The Kansas State Wildcats won’t be dancing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but that doesn’t mean March loses its magic in Manhattan. There’s still plenty for fans to latch onto as the madness unfolds.
Three reasons Wildcats fans should stay locked on March Madness
March is the ultimate season for basketball fans, not just for fans of tournament teams. For Kansas State, it’s a chance to watch potential names in the transfer portal and see who might come available.
The lower-seeded matchups are a breeding ground for mid-major talents to make a name for themselves. Teams like Texas used similar runs to scout names like Max Abmas from Oral Roberts among others.
For the Wildcats, the intrigue isn’t limited to former Belmont players – even though that’s still worth watching. The real fun is spotting unexpected breakout names, like past Cinderella heroes Doug Edert, D.J. Burns, or even former Wildcat Nijel Pack.
And honestly, those games are just fun. Even without a rooting interest, there’s real enjoyment in going against the grain and watching everyone else’s brackets bust.
Showing up to hate watch the rival schools adds a new layer of excitement
Let’s face it, this is March. There is rarely ever any conference rematches during the tournament with the exception of the NIT. If you’re a Little Apple native, that makes rooting against teams like Kansas and Iowa State easy.
14-over-3 and even 15-over-2 upsets aren’t common – but they’re always lurking. With Iowa State as a 2-seed and Kansas as a 3-seed, Wildcats fans can keep an eye on potential transfer portal targets while also hoping to see a couple of Big 12 rivals go down.
It’s a sort of revenge that might not come face-to-face, but still feels good nonetheless. Especially when it comes at the expense of a rival.
And that’s not just limited to the tournament, either. Other contests like the College Basketball Crown in April present similar opportunities.
Backing the Big 12 Conference among other Power Five schools
March doesn’t have to be about a single team – it can also hang in the balance of how different Power Five conferences stack up. Comparing the Big 12, SEC, ACC, etc. make it easy to retain bragging rights going into the 2027 season.
Schools like Auburn, Texas, or even Cincinnati have the chance to prove, or disprove the committee’s seeding decisions, giving fans a chance to evaluate whether the bracket got it right.
It’s a perfect opportunity to roast a few ‘experts’ when the shoe fits. So sit back, and just enjoy the chaos. Opportunities like this only come around once a year.
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