15/14 Kansas State vs TCU: Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinal Open Game Thread

A little less than a week after claiming just the second Big 12 title in school history, the Wildcats are headed into action in the Big 12 Tournament in unfamiliar territory as Kansas State earned its first conference tournament 1-seed since claiming the sole Big 8 crown in 1977.

There are definitely perks to being the 1-seed. They get to play earlier in the day, so they don’t have to wait around, and then they get a team that has already played yesterday evening on a short turn-around.

That team is the TCU Horned Frogs, who looked to be headed into the quarterfinals fairly easily beofre giving up a big lead and nearly letting Oklahoma State force overtime. The Horned Frogs have not been very good lately, and prior to last night’s win had picked up just two wins in their last eight games, and last night’s win was their first away from home since picking up a victory in Ames back in early February, previously their only road/neutral win in 2019.

The Wildcats will be without the services of Dean Wade for an indefinite period, but the Wildcats are no strangers to this situation, missing the star forward for 6 games earlier this year, as well as this time last year.

If you have a few extra minutes before today’s game starts, be sure and check out the latest edition of Bring on the PodCats as host Luke Thompson is joined by our own Eric Rubottom as well as KC Star KU-beat writer Jesse Newell; and then Luke got us prepped for Selection Sunday today with his final Tournament Thursday before the Wildcats learn their March fate.

Being the 1-seed means we’re game two of the early period and tip-off was scheduled for 1:30pm CST but will occur no sooner than 30 minutes after the end of the Iowa State/Baylor game (which just went final in an ISU blowout). The game will be available on ESPN2 with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play, )Fran Fraschilla (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) on the call. You should also be able to access the game on WatchESPN.com/ESPN3.

You will also be able to listen to live audio across much of the K-State Sports Network with with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) calling the action. The game will also be available streaming for free online via the TuneIn app/TuneIn.com and at www.kstatesports.com/watch. Satellite coverage is also available at Sirius 135 / XM 199. Live stats are available at big12statbroadcats.com, and Twitter updates (@KStateMBB) will also be a part of the coverage from K-State Athletics.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State Wildcats (24-7, 14-4 Big 12)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes
G: #5 Barry Brown Jr.
G/F: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #23 Austin Trice
F: #14 Makol Mawien

TCU Horned Frogs (20-12, 7-11 Big 12)
G: #25 Alex Robinson
G: #1 Desmond Bane
F: #12 Kouat Noi
F: #15 JD Miller
C: #21 Kevin Samuel

Go Cats!