Men's Basketball
Open Game Thread: K-State vs. Texas Tech
by TB on Feb 7, 2012 6:31 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
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!
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Texas Tech Preview: We meet again, Bubble
by Ahearn Alley on Feb 7, 2012 3:00 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
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.
BIG 12 OUTLOOK: 02.07.12
by BracketCat on Feb 7, 2012 12:00 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
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K-State secured a crucial win to stay ahead of the four-pack that's hot cold on its heels.
But with a two-game gap between it and Iowa State, and a three-game deficit out of first place in a wide-open conference race, it's really hard not to wonder: What if?
What if we had won at least one of those games against an otherwise-horrible-in-Big-12-play Oklahoma team?
What if we had held on to that lead against Baylor? At Iowa State? Where would the Cats be in the discussion now?
Whether it be Bears, Jayhawks or Tigers who hoist the trophy at the end of this season, "what if" probably will torment us all for some time to come ... especially if we don't even Dance because of it.
Open Game Thread: K-State vs. Texas A&M
by TB on Feb 4, 2012 2:00 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
Who: K-State vs. Texas A&M
When: February 4, 2012 | 3:00 p.m.
Where: Manhattan, Kan. | Bramlage Coliseum (12,528)
Media: Big 12 Network/ESPN Full Court | 1350 KMAN
K-State returns home after Tuesday's heartbreaking loss at Iowa State. The Wildcats need a win over the 3-6 Aggies to get back to .500 in conference play. Texas A&M starters Khris Middleton and Dash Harris are not expected to start today.
Go Cats!
RPI WATCH: 2/4/12
by BracketCat on Feb 4, 2012 12:00 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
OK, it's time for Kansas State to take matters into its own hands. The Cats need to collect some conference scalps in February, because their non-conference schedule is losing all steam.
Every single non-con opponent that played this week (except Alabama and Long Beach State, who had byes) lost its conference game. Every. Single. One.
Oh, wait, my bad. I guess Howard won. I forgot to count them because they're terrible and have virtually no impact on our RPI.
And that's about all I have to say about that. Let's get this February comeback started.
BIG 12 OUTLOOK: 02.04.12
by BracketCat on Feb 4, 2012 6:00 AM CST
in Men's Basketball
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This is an important day for K-State. The Cats need to win or risk slipping into the lower tier of the conference, there to swim in the mud with all the other mediocre to sub-mediocre ball clubs.
While it's patently clear that K-State is not among the elites this season, there's no reason they can't finish at the head of the next segment of teams.
Iowa State is threatening to break away, too, but the Cyclones have two tough games remaining against Baylor, as well as road trips to Columbia and Manhattan.
BIG 12 OUTLOOK: 01.31.12
by BracketCat on Jan 31, 2012 11:00 PM CST
in Men's Basketball
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Sorry this is so late, but work was hell on Sunday and Monday, and I simply didn't have time to finish composing it until today. The results of the games on Monday and Tuesday do not factor into this edition, however.
I don't really have too much to say about the state of the league. It's pretty apparent who the top teams are, who the worst team is, and who the pack of mediocrity piled up in the middle is comprised of.
Follow the jump for an increasingly gloomy forecast.
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