John Currie, like every Division I athletic director these days, is hard at work trying to make sure Kansas State comes out of the current conference realignment race in good shape.
Many of his thoughts on the matter can be found in today’s newspaper, but here are a few more in Q&A form:
How accurate do think the current speculation is?
I think the media speculation, in a lot of ways, is speculation based on speculation based on supposition. When I say supposition I mean one person might say this school is going to go to this league for this reason and that school is going to go to that school for this reason. Sometimes those reasons are pretty close. Sometimes you just have stuff that is piled on variables. I try not to worry about what’s in the media and keep focus on what I know to be facts.
What is the best possible scenario for K-State right now?
There’s no question for Kansas State, Kansas and for all the 12 institutions in the Big 12, it is in our best interests to keep the Big 12 moving forward. I’m optimistic that can still be the case.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Baylor, Big 10, Big 12, Bill Snyder, conference, John Currie, Kansas, Kansas State, Kirk Schulz, Missouri, Nebraska, Pac 10, realignment, speculation, Texas
Filed under A few minutes with ...
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A win over Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament championship game would have gone down as one of the top moments in the modern era of K-State sports.
It didn’t happen, and Wildcats players cried when they realized they missed out on a tremendous opportunity.
But in the grand scheme of things, Saturday’s highly competitive loss to the Jayhawks wasn’t a season-altering setback. Not even close. Yes, K-State had everything to gain from winning on the Big 12′s grandest stage, but it also had nothing to lose.
When the NCAA Tournament selection show begins at 5 p.m. today, the Wildcats will like what they see. A No. 2 seed, a spot in the Oklahoma City sub-regional, some praise from the program’s hosts … All are likely to occur.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Allen Fieldhouse, Bramlage Coliseum, Cole Aldrich, Denis Clemente, Dominique Sutton, Jacob Pullen, Jamar Samuels, Jayhawks, K-State, Kansas, Kansas State, Sprint Center, Wally Judge, Wildcats
Filed under Basketball
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When everyone thought Texas was good, fans lined up outside Bramlage Coliseum 20 hours before tip-off.
When No. 1 Kansas walked into the Octagon of Doom, the K-State student section was so loud it seemed to double in size.
Excitement was high for both of those must-see games, but today’s showdown with the Jayhawks easily surpasses each of them on the exhilaration scale.
Both teams are ranked in the top 10, both teams respect each other and their third game of the season will be for a Big 12 Tournament championship. One scalper outside the Sprint Center last night said tickets will be worth up to $500 today.
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Want to know how your favorite Big 12 team will perform at this week’s conference tournament in Kansas City?
Well, I guess you’ll have to watch the games. But if you are curious as to how your favorite team could perform at the Sprint Center, this may be helpful. Below is a look at how all 12 teams, in official seeding order, could do at the Sprint Center.
1. Kansas
Chances of winning it all: High.
Aside from a lone loss at Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks went undefeated in the Big 12 regular season. And after going out in the second round of this tournament a year ago, Sherron Collins and company will be motivated.
Chances of going out early: Remote.
Colorado has been playing well enough lately that it could challenge Kansas on Thursday, but if the Jayhawks meet Texas Tech in the second round they will sleep walk to victory.
2. Kansas State
Chances of winning it all: Fairly high.
Coming off back-to-back losses, the Wildcats are looking at the Big 12 Tournament as their chance to get back into the conversation for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That may be out of reach no matter what they do in Kansas City, but it’s clear they will be playing with something to prove. And that’s when K-State is at its best.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Baylor, Big 12 Tournament, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Sprint Center, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Filed under Basketball, Big 12
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For 28 games this season, the Kansas State basketball team cruised to 24 wins and soared up the national rankings.
After a shocking 85-82 overtime loss to Iowa State on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum, combined with a 17-point loss at Kansas earlier in the week, the Wildcats are now headed in the other direction.
How far? Maybe just a spot or two in the polls. Maybe out of the top 10. It all depends on the voters.
What will that mean for K-State’s NCAA Tournament seeding? A No. 1 seed appears out of the question, but it all depends on how the Wildcats play at the Big 12 Tournament. Win a game or two in Kansas City, and they are likely looking at a No. 2 seed. Lose a third straight game and a No. 3 seed may be in the cards.
All that is certain is that K-State needs to perform better in the postseason than it did against the Cyclones if it wants to make a run through March.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Chris Merriewether, College Gameday Final, Craig Brackins, Curtis Kelly, Cyclones, Denis Clemente, Diante Garrett, Frank Martin, Iowa State, Joe Lunardi, K-State, Kansas, Kansas State, Luis Colon, Wildcats
Filed under Basketball
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With Oklahoma State’s big win over Kansas last weekend, there is no more bubble talk for the Big 12.
Seven teams are locked in to the NCAA Tournament. Five teams have no shot at an at-large bid. End of discussion.
According to Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology Oklahoma State is the Big 12′s last team in as a No. 8 seed. Pretty solid. And with wins over the league’s top-two teams, the Cowboys won’t be falling to the NIT anytime soon.
Eighth-place Colorado is way behind Oklahoma State in the standings, and unless a real underdog can win four games in four days at the Sprint Center for the league’s automatic-bid to the Big Dance, everyone else is dreaming of the NIT.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Baylor, Big 12, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Power Rankings, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Filed under Basketball
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Outside of Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen — the only K-State players who brought their offensive ‘A’ games to Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday — Wally Judge and Rodney McGruder were the Wildcats’ top performers against Kansas.
Neither freshman has been seen in the K-State lineup much lately, and their play against the Jayhawks was a bit of a surprise.
Judge saw more action on Wednesday than he had in his previous five games combined, but came through with six points and four rebounds. Rodney McGruder saw more minutes than he had in his previous four games combined, and looked good scoring five points and snaring a team-high six boards. Both played 21 minutes.
It was good to see the two freshmen playing well, but K-State needed better contributions out of its starters in order to beat the Jayhawks.
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By Kellis Robinett
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Tags: Allen Fieldhouse, Curtis Kelly, Denis Clemente, Dominique Sutton, Jacob Pullen, Jamar Samuels, Jayhawks, Kansas, Kansas State, Luis Colon, Rodney McGruder, Wally Judge, Wildcats
Filed under Basketball
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