By ARNE GREEN

Salina Journal

When push came to shove, the Kansas State Wildcats did more shoving than pushing the ball last year, and with good reason.

With All-American forward Michael Beasley in the middle, who wouldn't pound the ball inside whenever possible?

But that was last year, and now with Beasley and fellow freshman forward Bill Walker gone to the NBA, the new-look Wildcats clearly are built for speed as they try to build on a 2006-07 season that saw them go 21-12 and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.

"I think last year we wanted to do that a lot, but when you play with such good players as Mike and Bill, you have to run stuff for them," said point guard Jacob Pullen, who as a freshman backup last year ranked third on the team with 9.7 points a game. "Now it's up to the rest of us to put more points on the board."

Second-year coach Frank Martin agreed that the Wildcats will try to push the tempo more this year, with Pullen ready to accept a bigger role and Miami (Fla.) transfer Denis Clemente -- another point guard -- eligible after sitting out last season in accordance with NCAA rules.

"You have to be a little different because we were so dependent on Mike being involved in possessions because he was so darn good that you had to include him," Martin said of Beasley, who ranked third nationally in scoring with 26.2 points a game. "Same thing with Bill (16.1-point average).

"This year I think we're a little bit more balanced, and a little bit more aggression from the guards is what we're going to see."

The prospect of the 6-foot-1 Pullen and 6-foot Clemente speeding up and down the court at the same time excites both players, who have worked all summer at blending their point guard skills.

"I think we can play together," said Clemente, who as a sophomore at Miami in 2006-07 averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 assists while playing in 27 games with 15 starts. "I think it will be like having two point guards. We're both combo guards because we can both shoot and we can both drive."

In high school, both Pullen and Clemente were big-time scorers in addition to their ballhandling duties. Pullen, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, averaged 33.5 points and 7.0 assists as a senior at Miami's Calusa Prep, while Pullen scored at a 21.7-point clip and added 8.0 assists per game at Chicago powerhouse Proviso East.

"I really do see us playing together a lot this year," said Pullen, who started 14 of 33 games for the Wildcats as a freshman. "I can score the ball and Denis can score the ball, and we can both find the open man."

According to Martin, it's up to Pullen and Clement how much they play at the same time.

"That's solely on them and their acceptance of the things they have to do defensively for us to be able to play with two smaller guys at the guard spots," he said. "As long as they're willing to accept roles and to accept responsibilities, they're both multitalented.

"They can both pass, shoot and handle. If they're willing to do it, I don't see why they couldn't."

Martin has called Clemente the fastest guard he's ever seen with the ball in his hands, something Pullen learned last year when matching up with him in practice.

"Playing against him last year helped me try to guard (Texas All-American) D.J. Augustin," Pullen said. "This year, playing with him will give us a lot of opportunities to push the ball.

"Last year when somebody got the rebound, I had to run back to the ball. Now either one of us can take it and run."

Pullen said they have worked together defensively as well during the summer, and he looks for the Wildcats to compensate for a lack of size in the backcourt by trapping and attacking. Same thing on offense.

"I think we're going to do a lot more running," Clemente said. "I think we're going to use four guards a lot.

"We don't have a guy like Mike or Bill, but we've got a group of like nine or 10 who can all play. I can't wait to get back on the court."

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