We're sorry the Slate is egregiously late today, but there's a lot to cover as we deal with the crush of basketball starting while football is still underway and volleyball hurtles toward its conclusion. November is a chaotic time. We would, however, like to take this opportunity to remind you that you can help. If you're about to post a relevant link in comments, consider also creating a fanshot. If you've got a lot you want to say, maybe it's worth a fanpost. And if it's good stuff, we'll promote it on Twitter and Facebook, where nearly 13,000 people will get teased with a link to your stuff.
And if you've been thinking "It'd be cool to contribute regularly," give a shout.
Speaking of new contributors, we're happy to welcome Jake Trochelman aboard the crazy train. Jake, a K-State alum who's done some work for Bill Connelly over at Football Study Hall, joins us to bring you lots of pretty graphs and serious analytical knowledge. His first offering: an explanation of why K-State needs to improve in short-yardage situations. Luke and Jon provide the second half of this week's FEPO, which begins with yet another incorrect pick thanks to Georgia Tech forgetting to run the dang ball.
Over at his old and cobwebby site, your benevolent despot breaks down the playoff implications for the final Saturday of the regular season in Division II.
And your pal TheBigE storms back into action, dropping his all-important season preview as well as his game preview for tonight's tilt with Maryland-Eastern Shore.
We gear up for Texas Tech with game previews from Kellis Robinett at the Star and the Associated Press via FOX. Our colleagues over at Viva the Matadors dissect some film and predict a six-point Tech victory. Finally, there's the official preview from K-State.
On the commentary front, the Capital-Journal's Kevin Haskin frets that a bowl game is by no means assured for the Wildcats.
A completely uncredited story on FOX notes that no K-State defensive back has picked off a pass since Morgan Burns pilfered Trevor Knight at Oklahoma. Last year. Honestly, this is a big part of the problem in 2015.
More from Kellis Robinett, as he previews the new basketball season, and also writes about how Bruce Weber's feeling about his new group of guys who actually care, and -- via the Eagle -- profiles walk-on Austin Budke. Busy, busy day for our pal Kellis.
The C-J's Ken Corbitt previews tonight's game, specifically.
From the official site, Bruce Weber and Justin Edwards provide their own preview of tonight's opener.
Need to get hyped? Get hyped.
K-State previews the other basketball game tonight: the women open their season on the road at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa against, well, Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane had their first winning season in almost a decade last year, going 18-16 and reaching the second round of the WNIT.
JT told you yesterday about the signing of basketball/volleyball dual-sport athlete Peyton Williams. That wasn't the only volleyball signing, as Rachel Stark of Washburn High in Minneapolis, Minn., has also inked her commitment. Stark is an outside hitter who helped lead Washburn to an undefeated regular season this fall and led the Minneapolis City Conference in both kills and aces. She's rated as the second-best recruit in Minnesota. Sounds like a good sign.
The National Signing Period always generates quite a few random stories. Brennan Rupp of the Sterling (Colo.) Journal-Advocate reports on Northeastern Junior College lefty Chase Dunker signing with the Wildcats. Dunker, who will remain at NJC for his sophomore season this spring, threw 60 innings and struck out 61 with a 2.21 ERA last season as a freshman.
Another new Wildcat: Saint Joseph Central's Paityn Howat chose K-State over Missouri and Oklahoma State, reported by Cody Thorn of the Saint Joseph News-Press.
At noon, K-State began the Midwest Regional Championships at Lawrence with the start of the women's 6k race. The men's 10k begins at 1pm.
More signings! Grant Robbins has secured autographs from Jacob Eklund from Carbondale, Ill., and Levi Valadex from Alamo Heights in San Antonio. Eklund is the #2 senior in Illinois, while Valadez ranks sixth in Texas and has qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur twice.
Competition is already underway at Timbercreek today as K-State hosts TCU.
Hot off the press: K-State just signed two new rowers, too. No story up yet, so we'll probably have that for you tomorrow.
#KStateROW is happy to welcome future Rowers: Houston, Pekarek and Anderson-Johnson to the Family! pic.twitter.com/TF8JmekIVk
— K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) November 13, 2015