We are really late today, because your benevolent despot succumbed to the sweet, sweet temptation of a thing called sleep. It’s pretty cool. Who knew?
But that’s actually a good thing, as we got a lot of material across the transom today after the point at which we’d normally have posted the Slate, so onward we go:
Men’s Basketball
Ken Corbitt of the Capital-Journal says tomorrow is all about defense, and also notes that Kamau Stokes is taking over the scoring for the Wildcats in addition to running the point.
The Star’s KU beat writer, Jesse Newell, makes the case for the Big 12 as the nation’s top basketball conference... of the last decade. He’s got Ken Pomeroy on his side, too. Meanwhile, his colleague Kellis Robinett offers up this week’s K-State Q&A.
Our colleague John Lowe at The Smoking Musket previews tomorrow’s game, as does the K-State athletic department. That’ll be an absurd 11am tip, although that does have the benefit of allowing you plenty of time in the afternoon to take advantage of tomorrow’s equally absurd weather forecast and grill some dead animals.
Austin Budke’s making the most of that scholarship. He’s been named a COSIDA District 7 Academic All-District selection. He was the only Big 12 player to make the District 7 team, although West Virginia’s Jevon Martin made the District 2 roster. Budke was joined by Creighton’s Tyler Clement, Eric Nakken of Idaho State, James Reid of Boise State, and... well, hell, we could’ve had two of them, since SMU’s Semi Ojeleye rounds out the lineup.
Finally, we have Shelby Mast’s latest bracketology at USA Today, where we find the good guys rushing headlong into an 11-seed clash with Michigan in Dayton.
Football
Max Olson at ESPN ranks the Big 12’s offensive lines, and while he doesn’t have K-State in the top spot he thinks they might be by the end of the season. So far, the ESPN guys have K-State in the top half of the conference at every offensive position — well, they have the Cats sixth at WR, but in today’s roundtable discussing the offensive position rankings, both Olson and Jake Trotter allow that K-State could easily have been fourth rather than sixth.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that while Oklahoma’s got the top returning quarterback, they’re near the bottom of the league at wideout and running back.
Women’s Basketball
K-State also previews tomorrow’s other game, which will be tipping off right around the time you’re all done throwing your remotes through the television after the West Virginia game (which you’ll do win or lose, because West Virginia). The Wildcats host Iowa State at 1pm tomorrow.
Three Big 12 players made the CoSIDA District 7 team from the Big 12. Along with New Mexico’s Cherise Beynon and Mikayla Ferenz of Idaho, the Big 12 was represented by Kelsey Lang of Texas and Oklahoma State’s Kaylee Jensen... and another Wildcat, as Shaelyn Martin earned the honors.
Wrapping up the women’s hoop news, Corbin McGuire offers up the obligatory annual Kelly Thomson story in today’s Sports Extra.
Tennis
At 2:30 today, Missouri (3-1, 0-0) pays a visit to Body First to take on the Wildcats (4-2, 0-0).
Track & Field
The squad splits this weekend, as K-State will send the bulk of its runners to Ames for the Iowa State Classic, which is already underway, while the long and triple jumpers head to Fayetteville for the Tyson Invitational. That begins at 2:30. Both meets continue tomorrow, and both feature strong fields with lots of Power 5 programs.