Wildcat guard David Sloan to Transfer

A smattering of sports news today. A smattering! Even that is enough to have us excited.

Men’s Basketball

Just yesterday we reported that Bruce Weber’s squad was up to the allotted 13 scholarship participants. A day later, the Wildcats have a scholarship open again. David Sloan, the junior college transfer who would have been a senior in the coming season, has entered the transfer portal* and will not return to finish his career as a Wildcat. Coverage of Rueadale “Rudi” Williams’ commitment yesterday hinted that Sloan may be transferring, so it does not come as a complete surprise. Best wishes, David, wherever you land.

This late in the game, is there any player worthy of filling that vacant locker in the K-State locker room? Teams have been coveting Omaha shooting guard Donovan Williams ever since he decommitted from Nebraska and reopened his recruitment. Williams is a big-time scorer, and Bruce Weber made his interest known early, attending several games and doing his best to attract Williams, who averaged 28.3 points per game and posted 44 and 50- point totals in two games this season, to Manhattan. He would be the topping of what is already the deepest, most respected recruiting class of Weber’s tenure at K-State.

Just yesterday, the Lincoln North Star product narrowed his list to three schools. The finalists: K-State, Oklahoma State and Texas. One way or another, we’ll be seeing Williams play in Bramlage. Williams plans to announce his final decision on Monday.

Ryan Black covered Bard Korn’s introductory press conference as the former K-State assistant takes the helm as head coach at Southeast Missouri State. Korn echoed the “build it day-by-day” philosophy of Coach Klieman...and Coach Snyder...and others.

* (Divergent flight of fancy: I’d like to enter this mystical “transfer portal” myself, just to see what it looks like. I imagine a whirling vortex of light and crackling electricity that sweeps you up and drops you off at a random destination—more often than not, a lonely outpost as far from the NCAA tournament as the Bowling Green.)**

**(Bowling Green has not made the NCAA field since 1968.)

Women’s Basketball

Jeff Mittie landed a useful graduate transfer for the women’s squad when Sydney Goodson, the third-leading score for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders last season, announced that she will finish her career in Manhattan. Goodson averaged 7.9 pionts, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 2019-2020. She averaged 10.8 points per game as a sophomore and should provide perimeter help for a team that desperately needs it to compliment the inside exploits of Ayoka Lee.

Track and Field and this stupid virus emergency

New K-State Sports Extra guy Greg McCune has not had much to write about since accepting the position, but he talked to track standout Lauren Taubert, who is looking really hard for silver linings in the season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch Party

Our next Wildcat Nostalgia watch party will feature Jacob Pullen’s senior performance against Kansas in Bramlage Coliseum. Jake went off for 38 points that night, perhaps saving a season that was swirling precipitously near the drain. 7:00 Central Daylight Time, Wednesday night. Join us for the fun.