SLATE: Around the previews

It’s Thursday, which means the previews for this week’s game against Oklahoma State are starting to pile up. Despite ESPN choosing in its infinite dimness to thrust the game onto its streaming platform, the AP’s Stephen Hawkins says the Wildcat-Cowboy tussle is the Big 12’s Game of the Week.

The school papers dropped their previews yesterday; at the Collegian, Nathan Ensero previews the game while his counterpart Sudeep Tumma at the O’Colly does the same.

Kyle Cox at Pistols Firing takes a look at some of K-State and Oklahoma State’s strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, at the Capital-Journal Arne Green writes about the new reality in K-State’s backfield: it’s no longer the Deuce Vaughn show but a one-two punch with Vaughn and Joe Ervin both having to be taken seriously as threats.

Around the rest of the athletic department:

D. Scott Fritchen’s been busy, dropping three Sports Extras in two days. His first piece on Wednesday covered the volleyball team, followed by a must-read special edition catching up with Darren Sproles, set to enter the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame on October 1. Today’s SE swings over to soccer, where Scott introduces you to Colorado transfer and aerial-game phenomenon Jesse Loren.

Tennis is hitting the road to start their fall schedule with a visit to Oxford and the Ole Miss Fall Invite. K-State will be the only non-SEC squad in attendance, as the Wildcats and Rebels will be joined by Alabama and Georgia. Tomorrow, the Cats will take on Ole Miss in doubles followed by singles matches against Alabama. Saturday and Sunday will follow the same pattern, with Saturday’s matches against Georgia and Ole Miss while Sunday they’ll take on Georgia and Alabama. It’s going to be a tough event; all three SEC schools made the NCAA Tournament last season and Georgia reached the final eight.