The Kansas State basketball team and their fans were disappointed when the Wildcats fell short to Butler in the Elite Eight last season. Wildcat fans across the nation expected them to get to Indianapolis and make the Final Four. However, on tired legs the Wildcats fell short of a chance to reach that dream for the first time since 1964 when Tex Winter was the head coach.

This season, the Wildcats are not expecting to just make the Elite Eight, says senior guard Jacob Pullen. Last Friday, during Madness in Manhattan, Pullen expressed that he and the Wildcats would not settle for anything less than a trip Houston this season.

The Wildcats did lose three starters from last season’s Elite Eight squad, but retain firepower with Pullen, Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, Wally Judge and many other standouts on the Wildcats roster.

They also picked up Juevol Miles, Shane Southwell, Nino Williams, Will Spradling and Freddy Asprilla.

K-State has something this year that they didn’t embrace last season. They have a lot of length. The Wildcats will incorporate 7-foot sophomore Jordan Henriquez-Roberts into the offense, along with other lengthy forwards like Judge and Asprilla.

Nick Russell, Rodney McGruder and Martavious Irving will take on a big role in the backcourt. Each player collectively will be looked on to produce on both ends of the floor.

With scoring threats like McGruder and Russell, the Wildcats backcourt hopes to resemble the 2009-10 duo of Pullen and Denis Clemente.

Not only will the Wildcats have great guard play, but they will also have a chance to become one of the better all-around teams in college basketball.

Head coach Frank Martin will have a deep bench with incoming players all presenting something unique on the basketball court.

And Pullen is prepping for a memorable basketball season. So are the fans.

The Wildcats are picked as a top-5 or 10 team by most media outlets, and were selected to win the Big 12 by league coaches. K-State starts the season off with an exhibition game November 2nd against Newman.

And according to Pullen, the season will end at the Final Four in Houston.