Category Archives: Basketball

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

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

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

Tanner Lancona to visit K-State

April 25, 20136:05 p.m.

Kansas State basketball coach Bruce Weber’s search for a big man to add to the Wildcats’ 2013 recruiting class recently took him to California, where he talked with 6-foot-9 power forward Tanner Lancona for more than one hour during an in-school visit.

The chat apparently left an impression on Lancona. His father, Sean, says K-State is now one of four schools Lancona is considering. Lancona will take an official visit to K-State next weekend (May 3-5).

He is also considering St. Louis, which he will visit this weekend, along with Colorado State and BYU.

Here is Lancona’s recruiting profile at ESPN.com. Here is one of his highlight videos. The Tesoro High School big man originally signed with Washington State, but the school released him from his National Letter of Intent last month for what was classified as a “mutual decision.” Lancona’s father said college coaches have been calling him non stop since.

Lancona averaged 19 points and eight rebounds as a high school senior. He has the ability to score inside and shoot from the perimeter.

K-State could use another post player after the transfer of Adrian Diaz. Thomas Gipson, D.J. Johnson and newcomer Neville Fincher are the only big men currently on the roster.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball, Recruiting | Comments

Angel Rodriguez transfer creates multiple possibilities for K-State’s new starting five

April 23, 20131:01 p.m.


With Angel Rodriguez coming back as a junior, Kansas State appeared poised to return to the NCAA Tournament and finish in the top three of the Big 12 standings next season.

Now that the talented point guard has announced his intentions to transfer, the Wildcats’ streak of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances is in jeopardy. There is no telling where they will finish in a weakened Big 12, but they are clearly a tier below league favorites Oklahoma State and Kansas.

Nothing separates them from Iowa State, Baylor and Oklahoma, which also lose the bulk of their talent and experience after runs to the postseason.

In Rodriguez, K-State loses a two-year starter who averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 assists on a team that won 27 games and shared the Big 12 championship. He would have been one of the top returning players in the conference, and one of the top point guards in the country.

Now, the only returning guard with significant playing time under his belt is Will Spradling. He may have to take over point guard duties, at least initially until recently committed Nigel Johnson transitions to the college game and Jevon Thomas becomes eligible after the first semester. Shane Southwell looks like K-State’s top returning player after averaging 8.4 points as a junior, but his improved season came as a hybrid power forward. He might have to move back to guard or small forward.

Fortunately for coach Bruce Weber, Thomas Gipson shouldn’t face much of a transition in the post coming off an above-average sophomore season. But will he play beside D.J. Johnson in a big lineup with Neville Fincher and Nino Williams coming off the bench? Or will Williams start at power forward while Johnson comes off the bench?
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments

K-State lands point guard Nigel Johnson

April 21, 20138:16 a.m.

Kansas State picked up its newest basketball commitment late Saturday night from point guard Nigel Johnson.

Johnson is a 6-foot-1, 170-pounder from Upper Marlboro, Md. He plays for Riverdale Baptist and the familiar AAU team DC Assault, which Michael Beasley, Rodney McGruder and Jamar Samuels all used to play for.

Here is Johnson’s Rivals profile. His other offers came from mid-major programs, but Missouri showed interest in him. He was originally a George Washington commit, but re-opened his recruitment a few weeks ago. K-State offered him a scholarship on Thursday, and he committed quickly.

K-State lacks depth at guard with the departure of Martavious Irving and the transfer of Michael Orris. The possibility of early playing time appealed to Johnson.

“I felt like I could definitely come in right away and make an impact,” Johnson told the website DMVElite.com. “They told me that I can come in right away and be a major contributor.”

K-State has one basketball scholarship remaining to use for the 2013 recruiting class or save for the 2014 class. Johnson will join Marcus Foster, Wesley Iwundu, Jevon Thomas and Neville Fincher next season. All four have signed with the Wildcats.

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball, Recruiting | Comments

Oklahoma State new Big 12 hoops favorite

April 17, 20131:59 p.m.


It’s official. Marcus Smart is putting off his NBA career for at least one year to return to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season.

To say his decision was unexpected would be an understatement. Smart was more or less assured of being a lottery pick had he turned pro. Instead, he is staying in school for what is sure to be the most anticipated Oklahoma State basketball season in recent memory.

Smart’s return will make such an impact that many now consider Oklahoma State the favorite to win the Big 12 next season.

With that in mind, here is a look at how I would vote if my preseason Big 12 basketball poll was due today:

1. Oklahoma State
Smart, Le’Bryan Nash and Markel Brown were three of the most talented players in the Big 12 last season. Just think what they could accomplish together next season. The Cowboys return the Big 12′s Player of the Year in Smart, a talented forward in Nash and one of the conference’s most underrated scorers in Brown. And the only key contributor they lose is Philip Jurick. Some will doubt Oklahoma State because of underachieving coach Travis Ford, but the Cowboys have to be considered the preseason favorites with so much returning talent.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments

K-State basketball recruit Marcus Foster named Texas 3A Player of the Year

March 28, 201311:07 a.m.


Marcus Foster, who has long been viewed as Kansas State’s top incoming basketball recruit, received an honor this week that will send him to Manhattan with more hype than the typical three-star prospect.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-3 guard from Wichita Falls was named Texas 3A Player of the Year by the state’s association of basketball coaches.

He earned the honor by averaging more than 27 points and 11 rebounds as a senior and leading his team in nearly every major statistical category on the way to a playoff run that fell just short of the state finals.

“That’s a big honor to me,” Foster said by phone. “There are a lot of great players in my division, so it’s an honor to know people think I was the best one. I think they saw I was a leader on my team this year. I get my teammates going and I score and rebound the ball well.”

Foster will likely play on the perimeter for K-State next season, but his high school coach, Donald Hedge, said he also has the capabilities to move inside and be effective around the basket. Foster has always been a good three-point shooter (a skill the Wildcats badly need) but he can also slash and post-up defenders.

In some situations, he played center last season.

“Marcus is one of the guys who can do it all,” Hedge said by phone. “I’ve had him guard 6-8 guys and shut them down. He can post up players, he can shoot the ball like nobody else and he can beat you on the floor.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments