K-State unlikely to return to Sprint Center for nonconference game next season

May 15, 20133:32 p.m.


Kansas State has played a nonconference basketball game at Kansas City’s Sprint Center in each of the past six years, but that streak is unlikely to continue.

On Wednesday, Bruce Weber said the Wildcats are close to finalizing their 2013-14 schedule. And their first trip to Sprint Center won’t come until the Big 12 Tournament.

“Part of the problem with Kansas City is, if you are going to go there you want a good game,” Weber said by phone. “What happens the year after? You have to go on the road and play a quality opponent. Next year (2014-15) we have the Maui Invitational and the Big12/SEC challenge on the road. We already have some road games and a tough tournament.

“That was part of our dilemma. We looked for maybe the possibility of some teams playing us in Kansas City without a return, but we just couldn’t find a good enough opponent. I don’t think that is going to happen.”
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments

Collin Klein impresses Texans coach Gary Kubiak, but doesn’t get contract

May 14, 201310:49 a.m.


The way Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak praised Collin Klein over the weekend, it sounded like the former Kansas State quarterback was on his way to signing a free-agent contract with the NFL team.

“I tell you what, it was impressive,” Kubiak told reporters when asked about Klein’s weekend performance. “I’m fixing to go up and have a long talk with him. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but to watch how far the guy came in two and a half days; (he) really played probably his best day out here today. He’s found a way his whole career, and he’s probably going to find a way this time, too.”

Klein will have to find a way with another NFL team, as it turns out. The Texans didn’t offer Klein a contract, and he left Houston still in search of a NFL home.

Those who watched the Texans’ rookie camp indicated Klein got off to a slow start, but showed rapid improvement.

“He’s got a ton (of talent),” Kubiak said. “For what he did in college and what Jake (Plummer) has been doing with him, he’s come a long way, as far as working under center and stuff. The arm strength is there. The delivery is a little different but you work with that. But his instincts as a football player you can’t coach; the way he just takes off and stuff like that.”
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By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , Filed under Football | Comments

K-State closing in on third conference championship of 2012-13 academic year

May 13, 20134:28 p.m.

The Kansas State baseball team is on the verge of making a special year even better for the Wildcats’ athletic department.

The Bat Cats (37-15, 14-7 Big 12) hold a two-game lead over Oklahoma and West Virginia in the Big 12 standings. They can clinch at least a share of their first Big 12 championship with one more victory, and can clinch an outright title with two wins or one win combined with a West Virginia loss.

K-State, which broke into the Baseball America Top 25 poll at No. 19 on Monday, hosts a three-game series against the Sooners this weekend at Tointon Family Stadium. Given all that is on the line, and the big crowds that should turn out with good weather on the way, it might be the biggest series in program history.

With just one victory, the Wildcats will have their third conference championship of the 2012-13 academic year. The football team won 11 games to claim the crown in December. The men’s basketball team shared the Big 12 title with Kansas in March. The baseball team can add to the trophy collection and make it a Trifecta this weekend.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under baseball, Basketball, Football | Comments

Maine transfer Justin Edwards picks K-State

May 4, 20139:24 a.m.

Maine transfer Justin Edwards arrived at Kansas State for an official visit on Thursday. He committed to the Wildcats on Saturday.

That’s how quickly Edwards was sold on the idea of finishing his college basketball career at K-State, according to a source with knowledge of Edwards’ decision.

(Update, he has since made things official with a twitter announcement)

Edwards, a 6-foot-3 wing who averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore with Maine, should provide key scoring for K-State during the 2014-15 season. He will have to sit out a year, because of NCAA transfer rules, but will have two years of eligibility remaining after that. Edwards was considered one of the better transfers on the market. He chose to transfer from Maine in order to play in a more prestigious conference as an upperclassman.

Edwards, originally from Canada, was a second-team all-conference guard last season, and hopes to add experience, size and scoring to K-State’s lineup. He also received interest from Creighton, Iowa State and a handful of other programs.

Here is a story about Edwards’ decision to transfer. Playing at a higher level was something he always wanted to try.

Edwards hasn’t yet returned calls seeking comment, but I hope to have a few quotes to pass along later today.

It wasn’t all good news for K-State on the recruiting front Saturday, though. California power forward Tanner Lancona cancelled his scheduled visit to Manhattan and committed to St. Louis, his father confirmed via text. He also visited Colorado State.

That leaves the Wildcats with one available scholarship to use for the class of 2013. Guards Marcus Foster, Jevon Thomas and Wesley Iwundu have signed along with big man Neville Fincher. Another guard, Nigel Johnson, has committed to K-State. Expect K-State coaches to continue searching for a forward to round out the class.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball, Recruiting | Comments

Justin Edwards, Tanner Lancona visits highlight important recruiting weekend

May 3, 201310:29 a.m.

With two recruits on campus, this is shaping up to be an important weekend for the Kansas State basketball team. The Wildcats have two available scholarships remaining, and are currently using them to target Justin Edwards and Tanner Lancona.

Both players have re-emerged on the recruiting scene recently.

Edwards, a 6-foot-3 wing from Canada, decided to transfer from Maine in March in hopes of finishing his college career at a higher level. He averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore with Maine and is now receiving interest from K-State, Creighton, Iowa State, St. Louis and several other programs. CBS Sports reported that Edwards began his official visit at K-State on Thursday. He has also visited Iowa State and Creighton. Edwards told Gopowercat.com this week that he will take his time deciding on a transfer destination and may continue taking visits.

“I’m not trying to rush into anything yet,” Edwards told the site.

Edwards will have to sit out a year wherever he transfers, but could help K-State during the 2014-15 season. With four high school seniors signed and another committed, the Wildcats would welcome the added experience of a transfer.

