The Kansas State Wildcats (9-1) are coming off a game in which they struggled–once again–as a team against a Loyola (IL) squad that they should have been able to assert some dominance over. The Wildcats played without Wally Judge, their 6’9” sophomore who is sitting out due to “personal issues,” which seems to be a reoccurring theme for Kansas State.

Despite running over two ranked opponents earlier this season, the Wildcats are still in need of a confidence-building win, and they have a chance to get that this weekend against the 24th-ranked Florida Gators (7-2).

The Wildcats match up well against the Gators but Wildcat fans should expect a struggle. K-State is the better rebounding team and is probably more dangerous on offense. However, on paper the Wildcats were also a better rebounding team against Loyola, and yet they still surrendered 42 boards (21 offensive) in a tightly-contested match.

The Wildcats’ main focus should be limiting the talented front-court of Florida. In their two losses, the Florida front-court didn’t play well. The opposition’s posterior threats made things difficult for the Gators and got their bigs in early foul trouble. With the notion that Kansas State has one of the deeper front-courts in the nation, the Wildcats could do just that against the Gators.

Jamar Samuels, plagued by inconsistency last year, has emerged as the Wildcats’ top threat off the bench. Curtis Kelly and Jacob Pullen are slowly developing into the tandem Kansas State fans crave.

The duo has averaged 30.3 points over the past three games as well as pulling down 11.6 boards per game. The Wildcats will need more than their one-two punch of Kelly and Pullen if they hope to leave Florida with a victory on Saturday.

Rodney McGruder continues to be the x-factor for Kansas State. McGruder is coming off an eight-point, three-rebound performance, but didn’t play as much as he should have after picking up a third foul early in the second half against Loyola. When he was in the game, McGruder nailed two three-point attempts, as well as two from the line.

If Kansas State wants to pick up another victory over a Top-25 squad, they’ll have to bring energy. The Wildcats had the largest lead of the night (14) with 8:34 left to play but let the Ramblers creep back into the game and weren’t able to put the game away until the final seconds.

The game will be played at Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, which is virtually a home game for the Gators. This is the first time Kansas State will play Florida in decades. The game should live up to the hype and a victory would help the Wildcats gain confidence as conference season approaches.