Entering Tuesday night’s matchup against Baylor, Kansas State needed a difference maker. They found it in senior guard Nate Johnson, who was averaging just 10.7 points entering the game.
PJ Haggerty remained among the nation’s leading scorers, but up until that point had seemed like Kansas State’s only reliable perimeter threat. Against Matthew Driscoll's former team, that narrative was quick to change after a 90-74 rout victory.
Nate Johnson and PJ Haggerty become the first K-State men’s basketball duo to each score 30 points in a game since Michael Beasley and Bill Walker.
Things were good in The Little Apple back in 2008. Frank Martin was roaming the sidelines, Michael Beasley was consistently pouring in 20 points a night, and fan favorite Clent Stewart was doing what he did best – controlling the tempo.
A comparison to 2008 from the 2025-26 team almost feels impossible, but it's not.
Things looked different against Baylor, and not in a bad way. Driscoll, the team's new associate head coach, stepped up after former head coach Jerome Tang was fired on Sunday night.
Without Tang, a different side to Johnson came out, one that hadn’t been seen since his time at Akron. He scored a career-high 33 points, his highest point total since his 31-point performance against Toledo back in March.
It was the first time since Feb. 23, 2008 against Baylor that Kansas State had two players score 30 or more in the same game, when Michael Beasley scored 44 and Bill Walker added 31 for a combined 75 points.
According to ESPN Insights, the pair became just the fifth pair of teammates in Big 12 history to score 30+ points in a game.
P.J. Haggerty and Nate Johnson become the 5th pair of teammates in Big 12 history to score 30+ PTS in a game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Sv7mTBZqYN
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 18, 2026
Could Driscoll, Kansas State have enough gas left in the tank for a tournament run?
With the Big 12 Tournament fast approaching and March right around the corner, there are just two weeks left in the regular season. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they're out of time to make a push for an at-large bid.
And if a turnaround is imminent, it needs to come fast.
K-State needs to manage a similar playing style to what they showcased on Tuesday, and after the 16-point victory against Baylor, there’s no doubt that they’re capable of securing at least another pair of victories in the conference tournament.
But facing contenders like Houston, Iowa State and Arizona in the conference tournament poses a challenge, and Kansas State is bound to run into one of them at some point, if not in the first round.
Stealing that bid, especially one to the NCAA tournament after losing out for a large portion of the year, is going to take more than a miracle.
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