Slate: Wildcats try to keep perfect record intact against Oklahoma State

Here are today’s K-State links to sate your appetite while you wait for a 6 p,m. kickoff to the Big 12 season.

Previously

Yesterday afternoon Drew highlighted the keys for K-State’s offense against the Oklahoma State D. He’s optimistic, folks. AMS brought you all the details about where and how to watch the game tonight at 6 P.M. (Hint: you’ll need a subscription and an internet feed to get this one.)

Football

Kellis Robinett thinks K-State will defy the oddsmakers, who predict a 4-point Cowboy victory, and pull out a close win behind Skylar Thompson, who is 2-0 in his career against the ‘Pokes.

Among his nine coaching stops in college football, K-State cornerbacks coach Van Malone spent three years in Stillwater, which lends a little nostalgia to today’s contest for him. On the opposing sideline, former Wildcat offensive line coach Charlie Dickie now wears the Halloween colors in Stillwater. K-State left tackle Scott Frantz credits Dickie with much of his success and says he can’t wait to hear his old coach barking at officials, trying to get them to flag him for holding. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy does not believe his squad gains any particular advantage from Dickie’s familiarity with K-State’s personnel.

When defensive end Kyle Ball was unable to participate in Spring practice due to a pectoral tear, he became a teacher for the other defensive linemen. That approach helped him fully learn the defense, and both Coach Klieman and Ball’s teammates gush about him, calling him a complete player.

Beneath the border, Bill Haisten at the Tulsa World discusses just how close the series between K-State and Oklahoma State has been during Mike Gundy’s tenure. The ‘Pokes hold a 6-5 advantage during that time, with 9 of the 11 games being closely contested.

Among the “three thoughts” on today’s game from the Oklahoma State student newspaper is the notion that K-State’s schedule has been weak and that the ‘Cats, apart from having a stellar offensive line, are too slow to compete with the Cowboys. Cue the outrage.

Basketball

That’s right. On the day of the league football opener, we interrupt with some hoops talk. Bruce Weber and the basketball team start practice this week, and the Eagle provides video of Bruce Weber talking about Xavier Sneed, the freshman infusion and the importance of championship DNA in the program.

Tennis

At the SMU Invitational on Friday, juniors Rosanna Maffei and Ioana Gheorghita won one of two doubles matches. In singles competition, Maffei would race to a 6-0 win in the first set but lose the match two sets to one against South Carolina’s Elise Mills. She will face Sonia Smagina of Kansas today.