Here we are again Kansas State fans. The Wildcats survived their first game in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. Now it is time for David to face Goliath, and we all know how that story ended.
Kansas State took down No. 6 Iowa State at the end of the regular season to put themselves in a better position to make the NCAA Tournament. To start the Big 12 Tournament, Joe Lunardi's Bracketology had the Wildcats in the "Win here, then win again" category. His most recent Bracketology still has them in that category, but now moved into the "Next Four Out" stage.
This does not put Kansas State in March Madness, but it gives them a better opportunity to get in. I believe they can make it in if they beat Iowa State in the quarterfinals, but some people feel they may need one more win after that.
"The story is the other team in the state of Kansas and that's Kansas State. ... If Kansas State beats Iowa State again, I think they're one more win away after that from playing their way into the field."
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 14, 2024
—@JonRothstein on @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/3cIUoVHTmU
Head coach Jerome Tang believes that his team can do this. He believes that the only team standing in their way is themselves. Whenever Kansas State loses, a lot of the time it is because they're shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers or untimely fouls.
In the first have against Texas, the Wildcats stood in thier own way by turning the ball over eight times allowing Texas to score 14 points off turnovers. Then in the second half, they cleaned up those turnovers and took care of the basketball. They turned the ball over just two times in the second half, the lowest in a half all season.
Move it out the way#KStateMBB x @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/7RVgEwedmf
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) March 14, 2024
Now the Wildcats are still in survival mode, they have to keep winning to better their odds of getting into the NCAA Tournament. Kansas State was able to score off turnovers in their recent game against Iowa State and they made the Cyclones uncomfortable in the paint.
If Kansas State can replicate thier play and keep the mindset of one game at a time right now, they could find themselves in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament, and just maybe in March Madness. It is still win or go home and Tang and his squad aren't ready to make any travel plans just yet.
How to watch:
Channel: ESPN 2 I Fubo TV
Date: Thursday, March 14
Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Radio: K-State Sports Network
Venue: T-Mobile Center