Monthly Archives: May 2012

John Currie talks Big 12/SEC bowl game, bowls vs. playoff and what’s next for Big 12

May 21, 201212:36 p.m.

While catching up with Kansas State athletic director John Currie over the weekend, I asked him about a ton of different topics. Much of what we talked about was for upcoming stories that will run in the newspaper throughout May and June, but he also shared his thoughts on several pressing matters, such as the new Big 12/SEC champions bowl game, how future bowl games may or may not exist alongside a playoff and the upcoming spring Big 12 meetings.

Here are the highlights:

The Big 12/SEC bowl game, along with the four-team playoff being proposed, could dramatically alter the postseason in college football. How do you see that mixing in with current bowl games?

I have always been a proponent of the bowl system and the bowl experience. It will always be my hope that we can continue to preserve that bowl experience and provide the opportunity for student-athletes to have that opportunity along with alumni, fans, marching band and cheerleaders. We’ll see, I’m encouraged by some of the models that are out there on the playoff. We have had some healthy debate about it, but it is yet to be determined. We still don’t know what it will look like. But back to your question, although I have always been a bowl proponent, I believe that if we end up with a plus-one or a three-game playoff it will be a very positive thing for college football.

Do you want bowl games to be part of the playoff? Or do you want those to remain separate?

There are pros and cons both ways. I would love us to find a way to enhance and protect the bowl system and the bowl experience. There are a lot of opinions on how you do that. At the same time, the opportunity to make things more transparent and understandable for the general public, for our fans and student-athletes would be fine.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball, Big 12, Football | Comments Off

Chester Frazier says he will soon be a Kansas State assistant coach on twitter

May 17, 201211:10 a.m.

Chester Frazier, a former point guard who played under Kansas State basketball coach Bruce Weber at Illinois, will soon become an assistant with the Wildcats, according to his twitter page.

Among the many replies he sent to his followers saying he was headed to Manhattan was this tweet, asking for help on a new twitter handle: “Need a new twitter name – coachfrazierksu? Cfrazksu? CoachCheeseKSU?”

Frazier is currently playing professionally in Germany. His team is in the playoffs, and he won’t begin his duties with K-State until his season is over.

On Wednesday, Gopowercat.com reported that Weber had offered Frazier the final assistant position on his staff and that he was expected to accept the job. K-State sources have told me the deal still isn’t done (Frazier hasn’t even seen Manhattan or talked to any administrators in person yet) but it seems that is nothing more than a formality at this point. Frazier is telling the world he’s coming.

Attempts to reach Frazier have been unsuccessful. He hasn’t responded to messages on his cell phone or e-mail. Weber also hasn’t responded to a message seeking comment.

Frazier will round out Weber’s coaching staff. Chris Lowery and Alvin Brooks III are already in Manhattan, working as assistants. Brad Korn is serving as the director of basketball operations.

Frazier has previous coaching experience. He worked as a graduate assistant/video coordinator with Weber at Illinois until November, when he decided he still had the itch to play and began playing in Germany. He knows Weber’s offense, and is familiar with several of K-State’s players.

Before Weber was hired at K-State, he called Frazier and asked him to check with Rodney McGruder and make sure that he wasn’t looking to transfer with the departure of former coach Frank Martin.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

Bryce Brown credits Bill Snyder for helping him reach the NFL

May 13, 20124:49 p.m.

Most K-State fans have moved on from Bryce Brown. The former running back lasted just three games with the Wildcats, quit the team mid-season without explanation and played no part in their march to the Cotton Bowl.

After transferring in from Tennessee, few in Manhattan ever had a feel for his abilities or what he was capable of. They simply knew him as a top-flight high school recruit who didn’t play up to his potential in college.

Other than impressing the Philadelphia Eagles somewhere along the way, and keeping K-State’s lengthy NFL Draft streak alive last month, that’s how most will remember him around here.

He hasn’t talked much publicly since leaving K-State, but he did open up about his experience today when speaking with Philadelphia media. Specifically, he opened up about his relationship with Bill Snyder, who allowed him to show off his skills in front of NFL scouts at K-State’s pro day.

“Like I tell a lot of people, Coach Snyder had a lot more to do with my process than just (letting) me participate in the pro day,” Brown said. “He helped me find an agent and we used all of his resources. He was heavily involved and I appreciate that. Coach Snyder and I have a good relationship and we still talk from time to time. Our relationship is good.”

