Wildcats take on Cyclones

Kansas State is in Ames today to take on #17 Iowa State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 PM CST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The Cyclones present a tough defensive challenge, especially with Georges Niang and Jameel McKay in the lineup. Niang in particular, with his 19.5 points per game average, presents a difficult task for Wesley Iwundu (Ken Corbitt, Topeka Capital-Journal).

Niang has scored at least 11 points in every game this season, and new coach Steve Prohm, while not having Iowa State at league-winning levels, has ensured the Cyclones are just good enough to be a solid Top 25 team (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle).

Then again, the tournament-bound Cyclones could be overlooking Kansas State, a team with just one win over a ranked opponent this season, a team Iowa State has beaten four straight times at home. That might well work in the Wildcats' favor (Associated Press, via FoxSports).

Speaking of looking ahead, the Ask Kellis Q&A speculates on Bruce Weber's future in Manhattan. SPOILER ALERT: if you're a Weber fan, things are not looking good (Robinett, Kansas City Star).

The Weber-hotseat theme is popular among Kansas State writers right now, and even the K-State Collegian gets in on the act with this now-or-never piece (Liz Heath, K-State Collegian). Bruceketball may well be over.

Kansas State faces an even taller order on the women's side as the Wildcats host #4 Baylor at Bramlage Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM, and the game will be on FS2 and the KStateSports network.

The team is coming off a solid win over Iowa State, its first in Ames in eight tries. Breanna Lewis led the Wildcats in that effort with 11-of-13 shooting, 16 rebounds, and six blocks. She has now moved past Nicole Ohlde into second place for career blocks with 208.

It is Senior Day in Manhattan, and Bri Craig, Stacey Malone, Antoinette Taylor and Megan Deines will take the court for the last time at home. All four players have taken different paths to Kansas State, but are united in their passion for the school and its fans (Kelly McHugh-Stewart, KStateSports Extra).

The Big 12 Championships are underway at the Lied Recreation Center in Ames, and the first day was big for Kansas State (VIDEO).

Akela Jones and Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye taking first in long jump, while Brady Grunder took the men's weight throw title.

Jones, taking her second Big 12 title in the event, set a new Big 12 meet record with a jump of 6.59m, which was also a new Kansas State record, and a record for the meet venue. Otuonye won his first Big 12 long jump title on his first jump, recording 7.70m.

Grunder finished first in his event with a throw of 20.49m, while Sara Savatovic took second in the women's weight throw competition.

The women are currently in third place with 29 points so far. The men are in second place, partly due to strong showings from Simone Fassina (currently 3rd) and Adam Deterding (currently 4th) in the heptathlon event, with 35 points, just eight points less than the 43 points total from last year's championships.

Wildcats have qualified for finals in nearly every event scheduled for today, including Jones in the 60m hurdles, sprinters A'Keyla Mitchell and Terrell Smith, and mid-distance runners Tia Gamble and Sonia Gaskin.

You can follow today's action using the #KStateTF hashtag on Twitter.

Glenn Gronkowski was in action at the NFL Combines yesterday, working out with the running backs. Most of the questions he fielded, however, had little do with football, and more to do with his brother Rob. Baby Gronk just couldn't get away from questions about the elder Gronkowski's (in)famous "Gronk Cruise," which Glenn wisely opted not to attend (Terez Paylor, KC Star).

Cody Whitehair was also in action yesterday, and still seems to be the top guard on the board, even if his 40 times left something to be desired. He was neither the best nor the worst, so no real damage was done.

Speaking of former Wildcats and the NFL, Rock Cartwright is the new assistant running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, and new coach Hue Jackson has only good things to say (Herbie Teope, Chiefs Digest).