They would also welcome a big man who can play next year. That’s where Lancona, a 6-foot-9 power forward from California, comes in.

Lancona originally signed with Washington State, but was released from his scholarship for what the school described as a “mutual decision.” He has since received interest from K-State, Colorado State, St. Louis and BYU. He has visited St. Louis and Colorado State within the last week, and will tour K-State this weekend. Lancona’s father told me via text that Lancona will choose between the three programs quickly.

“Decision coming ASAP,” he said. “Maybe by Monday.”

Lancona is considered a three-star prospect by most recruiting services, and averaged 19 points and eight rebounds as a senior at Tesoro High School. He is capable of scoring inside, shooting from the perimeter and making crisp passes. His talents could fit into Bruce Weber’s motion offense well at either small forward or power forward. Weber liked Lancona’s game enough to visit his school in California and speak with Lancona for more than an hour while there.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball, Recruiting | Comments

Robert Rose hopes a big spring game will lead to a big season

April 30, 201311:22 a.m.


Robert Rose had trouble sleeping the night before Kansas State’s spring game.

With starting running back John Hubert sidelined by an undisclosed injury (he could be seen walking with a limp) the seldom-used senior knew he was going to receive the bulk of the carries for the Purple Team. The opportunity excited him, and he took advantage of it by rushing for 141 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches.

His best run came on a 33-yard gain up the left side, but he looked good all afternoon against K-State’s overmatched second-string defense. Rose has played well in the spring game before, but he thinks this performance was a sign of things to come. He expects to take on a bigger role next season.

“I sure hope so. That would be great,” Rose said. “But I will just keep improving, go back and look at the spring game. Even though I did some things well I feel like I could have done some things better. Just go back and look at film and look and see what I can improve on and use this summer to propel me to a situation where I can say, ‘Now I feel like I should be playing somewhere in this offense.’ And they will fit me in the offense.”
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments

K-State fullback Glenn Gronkowski shows promise, toughness during spring game

April 29, 20132:35 p.m.


While his older brother was making headlines during his visit to Manhattan over the weekend, Glenn Gronkowski was showing Kansas State fans what he may be capable of next season.

The redshirt freshman fullback was one of the Wildcats’ top young performers at the spring game on Saturday.

Gronkowski, who served as the first-string fullback for the Purple Team, rushed for 19 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown. He showed both promise and toughness while making two highlight plays.

The first came on a third-and-one, when he took a handoff up the middle and muscled his way through a pile of tacklers for a first down.

The second was an eight-yard catch and run for a touchdown. On the play, he caught a pass from Jake Waters just short of the end zone and absorbed a hard hit near the goal line. The would-be tackler fell back, but Gronkowski stayed vertical and sauntered in for a touchdown.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments

After going undrafted, Collin Klein excited to sign free-agent deal with Houston Texans

April 27, 20139:08 p.m.


Collin Klein hoped he would get selected in the NFL Draft, but when it didn’t happen the former Kansas State quarterback remained confident about his NFL future — for good reason.

Interested teams began calling as soon as the draft ended, and he was quickly presented with several quality options.

After evaluating them with his family and his agent, he decided to sign a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Klein said by phone. “I’m so happy to be able to compete and be a Texan.”

Klein will soon travel to Houston and compete for a roster spot at the team’s rookie camp. He said the Texans are interested in him as a quarterback, the position where he led K-State to 21 victories the past two seasons and was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season.

Many have doubted his ability to play quarterback at the next level, but he will soon get the opportunity.

“I think the coaching staff is excellent and I really feel like it’s where I need to be,” Klein said of the Texans organization. “I’m so thrilled and so excited to sink my teeth into the playbook and get working and get going.”

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments

Former K-State football players find NFL homes during and after draft

April 27, 20137:36 p.m.

By now, you probably know Arthur Brown is the newest linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.

You likely also know Chris Harper is on his way to the Seattle Seahawks.

Odds are you heard about the Kansas City Chiefs drafting Braden Wilson in the sixth round.

By the way, Wilson had a good quote about Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder preparing him for the NFL: “He is very demanding of time and effort. What he demands from you is as much as you’ll see from anybody. I’m fortunate enough to have been through his programs. I’ll be ready for the next level.”

But you might not know where K-State’s other NFL hopefuls that were passed over in the draft ended up. That’s where this blog comes in. Below is a list of former Wildcats that signed free-agent contracts Saturday evening. I will update it throughout the night when I hear of new signings.

Collin Klein
When he went undrafted, many labeled Klein as the top college player heading into the free-agent market. After all, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season and led K-State to 21 wins during his final two years. Several teams were likely interested in his services, but he chose the Houston Texans.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments

Former K-State assistant Brad Underwood thrilled to take over at Stephen F. Austin

April 26, 20131:15 p.m.

One of the most fascinating conversations I had with Brad Underwood while he was as an assistant at Kansas State revolved around his decision to leave Daytona Beach Community College for K-State.

He enjoyed being a head coach at the junior college level, living near the beach and working for people who never told him no. But he left that all behind to become the director of basketball operations for the Wildcats in 2006. The new title wasn’t as glamorous, but he was heading home (the McPherson native is a K-State alum) and he was getting the chance to work with Bob Huggins and Frank Martin. Ultimately, he thought the move would help him reach his dream of becoming a head coach at the Division I level.

Seven years later, his plan paid off. Underwood is the new head coach at Stephen F. Austin, a mid-major team that won the Southland Conference, beat Oklahoma and went 27-5 last season.

Underwood was introduced at a news conference earlier this week, and has been working around the clock since. But he was nice enough to talk about his new gig during a short lunch break. Below are the highlights of the conversation.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments