Basketball hopes to rebound

Basketball

The Kansas State men’s and women’s teams will attempt to bounce back this weekend from stunning losses in their respective Big 12 openers.

The men face a tall order in taking on #11 Texas Tech on the road in Lubbock. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM, and the game will air on ESPNU.

The 10-3 Wildcats will be without the services of Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade this afternoon, as both are injured, and they’re following a humbling loss to Texas with a game against a team that is undefeated at home, is coming off a road win over West Virginia, and has not given up 70 points once this season. Still, last season, Kansas State actually went on a short winning streak after an embarrassing loss to West Virginia, and Bruce Weber cautiously hopes for more of the same this season (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle).

Meanwhile, the women’s team is also licking its collective wounds after a thorough beatdown from Iowa State, the program’s seventh consecutive loss in a conference opener. They’ll look to rebound by taking the court at home at 7 PM tonight against Oklahoma (5-7, 1-0 Big 12). The game can be seen on FOX College Sports Central and streamed for free on KStateHD.tv.

The Wildcats have a seven game home winning streak and are also tied 15-15 all-time with Oklahoma. Senior Kayla Goth, current Big 12 leader in assists, is just one point short of 1000 for her career.

Football

BizonCats assemble! North Dakota State plays Eastern Washington today for all the marbles in the Division I Football Championship Game. Kickoff is at 11 AM and the game will be live on ESPN2.

This will be Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman’s last game on the sidelines for the Bison and a chance to send his seniors out on a high note. He’s appreciative that both NDSU and Kansas State have been supportive of his attempt to wear two hats for the past few weeks.

Speaking of coaching, Bill Snyder “retired” from Kansas State just a few weeks ago, and now we have details of his agreement with the school, including a $3 million payout Kansas State will give Snyder quarterly in addition to his $250,000 annual salary for being a university ambassador. Along with the costs of bringing on a new coaching staff, there are also buyouts for former Kansas State assistants, all of which is costing Kansas State a significant amount, but the figures are not unreasonable given how modern college football works.

Track

Although Kansas State is very much #HighJumpU, the track program also has a long history of success in the throws events, going all the way back to the late 1930s. Nathan Ott, who coaches throws, is well aware of this history and hopes to continue it.

The track teams are back in action next weekend at the Wildcat Invitational.