 fouls a game per 40 minutes) while giving Wade a breather. Trice is more ready for extended minutes on a win-now team, so Stockard will have to wait another year before having his own role grow.