Fan support for Kansas State basketball is as high as it has been during my lifetime. The Wildcats are ranked 9th in the AP poll and are likely to move up after a stunning upset over the top-ranked Texas Longhorns on Monday. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but it’s now been four days since that game and my voice is still recovering. My wife insists that I was worse-off after last year’s game against Kansas in Manhattan, but I’m not sure. I certainly enjoyed this game a lot more, but that’s a given based.
RealTimeRPI.com is currently projecting the Wildcats out with a 26-3 (14-2) record this season and has them ranked 3rd in their most recent index with a strength of schedule that ranks 6th. If K-State finishes 26-3, they should certainly be in the running for the regular-season Big 12 conference title. This team is good enough to make a run in the Big 12 tournament, so who knows what will happen if they can finish in the top four of the Big 12.
A record of 26-3 would also be conducive for a very high seed in the NCAA tournament (probably a 2-seed with an outside shot at a 1-seed). I know I’m just dreaming at this point, but it’s hard not to, given K-State’s success thus far in the 2009-10 season. Even during the 2007-08 season when Mike Beasley and Bill Walker propelled K-State into the NCAA tournament and a first-round victory (a supposed upset over O.J. Mayo and USC), I don’t remember being nearly as excited as I have been all year about this team. These Wildcats have an opportunity to do something really special that has not been accomplished in a very long time at K-State.
I was pretty disappointed to see the article in Kansas City Star which proclaimed Frank Martin to be an “embarrassment.” Then again, I’m not sure why I’m surprised to see rhetoric spewing forth from the Kansas City Star ripping into K-State. After all, a certain writer there has been doing it for years. This time around, however, that person, who shall remain un-named, seems to be on board for rewarding Martin with a more lucrative contract (whether he’s being sarcastic or not is debatable). My only argument on this whole situation is that Martin’s antics are no more ridiculous than the broad majority of college basketball coaches throughout the country.
Frank may seem off his rocker at times, but that’s just the nature of the business. The fact that he has only received two technical fouls in his four-year career at K-State illustrates the point pretty well that he knows when enough is enough. He knows when to turn away from the court and stop protesting his case. As a die-hard K-State fan, I love Martin’s fiery persona. If Frank had a personality that reeked of rainbows and kittens, he wouldn’t be Frank Martin, and his players would not have bought into the program as they have. Frank knows what he’s doing, so just give him a break.
As for the Wildcats, they just need to keep listening to Frank and keep on taking care of business one game at a time. I think Frank’s comments after the Texas game illustrate this team’s objectives quite well. When asked what that win meant to the team, he replied simply “It means we won a game on January 18th.” Granted, it was one of the biggest wins in school history, but I think Martin—and his team—are well-grounded and are ready for a run by the time March rolls around. Time will tell.
I do know that if the students—as well as the rest of the Wildcat fans—continue to support the team as they did at the Texas game, this team should not be losing at home any time soon. The atmosphere for the Texas game was one of the best I’ve ever seen for a K-State game and I honestly believe that was one of the key reasons the Wildcats won the game. Remember, the Wildcats were dismal from three-point range (1-12), not so great from the free-throw line, and Clemente/Pullen combined for just 17 points. That being said, the Wildcats still found it in themselves to gut out a win over the number-one team in the country. Home-court advantage is huge in the Big 12 and there aren’t too many venues that can boast as big of an advantage as Bramlage Coliseum right now. Be loud and be proud. Go Cats!
