SLATE: Kansas State basketball ready to start season

Basketball

Ken Corbitt previews tonight’s contest against American, noting that the team has more depth this year. Kellis Robinett, meanwhile, says the Wildcats are on a mission to prove something, and also previews the game.

It’s a double-header tonight, as the women will precede the men by taking on Stephen F. Austin. We’ll have your viewing information later this afternoon.

Football

First, we’ll dip over to that weird place with all the hills that the locals call mountains for some reason to see what the enemy has to say about tomorrow’s game. John Antonik at the Williamson Daily News says that West Virginia is hoping to run the ball a lot and hey no wait that’s not how this works guys. Also, Ryan Decker at West Virginia Illustrated has a game preview, and did you know Jayd Kirby leads K-State in tackles for loss? Huh.

Back home, Kellis Robinett discusses K-State’s bowl hopes, which require winning at least one of three games in which the Cats shouldn’t be favored. Kellis also reports on K-State winning the Armed Forces Merit Award, which is actually awarded by the Football Writers Association of America. The Wildcats will be honored tomorrow, which just happens to also be Fort Riley Day. Corbin McGuire also reports on this in today’s Sports Extra.

While West Virginia apparently wants to try to run the ball against a team that can defend the run, Ken Corbitt says K-State wants to try and pass the ball against a team that ranks fourth in the conference in pass defense but ninth in run defense. The Mountaineers allow almost as many yards rushing each weekend as K-State’s third-ranked rush offense gains per game. This all seems a bit out of whack.

Sean Snyder has been named a candidate for the Broyles Award, which goes to the best assistant coach in the land. Four of the last five winners celebrated by landing head coaching gigs within two years: Bob Diaco, Pat Narduzzi, Tom Herman, and Lincoln Riley. The fifth was last year’s winner, one Thomas Brent Venables.

Greg Powers at 247 reports that Dayven Coleman, a 6’2” defensive back from Mesquite (Tex.) West, now has an offer from K-State and he’s not disinterested. This is on the heels of Coleman decommitting from UCLA last weekend.

Volleyball

Susie Fritz announced three new signings for the VolleyCats yesterday. They are Abigail Archibong from Mill Valley in Shawnee, Holly Bonde from Minooka, Ill., and Gloria Mutiri from Sand Springs, Okla.

Track & Cross Country

Ryan Matheny of KMAland in Shenandoah, Iowa, reports on local track star Karley Larson, who committed to K-State on Wednesday.

Baseball

The BatCats, via Twitter, announced two more signings in the last two days: lefty pitcher Jordan Wicks from Conway, Ark. (home of Central Arkansas, so take that, purple bears) and outfielder Blake Burrows from Weatherford, Tex.

The harriers placed 14 runners on the Big 12 All-Academic Cross Country team, ten on the first team.

Rowing

Also via Twitter, a new member of K-State’s crew was revealed. Kati Benhardt of Liberty, Mo., will wear the purple next year.