Today, more than any other, will probably check off the appropriate box on K-State's men's basketball season. Given pre-season expectations, this year's already a success -- but will it just be a solid B, or an A-minus?
The Opposition
When K-State upended the Jayhawks in Manhattan, the team was flying high. Since then, they've been clipping treetops, trying to avoid a crash landing. The bench has responded, playing well and answering the very real question of the squad's depth, but the starters have been fairly inconsistent of late. Can they get it together against an opponent that's had a whole week to prepare?
The game: Kansas State (18-8, 8-5, arv/arv) visits Oklahoma (19-7, 8-5). Oklahoma leads the series 104-94, 59-26 in Norman. Bruce Weber has yet to lose to Oklahoma (3-0) or to Lon Kruger (4-0), but then he'd never lost to Baylor or Scott Drew before either. Lon Kruger is 4-4 all time against his alma mater. If K-State wins today, Weber will break Kruger's K-State record for wins in a coach's first two seasons, adding to the narrative.
Odds: Oklahoma is favored by 4.5 points.
Tipoff: 3pm CT at Lloyd Noble Center (11,562) in Norman, Oklahoma.
Tickets: $10/30.
Television: After a fairly long string of ESPN network games, the Cats are back on the Big 12 Network. They have the window to themselves, so your normal local Big 12 affiliate should be solid as long as it's not an NBC affiliate. If you can't find it locally, try Altitude2 or MSG2.
Radio: K-State Sports Network, with Wyatt Thompson and Stan Weber. KMAN listeners, note that this game will be joined in progress after the BatCats game, if necessary; on the other hand, KMAN will remain with the men's game until its conclusion rather than switching to the women's pregame at 4:30. Wyatt and Stan will not be on satellite radio today; instead, you'll get the Oklahoma broadcast with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck on Sirius 85/XM 85.
Online: Video streaming via ESPN3, Audio streaming via K-State All-Access, live stats via Gametracker.
The women face a daunting challenge this afternoon as they face a squad making a beeline for its school's first Big 12 title.
The game: Kansas State (10-15, 4-10) hosts West Virginia (23-3, 12-2). K-State has yet to beat the Mountaineers, who they've only played three times, all in the last two years. Two weeks ago, the Lady Cats were destroyed in a 40-point loss in Morgantown.
Tipoff: 5pm CT at Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) in Manhattan, Kansas.
Television: Fox College Sports Pacific, with Brian Smoller and Missy Heidrick.
Radio: K-State Sports Network, with Matt Walters and Kristin Waller, joined in progress after the men's game concludes.
Online: No video streaming. Audio streaming via K-State All-Access, live stats via Gametracker.