Slate: Diversity and Inclusion and Sooners on Tap

It’s cold in Manhattan. Like crazy stupid cold. Stay safe out there Wildcats.

Basketball

We’ve got pretty much an all-basketball Slate for you today. First up, Kellis, via the Eagle, has a story on the strong emergence of freshman Cartier Diarra, who is making it hard to miss Kamau Stokes. Tim Bisel at the Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Cats are looking to bounce back, even with OU and their star Trae Young on tap for this evening’s game.

Over on the OU side of things, the Sooners are looking to avoid recent pitfalls in Bramlage (Cody Stavenhagen, Tulsa World). Lon Kruger’s bunch hold a five game losing streak in Manhattan, including the big upset in 2016 when the Cats, who would finish 5-13 and miss post-season play, beat the then-No. 1 Sooners (Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman).

Tonight’s game is the first-ever Diversity and Inclusion game. It is a part of K-State Athletics’ five-year, comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Plan that launched last fall. Jon Morse will have all the important How to Watch information a little later this morning, but K-State has announced that the first 1,000 fans at Bramlage will receive a purple wristband that has “Family: Diverse and Together” printed on it, while diversity and inclusion t-shirts will be available for purchase on the concourse.

Finally, be sure an check back around 1pm CST, as Luke Thompson and Eric Rubottom chat with Steven Schoon, associate director of athletic communications and men’s basketball sports information director at TCU, for the latest installment fo Bring on the PodCats.

Football

Caught just before publish, Gracey Terrill reports that Winston Dimel has officially announced he is foregoing his final year at K-State and will transfer to a different program for his last year of eligibility. Since Winston has graduated, he can transfer without sitting out a year. His main transfer options right now are Missouri, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin, and did not indicate he is considering following his dad, Dana Dimel, to UTEP.

Also, K-State Athletics and the K-State football team have just officially announced the hiring of coaches Zach Hanson and Eric Hickson. Hanson will coach tight ends and assist with the o-line, while Hickson will coach running backs. The pair split the duties of former Wildcat offensive coordinator Dane Dimel, as well as become the ninth and tenth coaches on the Wildcat football staff. The tenth coach was approved last year by the NCAA. No news yet on who will be named coordinator (or co-coordinator) for the offense.

Other

It’s been 50 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at K-State, and so K-State is hosting a series of events over the course of week as part of MKL Observance week. On Thursday, the 25th, Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the late Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will give a lecture at 12:30 p.m. in the K-State Alumni Center’s Banquet Room. The lecture is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. More details can be found on K-State’s Observance Week information page.