Even the freshman forward’s 40 points and 17 rebounds during No. 18 Kansas State’s 100-63 rout of Missouri on Saturday didn’t come as much of a shock.

“When you guys asked me back in September, I said he was very good,” Martin said. “And when I went out and told people that in high school I thought he was a better player than Kevin Durant in high school, everyone thought I was nuts.

“Now everybody has got to watch him as much as I was watching him before, so everyone is kind of getting an understanding that he’s pretty good.”

Beasley leads the nation in rebounding, is fourth in scoring and is one double-double shy of tying Carmelo Anthony’s NCAA freshman record of 22. It was Beasley’s second 40-point game and ninth with at least 30 points. He shot 12-of-22 from the field and 14-of-15 from the free-throw line.

“I missed 10 shots,” said Beasley, shrugging off his stats. “I could’ve done better.”

Bill Walker added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats.