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.”

Instead, K-State will play neutral-court games against Gonzaga at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita and Tulane in a triple header at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. K-State will also take part in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, along with Auburn, Charlotte, Florida State, Georgetown, Long Beach State, Michigan and VCU.

The Wildcats are scheduled to host Mississippi next season at Bramlage Coliseum in the Big 12/SEC challenge. Weber said they will also host George Washington in the final game of a two-for-one contract.

A return to the Sprint Center for a nonconference game is a possibility for the 2014-15 season. The Wildcats played well in their regular-season trips to the arena in the past six seasons, going 5-1 with a signature victory over Florida last year.

“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.”

Though Klein would have no doubt preferred to receive a contract offer, he has time to try and catch on elsewhere. That might not be a bad thing. The Texans have four quarterbacks — Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates, Case Keenum and Stephen McGee. Klein would have faced stiff competition trying to make the roster.

Perhaps he will be more successful with another NFL team.

“I think this kid’s going to beat the bushes and he’s going to figure out a way,” Kubiak said. “I’m very impressed with him.”

Chris Harper catching on in Seattle

By all accounts, Chris Harper is off to a quality start with the Seattle Seahawks.

(You can see him talk about his experience here)

The former K-State receiver is already getting positive reviews from Seattle’s receivers coach Kippy Brown.

“Chris has really strong hands and for a big guy he’s very athletic,” Brown told reporters. “It’s just a matter of him learning. We’ve thrown a lot at these guys in two days’ time. I’m sure their heads are swimming. My head was swimming when I first got here.

“But he’s studying hard and he’s getting it. As he gets more comfortable with it, he’ll play faster and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Meshak Williams, Arthur Brown together again

Kansas State’s two best defensive players from last season will reunite in Baltimore.

Defensive end Meshak Williams signed a free-agent contract with the Ravens after going undrafted and impressing at the team’s rookie camp. He will join Brown, a second-round pick, in training camp.

We might see them making tackles together again in preseason games.

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.

Winning championships in three different sports in the same year is rare in the Big 12, especially when those sports are football, men’s basketball and baseball.

Only one school has accomplished the feat: Texas in 2005-06. During that academic year, the Longhorns went undefeated and won the national championship in football, then claimed the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 basketball tournament and won the Big 12 regular season title in baseball.

The only other school to come close is Oklahoma, which won football and men’s basketball championships in 2004-05, but couldn’t top the standings in baseball.

Include tournament titles or volleyball, women’s basketball and smaller sports and several schools have won three titles in the same year. K-State, for example, won three Big 12 championships in 2003-04, claiming titles in football, volleyball and women’s basketball.

Some have argued that to be the most successful year in K-State athletic history.

League championships in football, men’s basketball and baseball would make 2012-13 better.

(Photo courtesy Lawrence Journal World)
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@KellisRobinett
krobinett@wichitaeagle.com

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)

Would like to thank everyone for there love and support through this process! I’m glad to be part of Wildcat family! #KSU

— Justin Edwards (@Justedwards14) May 4, 2013

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.

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.

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.”

The most logical fit for Rose in K-State’s offense is as a backup running back. The 5-foot-4, 176-pound speedster isn’t a threat to push a healthy Hubert for playing time. But the competition for his primary backup is wide open.

Redshirt freshman Jarvis Leverett and junior DeMarcus Robinson should factor into the discussion, but they both missed the spring game. For now, Rose seems to have an edge.

Questions remain about his size, but Rose thinks he uses it to his advantage.

“I am aerodynamic. I get guys in situations where they have to arm tackle me and that’s what my shiftiness can do sometimes,” Rose said. “I am strong in my lower body, so I can break through those guys when they try to arm tackle me. No one really ever gets a square hit on me.”

Hubert isn’t much taller at 5-7, but he has a different running style than Rose.

Together, Rose thinks they can become a formidable running back duo.

“I think it could be tremendous. We could be one of the best in the country, to be honest,” Rose said. “He has two years under his belt as the starting running back. I feel like our games are so different. John is a great downhill runner where I’m more of a slash-type guy. I feel like we mesh pretty well together. We give defenses fits, because they don’t really know how to gameplan for both of us.”

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.

“I don’t know how he didn’t drill me, to be honest,” Gronkowski said afterward. “I didn’t even know he was coming. I really don’t know how that happened. I think I just got lucky there.”

Overall, he attributed the successful game to what he learned during his redshirt season.

“I think it’s more mental for me, just knowing the plays and stuff,” Gronkowski said. “It is a really complex offense, especially for the fullbacks and tight ends, that is the biggest part.”

Gronkowski received a warm welcome from his family — aka Gronk Nation — on the way off the field. His three brothers, Dan, Chris and Rob (who all play in the NFL) gathered around him and co-offensive coordinator Dana Dimel for pictures when the game was over. Rob, a tight end for the New England Patriots and the most famous member of the family, offered some friendly ribbing and told assembled media he enjoyed his trip to Manhattan. He also described Dimel, who coached Rob at Arizona, as “the man who taught me everything I know.”

