Last season, the Kansas State Wildcats were major players in the NCAA Tournament. However, they still weren’t given enough credit for what they achieved. They reached major accomplishments that the program hasn’t in decades.

In 2010-11, the Wildcats return 2 starters from last year’s Elite Eight team, while bringing in key freshman recruits. Not to mention, the Wildcats talent that was reserved last season, will finally be able to prove they’re for real.

The Worldwide Leader in Sports, ESPN, has finally given credit to the Wildcats as true contenders. They are saying that K-State could possibly make a run to the Final Four with the experience of senior leader Jacob Pullen and the agile frontcourt.

But that also means that the Wildcats will have to fight hard to live up to expectations.

ESPN’s Big Monday college basketball slate highlights exciting match-ups every Monday night in primetime. And the Wildcats are going to be in 4 of the 7 Big Monday games that feature the Big 12 Conference.

On January 17th, K-State will travel to Missouri, followed by a contest with Baylor at home on January 24th. Valentine’s Day on February 14th will be the Sunflower Showdown when the Wildcats host in-state rival Kansas. The Wildcats will finish up with a road trip to Texas on February 28th.

Monday, January 17 – Kansas State at Missouri (ESPN, 4:30pm CT); Kansas at Baylor (ESPN, 8:30pm CT)
Monday, January 24 - Baylor at Kansas State (ESPN, 8pm CT)
Monday, January 31 – Texas at Texas A&M (ESPN, 8pm CT)
Monday, February 7 – Missouri at Kansas (ESPN, 8pm CT)
Monday, February 14 – Kansas at Kansas State (ESPN, 8pm CT)
Monday, February 21 – Oklahoma State at Kansas (ESPN, 8pm CT)
Monday, February 28 – Kansas State at Texas (ESPN, 8pm CT)

There is no doubt in my mind; the biggest game is on Valentine’s Day. The Wildcats came up short to the 2009-10 conference champion Kansas three times last season. Even though the Jayhawks lost their three major contributors from last season, this will be a hard fought game. Last season, K-State and KU fought down to the wire when ESPN’s College GameDay was in Manhattan.

With the way the Big 12 set up the games this year, many media outlets are predicting the Wildcats to win the conference championship. They still have a long way to becoming a national powerhouse. However, with ESPN’s attention focused squarely on the Little Apple, indications are that it is in sight.