K-State still in tourney hunt against OU

Basketball

Kansas State takes on Oklahoma in Norman today as part of a two-game road trip. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 PM CT and the game will be on ESPNU.

A win will go a long way to keeping the Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament hopes alive. In a similar must-win situation last weekend, Kansas State was able to pull off a road win over Texas, and the hope is that the team can keep it together for the last few games. As Bruce Weber noted, “[t]here’s a lot to play for. A lot of good things can happen.” (Ken Corbitt, Topeka Capital-Journal)

Meanwhile, the Sooners have fallen on hard times themselves. Oklahoma has lost nine of the last 10 games and is currently in last place in the conference. That’s a precipitous fall for a team that made the Final Four just last year, but many of the losses have been heartbreaking single-digit losses, and the Sooners still think a small turnaround is possible. (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle)

Oh, and Lon Kruger is going for win #600 today. (Eric Bailey, Tulsa World)

But before that Oklahoma tilt, we have the Sunflower Showdown! The women will take to the hardwood against Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse for the 116th meeting of one of women’s basketball’s longest-running rivalries. The game tips off at 2 PM and will be available on ESPN3 and on the K-State Sports Network.

The Wildcats are playing for their 21st victory this season, a seventh straight win over Kansas, as well as an 11th Big 12 win. The ten wins so far are the most for a Kansas State squad since 2008-09 season and since the move to an 18-game round-robin format in the 2011-12 season.

Junior Shaelyn Martin put it the best: “I’m undefeated against them and I want to keep that going.”

Jeff Mittie is pleased with the progress his team has made this season, and attributes the success to great play from the veterans. (Corbitt, Capital-Journal)

Track and Field

Janeé Kassanavoid continued her winning ways on the first day of the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Ames. She was the favorite to take the title and did not disappoint, winning the weight throw event with a mark of 21.32m. This is the 10th weight throw title in school history and the third in four years.

A number of Wildcats qualified for race finals yesterday. Currently, the women’s team is in second place with 36 points, just two off the lead set by Baylor. The men’s team is currently in a tie for fourth place with Texas Tech. Kansas currently leads the standings.

Day two events begin shortly at 11 AM CT. You can follow the results at Iowa State’s official site HERE or by following @kstatesports on Twitter.