The Michael Beasley Show hits the big time today when Miami Heat opens Big 12 play in Norman against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Arena as the Wildcats will look to slow down the surging Sooners.

Oklahoma (12-3) has won five straight. Two of its losses have been the No. 2-ranked Memphis and the USC Trojans, which boasts one of the top freshmen in the nation in guard O.J. Mayo.

The Sooners will see another of the country's top freshmen today in the 6-foot-10 Michael Beasley, who leads the Big 12 in both scoring (24.3) and rebounding (13.3).

Beasley will obviously be the focal point for opposing defenses as he makes his way around the Big 12 for the first time. Despite the Wildcats having one of the youngest teams in the league, Beasley is confident the Wildcats are ready for the rigors of conference play.

"If we all bring our 'A' game, do what we've got to do on the defensive side and rebound like we're supposed to, there's no question we're ready," Beasley said.

Beasley said he's been getting the low down from teammates on Big 12 play. Veterans like Clent Stewart and Blake Young have been through it before.

"They've told me how physical the Big 12 is, but I knew that coming in," Beasley said. "But it is a whole other level than what we've been playing, and the road games are going to be crazy."

Beasley, who leads the nation in rebounding, is shooting 56 percent from the field. He has registered a double-double in 13 of 14 games and has posted 30 or more points five times.

Today's game marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons the Wildcats (10-4) will start Big 12 play on the road, including the fifth straight season.

Kansas State is coming off a historic defensive effort in its 85-25 win over Savannah State on Monday. K-State helped the Tigers set or tie three NCAA records since the introduction of the shot clock in 1986, including lowest field goal percentage in a half (4.3 percent; 1 of 23), fewest points in a half (4) and fewest field goals in half (1).

Oklahoma is coming off an 81-57 win over Mount St. Mary's on Monday. Freshman star Blake Griffin led three players in double figures with a career-high 26 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with seven rebounds, while senior Longar Longar added 11 points.

Griffin, a 6-10 forward, leads the Sooners in scoring (14.7), rebounding (8.8) and field goal percentage (.589). Longar is second in scoring (12.7) and rebounding (6.1), while senior Tony Crocker averages 11.4 points to go with a team-high 29 3-point field goals.

Kansas State coach Frank Martin knows things will be a challenge for his young team today, but he's liked the way the players have gone about preparing for the 16-game conference schedule.

"If we had a team that didn't practice well, then I'd go home at night and lose sleep," Martin said. "But we practice well. Our guys practice hard and do what we ask them to do. Now, sometimes we don't come out and play in games the way we practice. That's part of the growing process. That's why certain actors get paid a heck of a lot of money and others never make it.

"It's a little different when you rehearse, then when the curtains come up and there's 13,000 people in the stands. That's part of our growth process."

The Wildcats, like a year ago, enter Big 12 play with a 10-4 record, but Martin said that's the only similarity between the two teams.

"I don't think last year's team played nearly the schedule we've played," Martin said. "Last year's team wasn't as athletic as we are this year. I think it's two completely different entities."

? Samuels to redshirt - Martin announced Friday that freshman forward Jamar Samuels has opted to redshirt the 2007-08 season.

"After visiting with Jamar and his mother, we think the best decision for him is to take a redshirt for the rest of the season," Martin said. "Jamar continues to make strides in practice and we think he is going to be an outstanding player for us in the future."

Samuels, along with his high school teammate, Dominique Sutton, joined the squad on Dec. 26 after completing the necessary academic requirements. Both Samuels and Sutton came to Kansas State after playing at The Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C.

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