FARGO-North Dakota State freshman guard Khy Kabellis started the week at 170 pounds. And after playing an entire 40 minutes Wednesday against the University of South Dakota, the Bison staff is making sure his body doesn't lose any ground.
Kabellis had to text a strength and conditioning staff member pictures of all of his meals on Thursday.
"They were making sure I'm getting enough food to recover," he said. "A lot of protein, a lot of carbohydrates, pastas, all of that."
Kabellis will probably need all the recovery juice he can find in the next couple of months, starting at 4:30 p.m. today with a Summit League game against rival South Dakota State at Scheels Arena.
If there was a plan to ease Kabellis into more playing time, it's shelved now. Junior Carlin Dupree left the team earlier this week leaving the Bison without a key guard. NDSU was hoping Dupree, who was third on the team in minutes played, would take to a backup role similar to what Dexter Werner is doing at the post position.
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For instance, Dupree came off the bench against the University of Denver and was third in that game in minutes played with 28. It's not uncommon for Werner to play more than the starters, depending on the opponent and the matchup.
Now, at guard, it's pretty much just Kabellis and sophomore Paul Miller.
"The practices aren't as tough anymore where me and some of the other guys playing high minutes can of rest and heal up," Kabellis said. "And you also have to be smart about fouls once you're on the floor."
Kabellis' average of 26 minutes a game only figures to increase as the season goes along. At 6-foot-3 along with his 170, the question is if he'll be able to hold up to another month and a half of physical play in the Summit League.
"Yeah, obviously it's a concern for anybody to play extended amount of minutes," said Bison head coach Dave Richman. "There are 12 games left, you're playing a high level of competitive Division I athletics, injury, fatigue, all those things-if anybody can do it as a true freshman it's Khy. He has the mental makeup, wants the minutes, has downright earned the minutes and we'll see on a daily basis."
The Bison were high on Kabellis the minute he gave his verbal commitment. He led Escondido High School to a California Interscholastic Federation Division I championship last year averaging 16.2 points, 6.1 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 steals-quite the cross-section of statistics.
He's averaging 7.2 points at NDSU, but has shown impressive judgment with 46 assists to just 20 turnovers.
"Where he's come the farthest is self confidence," Richman said. "He's talented, but he's away from home and getting adjusted off the court has helped him bring it on the court. I don't know if I've been around somebody as hungry on a daily basis to get better. Whether it's the film session, workout session, asking questions, he has that makeup."
