Who: K-State vs. Texas

When: February 11, 2012 | 1:00 p.m.

Where: Austin, Texas | Frank Erwin Center (16,734)

Media: ESPN | 1350 KMAN

We play Texas today, which means there's no way we lose, right? Maybe, but I'm less confident about this one than any in the last few years. A win and we feel pretty confident about making the NCAA Tournament. A loss puts us at .500 with KU and road trips to Baylor and Missouri looming. Yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

Go Cats!

Since my previews are starting to feel a little formulaic and we're getting into the second part of the round robin scheduling, I decided to mix things up via a Q&A session with a Texas blogger. OK, so Jonathan Tjarks (or the Artist Formerly Known as Get Buckets) from SBNation Dallas actually deserves full credit for making things happen, but I want you to know it had my full support.

Anyway, Texas and Kansas State are playing a pretty important game tomorrow afternoon in Austin that could have huge NCAA tourney ramifications for both teams. For my thoughts on how important it is to the Wildcats as well as the answers to other questions and my prediction, check out Tjarks' post.

For how important it is to Texas, well, that happened to be my first question. Give a warm welcome to Mr. Tjarks, and read on.

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K-State Basketball

Shane Southwell hasn't had the breakout season we had been hoping to see, struggling to adjust to what was supposed to be an increased role this year.

Once again, Peter has an excellent preview of this Saturday's K-State/Texas showdown.

Frank Martin sent a letter to K-State students yesterday, acknowledging that he needs to cut down on the profanity on the sidelines, and asking that they do the same in the stands. After attending four games this season, I can honestly say I had no idea what this letter was referencing until I asked some people.

Big 12 Conference

It sounds like West Virginia and the Big East have reached a settlement. West Virginia will pay $11 million to the conference, while the Big 12 will kick in the other $9 million, probably to be paid out of Texas A&M's and Missouri's liquidated damages. Meanwhile, the Big 12 will release its 2012 football schedule today.

College Football Playoff

Dr. Saturday has a few suggestions for the proposed four-team college-football playoff.

K-State Football

K-State has promoted Tom Hayes to defensive coordinator. Mike Cox, who was part of Washington's debacle of a defensive effort against Baylor in the Alamo Bowl, will be hired as a linebackers coach.

K-State Women's Basketball

Texas A&M got revenge and then some for K-State's upset win in Manhattan earlier this year. The Aggies beat K-State by 31 in College Station last night.

#RonP4Jags

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Ron Prince as an assistant line coach.

Big 12 Basketball

KU overwhelmed Baylor with a 37-7 run that spanned the middle 20 minutes of the game and rolled to a 68-54 win over the Bears in Waco.

College Football Playoff

SB Nation's Jason Kirk takes a look at the Big 10's four-team playoff proposal and concludes that it's good for everybody.

K-State Basketball

In one of the ugliest and least entertaining basketball games I've ever seen, K-State beat Texas Tech, 65-46. Between the poor shooting (the teams had six field goals apiece in the first half, Tech had five in the second), inability to hold on to the ball (the teams combined for 36 turnovers, with Tech accounting for 22 of those) and the look-at-me officiating (John Higgins FTW), all involved did everything in their power to make sure the game had no flow at all.

Tech threw a triangle-and-two defense at K-State in the first half and the Wildcats did not respond well. Fortunately, Tech responded even more poorly to K-State's pressuring man defense.

Jamar Samuels won't be sad that there are no more games with Texas Tech. His season stats against the Red Raiders are nine fouls and one point.

K-State Football

Rob Cassidy tweeted last night that K-State will promote Tom Hayes to defensive coordinator to replace Chris Cosh.

Big 12 Basketball

Oklahoma State got a 69-67 win in Stillwater over Iowa State behind the late-game heroics of Le'Bryan Nash. K-State is now just one game behind the Cyclones in the conference standings.

Who: K-State vs. Texas Tech

When: February 7, 2012 | 7:00 p.m.

Where: Manhattan, Kan. | Bramlage Coliseum (12,528)

Media: Big 12 Network/ESPN Full Court | 1350 KMAN

K-State looks to sweep the season series and send Texas Tech to 0-11 in conference play before embarking on a brutal stretch of games, starting Saturday in Austin.

Go Cats!

writeup coming soon

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A mere four and half weeks ago, K-State seemed like nearly a lock to make the NCAA tournament. Now, after two debacles against Oklahoma and a hard-to-watch second half at Iowa State, mixed in with some uninspiring wins, the ‘Cats find themselves 5-5 in conference play and where all Frank teams seem to be in early February: squarely on the bubble.

The good news is the Wildcats still appear to be in by most measures, as 55 of 56 predictors in The Bracket Project include KSU (screw you, Daily Bracket). The RPI of 47 is a little concerning, but at least the win over Missouri looks really, really good right now.

Those of you who read my blog last year may recall that I first began my series of NCAA bubble posts when K-State was 2-5 in conference and seemed to be in quite a precarious position. From that point forward, KSU won 8 of 9 to close out the regular season, so really I'm just doing my part to try to make that happen again.

At this point, it still would seem if K-State merely takes care of business, it should be in without a problem. That means beating everyone other than Kansas at home, and getting wins in Austin and College Station to finish Big 12 play 10-8.

Drop to 9-9 and things could get a little dicey, though I think KSU would probably still be OK. Similar to last season, I think 9-9 with a win against one of the top three (meaning another bad loss) would actually be better than 9-9 without one.

You have to figure even 9-9 would get K-State no worse than 6th (probably 5th) place and a Wednesday bye in the conference tourney before a somewhat difficult matchup against Iowa State or an extremely difficult game against one of the top three. I'm not really sure if that would be a must-win, but I'd rather not find out.

For a quick preview of Texas Tech, click the jump.

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