The No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats (11-1), who are a defensive possession away from being undefeated, have been a surprise team this season by all means. The Wildcats won at a neutral site against a ranked Alabama team as well as picking up a win against Long Beach State, to compliment a road win at Virginia Tech.
Rodney McGruder was perfect from the field in the first half of the 2011 Diamond Head Classic and finished business in the second half leading the Kansas State Wildcats (10-1, 0-0) to an impressive 77-60 victory over the Long Beach State 49ers (7-6, 0-0). McGruder finished with a career-high 28 points and six rebounds on 10-of-11 (90%) shooting from the field.
Jordan Henriquez scored a career-high 17 points, added eight rebounds and two blocks off the bench, as the Kansas State Wildcats (7-1, 0-0) managed to hold off the No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3, 0-0) in front of 16,685 fans at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri spoiling the homecoming for Alabama guard Trevor Releford.
The Kansas State Wildcats (6-1, 0-0) will face another tough test during non-conference as they take on the No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2, 0-0) at the Sprint Center on December 17, 2011. Not only is this a tough task for the Wildcats, but Alabama is arguably the toughest opponent they’ll face until conference play.
Thomas Gipson has easily been the most consistent player for Kansas State this year. He’s not only a great option for offense down-low, but the 6-7, 250-pound four man has defended well and attacked the glass.
Kansas State (3-0, 0-0) is coming off a blowout win of Maryland Eastern-Shore by the score of 92-50. The Wildcats had a balanced offensive attack and turned in a great defensive effort after coming up with seven blocks, five steals and forcing 17 turnovers. After defeating their first three opponents, the Wildcats toughest early season test is right around the corner, when the George Washington Colonials (4-1, 0-0) come to Bramlage Coliseum on December 1st.
Continue reading ‘K-State basketball to face George Washington’ »
Frank Martin has a thing for 7-footers and his frontcourt is looking good because of it. Coach Martin and company has a thin frontline with only Jordan Henriquez-Roberts and Adrian Diaz, and was looking to add to it’s frontline. Laimonas Chatkevicius, a three-star rated prospect by Rivals, became the first recruit to commit to Kansas State. Chatkevicius is a 6-10 center from Lithuania that has a huge frame and is a nice low-post option. Over the summer he went head to head against some of the best players in the country and held his own. His rebounding ability sets him apart from his peers.
Life after Jacob Pullen will be no easier than life after Michael Beasley for Kansas State, but as long as Frank Martin is pacing the sidelines for the Wildcats, you can bet that they will be contenders in the NCAA this year despite their recent losses.
Continue reading ‘Previewing K-State basketball in 2011-12′ »
About a month ago Kansas State waited anxiously for the official college commitment from 5-star wing Perry Ellis of Wichita (Kan.) Heights High School. Ellis, who was long considered a Jayhawk lean, ended up picking KU on his decision date and the Wildcats were still left without a student-athlete in their 2012 recruiting class.
Clayton Custer, a 6-0 sophomore at Blue Valley Northwest in Overland Park, KS, is easily the top player in the state in his class. He received substantial playing time as a freshman and led his team to a 23-2 record along with runner-up in the state finals after falling to Wichita Heights.
Continue reading ‘Clayton Custer has major interest in K-State’ »
As the summer started the wind down so did the recruitment for five-star forward, Perry Ellis, from Wichita, KS. There were rumors that it was a three team race between the likes of Duke, Kansas and Kentucky but soon after those rumors were laid to rest.
After concluding a successful July live period, Frank Martin couldn’t be more ecstatic about how much he’s gained in the recruitment of many of his 2012 targets. It’s become more evident that the four targets for Kansas State in the 2012 class is Perry Ellis, Marcus Smart, Willie Cauley and Phil Forte.
Continue reading ‘Kansas State Basketball Recruiting Update’ »
The past athletic year was special for Kansas State. In 2010-11, the Wildcats were one of just six schools nationally to have their football team make a bowl game, see both basketball teams make the NCAA Tournament, and have the baseball team make an NCAA Regional.
Continue reading ‘A look back at K-State sports in 2010-11′ »
Semilore Ojeleye, the younger brother of Kansas State’s Victor Ojeleye, has really turned heads with his basketball skills. But most importantly, he maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA, just like the rest of his siblings.