Interesting comments. But I suppose they aren’t surprising. When Brown left K-State, Snyder said Brown was going through a difficult time and that he was there to help in anyway he could.

Brown was also asked if he would have done anything differently at K-State.

“It’s been a humbling experience. If I had to go back and change one thing, I wouldn’t change anything,” Brown said. “What I went through is what I had to go through as a person to help me out.”

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments Off

Kansas State basketball attendance ranks 25th nationally in 2011-12 season

May 11, 201210:33 a.m.

By playing in front of an average crowd of 12,783 at Bramlage Coliseum last season, the Kansas State basketball team ranked 25th in national attendance figures, according to figures released by the NCAA.

K-State ranked third in the Big 12 behind Kansas (16,445) and Iowa State (13,015). Kentucky (23,721) led the way nationally, followed by Syracuse (23,618) and Louisville (21,503).

The Big 12 ranked third in conference attendance by averaging 11,057 fans per game behind the SEC (11,513) and the Big 10 (12,868).

All 10 Big 12 teams ranked in the top 100, and so did newcomer West Virginia. TCU just missed the cut. Check out the list below, which includes each school’s national attendance rank and average attendance per home game:

10. Kansas 16,445
24. Iowa St. 13,015
25. Kansas State 12,783
30. Texas 11,950
32. Missouri 11,830
41. West Virginia 9,930
43. Oklahoma St. 9,239
49. Texas Tech 8,665
53. Oklahoma 8,525
62. Baylor 7,914
71. Texas A&M 7,383
NA. TCU 4,581

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

James Watson upset about dismissal

May 8, 20123:28 p.m.

James Watson doesn’t know what he will do now that he is no longer a member of the Kansas State basketball team. He hasn’t gotten that far yet.

All the 6-foot-8 forward has done since learning last week that new Wildcats coach Bruce Weber was not keeping him on the roster is angrily wonder about what went wrong.

“I was so shocked,” Watson said in a phone interview. “I didn’t want to hear what they were telling me. I thought April Fool’s was back I was so shocked. I don’t know why the new coach kicked me off the team. I think it’s really messed up. I could have helped the team next year.

“I was really looking forward to it. I was doing workouts, individuals, lifting weights. I was doing pretty good, too. He told me, ‘You’re doing really good and have more experience than some of the other players.’ And when Frank Martin left he told me, ‘You’re one of the most talented players on the team.’ Now I’m cut. I don’t get it. I guess it hasn’t hit me yet.”

Watson’s emotions aren’t surprising. Any time a coach decides to part ways with a player there are bound to be hurt feelings. In this case, Weber needed to make scholarship room for Chicago-area point guard Michael Orris. Weber originally recruited Orris to Illinois and wanted him to play at K-State. With Watson no longer on the team, Orris has a scholarship.

K-State’s reasons for parting ways with Watson are complicated. Watson, a former Washington State and Cowley College transfer with a rough upbringing (he was adopted at the age of 14 and lost a sister in a car accident), has a heart defect that causes him to faint. It happened when he was at Washington State early in his college career and again last year before the season began.

Watson says he collapsed in the bathroom of his apartment, and an ambulance was sent to his home when he didn’t show up for practice that day. He spent time in the hospital, and spent most of the preseason trying to play catch-up with his teammates. Then he injured his elbow, and his chances of seeing playing time disappeared. He saw action in only one game and was held scoreless.

K-State informed Watson and his family that he will remain on scholarship, but won’t be on the basketball team because of health concerns.

Watson views things differently.

“I feel like he was just trying to open up a scholarship and wanted me off the team,” Watson said. Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

James Watson won’t be back

May 7, 20123:38 p.m.

James Watson has played his final basketball game in a Kansas State uniform, and possibly ever.

The Washington State and Cowley College transfer was told by athletic department officials on Friday that he won’t be retained by new coach Bruce Weber.

According to Watson’s mother, Annette, the decision was based on health concerns. She said Watson has a heart defect that causes him to faint. He began suffering from the problem at Washington State and experienced a scary moment last season when he fainted in his Manhattan apartment and missed a practice.

Because of that health concern, and other injuries, Watson played sparingly during his first season with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-8 junior forward saw time in one game and was held scoreless. He was hoping to contribute as a senior, and was practicing well with Weber in offseason workouts, but that is no longer a possibility.

“Coach Weber had made the decision that James won’t be part of the team anymore,” Annette said by phone. “He thought he had too big of a health risk. James is broken-hearted. He called me the other day and said, ‘I can’t see my life without basketball.’”
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

Must-see video: K-State’s Erik Kynard jumps over Jordan Henriquez with ease

May 4, 201211:29 a.m.