When the exchange was over, Gronkowski said it meant a lot to have his older brothers in attendance.

“They never really get to get out here,” Gronkowski said. “They have games themselves. So it’s definitely huge to finally get to see them out here. I think that is their second time out here in two years. It’s a good time.”

Even if they promised to give him “the treatment” later that night.

“It’s just a little thing where you push your hands as hard as you can against your neck,” Gronkowski explained. “It makes you laugh at the same time that it hurts, so you can’t control yourself. When I was young that is how I used to beat Rob up, because that is the only way that I could. That’s what we do now.”

Gronkowski hopes that tenacity translates into major playing time next season. With the departure of Braden Wilson, who was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, fullback is one of the most wide open positions on K-State’s roster.

Based on what he accomplished during the spring game, Gronkowski seems to be in the lead.

“I hope so,” Gronkowski said. “I’m just trying to get better like everyone else out here. There is a lot of competition still. You never know what is going to happen. Hopefully I can stay healthy.”

Gronkowski could be a good fit at fullback. He is a natural athlete that played receiver and safety in high school. But he also has the size (6-foot-3, 234 pounds) necessary to block and fight for tough yards. Like Wilson, he can be used in various ways.

“Braden was, he was a beast. I think you guys all know that,” Gronkowski said. “He was definitely a good leader, too. We were good friends off the field and on the field, talking about football and how we can be better. I think that was a huge influence for me.”

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.”

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.

Angelo Pease
The former K-State running back is headed to the Green Bay Packers.

Travis Tannahill
Following a strong senior season in which he was one of the top tight ends in the Big 12, Tannahill announced on twitter that he has signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Justin Tuggle
The former K-State quarterback and linebacker will try to make the Houston Texans’ roster as an undrafted free agent.

Ryan Doerr
K-State’s former punter announced via twitter he is headed to the Denver Broncos.

Nigel Malone
Early reports indicate the former K-State cornerback will try to make the Indianapolis Colts’ roster.

Jarell Childs
The K-State linebacker didn’t get drafted or picked up as an undrafted free agent, but he will get a shot at the NFL with the Raiders. Said Childs via twitter: “Didnt get the call I was expecting last night but thankful I have the opportunity to show what i can do at the raiders mini camp #determined.”

Anthony Cantele
The K-State kicker has signed a free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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.

How excited are you about becoming a head coach at the Division I level?

I’m excited. It has been a 25-year journey for me, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. I feel like I have been ready for some time. I had different opportunities at different stages of my career to become a head coach at this level, but the older I got the more selective I became when looking and applying for jobs. This was put in front of me now, and I couldn’t be happier. I found one in a college town with a winning culture. It’s a place that I’m excited about. To be a head coach at the Division I level … There are only about 360 of them. It’s something that intrigues me and excites me a lot.

How many other schools have approached you in the past few years?

Not a lot, just simply because I haven’t had a lot of interest in certain jobs. It’s been more important for me to find the right fit. I enjoy college towns. I told Frank this, I told (athletic directors) this, I told job search guys at search firms this — I have a family. They mean the most to me. I want to put them in an environment where they can be happy and grow. I’ve been spoiled being in places like Manhattan and Columbia. They are towns we really enjoyed. Nacogdoches is a town very similar to those. My wife was down here for the press conference and she just fell in love with the place. There is a culture of winning here. Not every place has that. They have great pride in the program and have had success within their conference.

Was it difficult for you to leave Kansas State for South Carolina last year?

Yeah, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m a Wildcat through and through. I left with my head very high. I was very, very proud that I was able to do something there and be a part of something that impacted a place that I love. I have friends for life there. It is amazing how many people I stay in contact with and how many people flew out to Columbia to see games. That’s what is special about that community. We had a lot of success on the basketball court, but we had a great life away from basketball. I was sad that I had to leave. It is a place very close to my heart. I am a Kansas State fan. I miss the people. I was very, very happy in Manhattan, Kansas. It was a time I will never forget.

Did you consider joining Bruce Weber’s staff when he was hired, or were you totally committed to Frank Martin at South Carolina?

I was with Frank the whole way. We had something pretty special there that doesn’t always happen with college athletics, and it was one of the hardest things about leaving to come here: chemistry. We had unbelievable chemistry as a staff, and I think that is why we won. It’s why it worked. We understood each other. From (video coordinator) Dylan Lockwood to (strength coach) Scott Greenawalt, it worked. That was difficult for me to leave coming here, but it is the reason I left Kansas State, because I knew it would work at South Carolina. Not for one second did I take that for granted. That part of the decision was easy. It was sad from a personal note, but from a professional standpoint it was easy.

Last question: Do you have any interest in scheduling a game against Kansas State?

Sure, if they pay me enough money. That would be fun. That’s an elite program, and I would be honored to play them. Hopefully we have a couple Big 12 teams on the schedule next year. Scheduling, I’m finding out, is one of the more difficult tasks I’m going to have to handle. We’ve got a reputation and people don’t want to play you. I would love the opportunity to get back to Manhattan, though. Being a head coach and coming back there to K-State would be pretty special.