Continue reading ‘Semilore Ojeleye has interest in K-State’ »
It was just two years ago when K-State brought in Nick Russell for his final official visit before he gave the Wildcats a verbal commitment to join the men’s basketball program. Before his visit, he had dwindled his list to Iowa, Kansas State, Southern Methodist and Texas Tech.
After finishing the season on a disappointing note, Kansas State head coach Frank Martin and his coaching staff hit the recruiting trails hard. Angel Rodriguez, a 2011 recruit, has finally signed his national letter of intent to attend Kansas State and will be a part of the team in the Fall.
Continue reading ’2011 K-State Basketball Recruiting Update’ »
Kansas State senior Jacob Pullen was name to the AP All-American Third Team today after a magical season where he led the Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Continue reading ‘Pullen named to AP All-American Third Team’ »
Following a home loss to Colorado earlier this season, senior Jacob Pullen said he would not play in the NIT. After making the statement Pullen had his team on a roll, guiding the Kansas State Wildcats (22-10, 10-6) to six consecutive wins in the Big 12.
Continue reading ‘Kansas State to face Utah State in Big Dance’ »
When Jacob Pullen stepped foot on Kansas State University there was not a single person who could have predicted the type of player that he would one day become. At the time Jake was actually one of Kansas State’s lesser-known recruits. Not to say that fans weren’t excited about getting the point guard from Maywood, Illinois, but the 3-star point guard’s name, at the time, did not compare to that of Michael Beasley (considered the #1 recruit in the country) or Bill Walker (#7 recruit in the nation). Many have come to the realization that the gem of Kansas State’s #1 recruiting class in 2008 was actually Jacob Pullen.
Continue reading ‘Jacob Pullen: Kansas State Living Legend’ »
Kansas State has finally hit their stride. After a month where little could be salvaged from the Wildcats’ season, things have really turned around in just a span of two weeks. K-State is coming off two impressive wins over #20 Missouri at home and #8 Texas in Austin. The Wildcats look to finish the 2011 regular season strong with a rematch between Big 12 north rival Iowa State on Senior Day. The Wildcats are currently playing their best basketball of the season, winning 7 of their last 8 games. Within a month the Cats have gone from likely bubble team to NCAA Tournament lock.
Continue reading ‘K-State looks to finish strong on Senior Day’ »
The Kansas State Wildcats (21-9, 9-6) and Jacob Pullen won’t have to worry about playing in the NIT tournament. Kansas State picked up one of their biggest wins of the season after taking down the 8th-ranked Texas Longhorns (24-6, 12-3) 75-70 on the road and all but locked up a spot in the NCAA tournament.
The Kansas State Wildcats (20-9, 8-6) have been a good team at home this season with its only loss coming to Colorado, in the absence of senior forward Curtis Kelly. Most of their problems have come on the road this season, including a loss to the Missouri Tigers (22-7, 8-6).
Continue reading ‘Wildcats keep rolling, knock off Tigers’ »
The Kansas State Wildcats (17-9, 5-6) are coming off the biggest win of the season after taking down the No. 1 team in the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks. As a result, the NCAA tournament has come back into the picture and the NIT has yet to resurface.
Continue reading ‘K-State moves on to OU; Perry Ellis to visit’ »
In a year which the Kansas State Wildcats desperately needed a positive story, they shocked the nation with a sound defeat of the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, and in the process bolstered its NCAA tournament resume. With player turnover and suspensions during the season, and talk of an NIT bid surfacing, the Wildcats proved that this team is capable of providing what everyone has been waiting to see all year. The win proved what is possible when the Wildcats play as a team and stick to the game plan. This was, by far, the best that the Wildcats have played this year.
Before Big Monday, the season looked all but over for the Kansas State Wildcats (17-9, 5-6). The Wildcats were swept by the Colorado Buffaloes for the first time in five years and slid to a 4-6 Big 12 record–all this after being selected to win the Big 12 before the season started. The Wildcats were 0-7 against teams in the Top 50 of the RPI, and their most significant wins came at Washington State and against Baylor at home.
Continue reading ‘Kansas State controls its tournament destiny’ »