Ever wonder what it would look like to see a guy jump over Kansas State basketball player Jordan Henriquez? Well, it’s your lucky day. K-State high-jumper Erik Kynard did exactly that in this video promoting the Big 12 Track and Field Championships.

Check it out, he clears the 6-foot-11 forward with ease.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

K-State basketball close to neutral-court series with Gonzaga

May 2, 20124:51 p.m.

As long as an unforeseen problem doesn’t come up at the last minute, Kansas State and Gonzaga will play a series of neutral-court games in the next two years.

Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said today the series will begin in Seattle next season with Gonzaga making a return trip to Kansas City or Wichita during the 2013-14 season.

ESPN first reported that K-State was set to play Gonzaga in Seattle this morning.

“It hasn’t been finalized, but it is something we pursued,” Weber said. “We felt we needed to add something on to our nonconference schedule, that’s why we kind of scrambled and got the opportunity with Gonzaga. They will return to Kansas City or Wichita the next year.”

So which one will it be? The Sprint Center or Intrust Bank Arena? Weber isn’t sure.

The Wildcats have been playing nuetral-court games in Kansas City for years and will play Florida there next season. They also made a trip to Wichita last season for a game with West Virginia. Big crowds have filled both stadiums. K-State wants to appeal to fans in both areas. It’s a tough decision. A tough decision that Weber might not be able to make on his own.

“That’s more up to the administration,” Weber said. “We would like to play a game in Kansas City as many years as possible; if not every year, most years. But I know at the same time that Kansas State had a real good crowd when they played West Virginia in Wichita. We have good fans in that part of the state. We would like to keep Wichita in mind, too.”

Wherever the game ends up, Weber is glad he will get to test his team next season with a quality game away from home. Other tests at George Washington, against Florida and the preseason NIT were already on the schedule, but Weber thought the Wildcats needed another challenge. So he passed on a guaranteed game against a low-major school at Bramlage Coliseum to start this series.

“When we looked at the schedule, we wanted to make sure we had enough quality opponents and maybe work toward getting a game in Kansas City or Wichita the next year,” Weber said. “I have done the Battle in Seattle before and enjoyed it. Hopefully it works out again.”

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

A few minutes with … Alvin Brooks III

May 2, 201210:13 a.m.

Alvin Brooks III hasn’t been in Manhattan long. When the new Kansas State assistant coach told Bruce Weber he would be joining his staff last week, the first thing he did was hit the recruiting trail.

It wasn’t until Tuesday that he finally flew into town and unpacked his bags. He can already tell he’s going to like his surroundings, though. The former Sam Houston State assistant has been working hard for years to reach this level. He started off as a player in junior college before transferring to Idaho State. Then, six months out of school, he decided he didn’t like the career he had planned for himself as a financial adviser. So he got into coaching at the juco level and began working his way up.

He comes to K-State with eight years of college coaching experience. Though he has never coached in a conference similar to the Big 12, he knows someone who has. His father, Alvin Brooks II, is a former Houston head coach and has served as an assistant at Texas-El Paso, Texas A&M and Kentucky. He currently works as an associate head coach at Houston under James Dickey.

About one hour after viewing his K-State office for the first time, Brooks III was nice enough to talk about all that and more. Here are a few of the highlights:

How long have you known Bruce Weber, and what appealed to you about Kansas State?

I knew him because when I was at Bradley we recruited the same areas. I talked to him a lot on the road. I knew him and Coach (Chris) Lowery from when I was at Bradley. Coach Weber is a good person, but also a good coach. Coach Lowery is the same. The tradition you guys have here, and the fan base … I had no idea the fan base was like it is. It’s just a great opportunity. I think it will be a really good challenge.

One of the first things Weber said when he got here was that he wanted to bring in an assistant who could recruit Texas. I’m guessing you’re that guy. What’s your philosophy on recruiting the Lone Star State?

First off, it’s a huge state. I think it’s going to be fun recruiting the state just because it’s huge. There are a lot of players there. It’s even better now because more and more schools are recruiting Texas because of the reputation that it has lately. I think the biggest thing is just using the relationships I already have and building on more that I will gain. At Kansas State, it will be a place to talk to them about and their recent exposure. I think it will be fairly easy to get in the door. I’ll just have to do the rest from there.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under A few minutes with ..., Basketball | Comments Off