Wednesday is the second straight road test for Kansas State men’s basketball, and it may be the Wildcats’ final chance to win away from home. This is a game that can be won even though they are the underdogs going in.
Kansas State’s strategy is straightforward: start the starters early, spread the floor like they did against Baylor, and include bench points.
Why Wednesday’s game at Colorado is critical for Kansas State
Time is of the essence, and the Wildcats haven’t fared well in conference play. After losing to Texas Tech 100-72 on Saturday, Kansas State is now only 2-12 in the conference and tied for last in the Big 12, where they have spent much of the season.
The Wildcats’ victory over Baylor, their first game back since sacking former head coach Jerome Tang “for cause,” gave them hope, but it was fleeting. The predicted 28-point loss away from Bramlage Coliseum has returned to what began as an unlikely, “against the odds” swing versus Houston.
Additionally, Kansas State is the only conference club that has yet to win a Big 12 away game. Colorado’s ranking is even worse, coming in at a pitiful 1-6 away from Boulder. On the other hand, opposing teams have won somewhat less than half of the time.
In addition, the Sunflower Showdown against the Kansas Jayhawks, the Wildcats’ in-state rival, is their last road game left this season after Wednesday.
Kansas State’s path to a successful road trip starts with Matthew Driscoll
Matthew Driscoll, the interim head coach, had his team on the court working for up to two and a half hours before tipoff versus Baylor. But even an hour earlier, Tang was a rare sight.
As the underdogs, the Wildcats need a culture like that. Someone who can transform the culture, put in the effort, and establish the tone. Driscoll satisfies each of those requirements.
“You can’t win like that,” he said after the Red Raiders outpaced him overall. It’s true. Colorado, however, is not Texas Tech. Even though they are lower in the standings, the Buffaloes may still produce impressive home victories.
Scouting the Buffaloes – a team looking to find its footing ahead of the postseason
As the Big 12 tournament draws near, the Colorado Buffaloes, who currently sit middle to low in the conference standings, hope to make a big run. A victory would be their third in five games and their second consecutive victory.
With an average of 16.8 points per game, Isaiah Johnson leads the four players on the active roster who average in double digits. Bangot Dak, Sebastian Rancik, and Barrington Hargress complete that list.
The Buffaloes lost against Texas Tech on February 11 and then to BYU in overtime, scoring just 44 points. Nevertheless, they have demonstrated this season and not too long ago that they are capable of competing with a ranked opponent.
However, if PJ Haggerty and Nate Johnson get going like they did against the Bears, the Wildcats could easily win this game.
