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Kansas State Wildcats
History
K-State announced a three-year
television deal with Fox Sports Midwest
Director of Athletics Tim Weiser announced today that Kansas State has
signed a multi-year agreement with Fox Sports Net Midwest, making the
regional sports network the exclusive holder of the Wildcats' third-tier
television rights for men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball
and baseball.
Over the next three seasons Fox Sports Net Midwest will televise
approximately 50 live K-State sporting events, including a minimum of 30
men's basketball telecasts, 10 women's basketball telecasts, four
volleyball telecasts and four baseball telecasts. The games will be
distributed to a statewide audience, which includes more than 1 million
cable and satellite homes in the state of Kansas and Kansas City market.
"We're pleased to announce this agreement with Fox Sports Net Midwest
that will greatly enhance our statewide television package," Weiser
said. "Our fans are going to enjoy the expanded coverage, the additional
exposure for our teams is excellent, the financial impact on our program
is substantial, and we're partnering with a broadcaster that is
synonymous with outstanding sports television in Fox."
"We're excited to partner with Kansas State's outstanding athletics
program," said Jack Donovan, Fox Sports Net Vice President and General
Manager. "This is a major investment by Fox Sports Net Midwest to bring
more big-time college basketball and local sports programming to our
regional network."
In addition to the live telecasts, Fox Sports Net Midwest will also
become the new home for the Bill Snyder, Jim Wooldridge and Deb
Patterson TV Shows. Those weekly shows will now air throughout Fox
Sports Net Midwest's regional footprint of more than 4.2 million homes,
and be available nationwide on satellite and to some digital cable
subscribers who have access through their cable company to Fox Sports
Digital Nets. The Bill Snyder Show will begin airing on Fox Sports Net
Midwest next week with time slots of 1 p.m. on Sundays and 2 p.m. on
Tuesdays.
In year one of the agreement, Fox Sports Net Midwest will televise six
men's basketball games and two women's basketball games. An additional
four men's games and two women's games will be produced by Metro Sports
in Kansas City and aired to a statewide audience as part of an existing
agreement with K-State. In years two and three of the new contract, Fox
Sports Net Midwest will gain the exclusive rights and televise at least
12 men's basketball games, four women's basketball games, two volleyball
games and two baseball games per season.
Fox Sports Net Midwest reaches more than 4.2 million cable and satellite
television homes in six Midwest states. Fox Sports Net Midwest telecasts
more than 1600 hours of local programming each year, including St. Louis
Cardinals baseball, Kansas City Royals baseball, St. Louis Blues hockey,
Indiana Pacers basketball, Big 12 football, Big 12 women's basketball,
Big 12 Showcase, Kansas State University athletics, University of
Missouri athletics, Missouri Valley Conference basketball and
championship events, Horizon League basketball, Mid-Continent Conference
basketball, collegiate coaches shows and local high school sports.
Nationally, Fox Sports Net reaches more than 80 million homes through
its network of 20 regional sports channels.
Kansas State Basketball Announces Team Awards
Senior forward Gilson DeJesus took home three awards, including Kansas
State's most prestigious honor, the Porky Morgan Most Inspirational
Player Award, to highlight the evening's festivities as the Wildcat
men's basketball program celebrated its 2002-03 team award winners
during its annual banquet Wednesday in the Tadtman Boardroom of the new
K-State Alumni Center.
One of the nation's leading 3-point shooters, DeJesus averaged a
team-leading 11.2 points per game and was second on the squad in
rebounding with 5.3 per contest. From beyond the arc, the senior
connected on 80 treys, the third most in a single season by a Wildcat,
while shooting at a 43.7-percent clip.
DeJesus, who often drew Kansas State's most difficult defensive
assignment's during the 2002-03 campaign, also earned the Jack Hartman
Outstanding Defensive Player Award, named in honor of the winningest
coach in K-State history, as well as the Ernie Barrett Hustle Award,
which was given for just the third time.
Junior Guard Frank Richards was also a multiple winner, taking home the
Dean Harris Newcomer of the Year Award which was established in 1974
following the death of Harris, who was a Wildcat freshman from East St.
Louis, Ill., and the Wildcat Award, which is based on points earned in
specific categories on a game-by-game basis throughout the season.
Richards, a starter in all 30 games, averaged 9.4 points per contest and
ranked in the top five of the Big 12 in assists with 4.9 per game. His
146 assists stand as the fifth most on K-State's single season chart.
The Tex Winter Outstanding Offensive Player Award went to senior forward
Matt Siebrandt. The team's second leading scorer, Siebrandt averaged
11.0 points per game and finished in a statistical dead heat with
Oklahoma's Kevin Bookout as Big 12's field goal percentage leader in
conference games. Siebrandt, who scored in double figures in 14 of 16
league contests, connected on 84 of 145 attempts during Big 12 play for
a conversion rate of 57.9 percent.
The evening's final award went to walk-on freshman guard Schyler Thomas,
who was named the winner of the Keith Amerson Academic Award. The
Wildcats' academic team award is named for Amerson, who played at
K-State in 1990-91.
Kansas State concluded the 2002-03 season with a 13-17 overall record
(4-12 Big 12), including a heart-breaking 77-76 loss to Colorado in the
opening round of the Big 12 Tournament. The loss was the 13th of the
year by fewer than 10 points for the Wildcats, whose season was
highlighted by an eight-game non-conference winning streak and an upset
win over nationally ranked Texas Tech.
2002-03 Kansas State Basketball Team Awards
Porky Morgan Most Inspirational Player
Gilson DeJesus
Ernie Barrett Hustle Award
Gilson DeJesus
Dean Harris Newcomer of the Year
Frank Richards
Keith Amerson Academic Award
Schyler Thomas
Jack Hartman Defensive Player Award
Gilson DeJesus
Tex Winter Outstanding Offensive Player Award
Matt Siebrandt
Wildcat Award
Frank Richards
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