Home Game: You Need to Watch Kansas State in NCAA Tourney

Mar 5, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Kindred Wesemann (24) drives to the basket in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jessica Morton (21) in the first quarter during the women's Big 12 conference tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Kindred Wesemann (24) drives to the basket in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jessica Morton (21) in the first quarter during the women's Big 12 conference tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas State University has a rare opportunity this weekend. They host the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Jeff Mittie’s Wildcats will be in the women’s version of March Madness and you need to be there. For the second straight season Kansas State is in the tournament but this year they play at Bramlage Coliseum.

On the other hand, the Kansas State men are in California for their second round game.

If you wished you could attend the NCAA tournament, this is your chance.

Take your daughter, son or their whole team. The last time I remember an opportunity this close was 2011 when Wichita hosted the NCAA women’s tournament.

Mar 5, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Kindred Wesemann (24) drives to the basket in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jessica Morton (21) in the first quarter during the women’s Big 12 conference tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Kindred Wesemann (24) drives to the basket in front of West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jessica Morton (21) in the first quarter during the women’s Big 12 conference tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Communities plan, organize and lobby for these opportunities.

Manhattan is actually helping the NCAA out and Kansas State was ready to make it happen.

Of course, if the Wildcats 22-10 had not done their part to earn their 15th trip in school history, this would not have happened.

The ‘Cats are in the Lexington Regional and will play a tough Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs own a 22-game win streak –second longest in the nation coming into the tourney.

At 12:30 Saturday, one of the nation’s perennial powers Stanford will play New Mexico State. The last time Stanford missed the NCAA tourney was 1986.

Since Stanford is one of the top seeds, they would typically host this first round of the tournament. The Pac-12 Conference is using their facilities for the conference gymnastics championships this weekend.

Perfect for Kansas State University and the city of Manhattan.

Next: Madness: Why Kansas State Men Should Beat Cincinnati

Now Jeff Mittie’s team gets a home game in the NCAA tournament. It may never happen again. After 30-years, didn’t Stanford think they’d need their gym for basketball? Sure, it was their turn to host the girls on the balance beam and Mitte’s Wildcats are ready for another home game. Go support them and watch some great women’s basketball.

The ‘Cats won 13 games at home this season and I expect them to win at Bramlage this weekend.

Schedule

Schedule