MANHATTAN (TNS) — Kansas State’s thrilling and unexpected victory over No. 4 Oklahoma earlier this week will lose some luster if the Wildcats don’t follow it up with a win over No. 24 TCU on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
Those words may seem harsh, but they are true for a team trying to build a NCAA Tournament resume in the challenging Big 12.
“It would be great to back up the OU win with any win,” K-State guard Barry Brown said. “To back up any win with another win in the Big 12 is tough. There’s good competition every night. That would be big time for us.”
The Wildcats have been in this position before, and inconsistency has defined them. Last season, they won three games against top 10 teams and barely made the NCAA Tournament. The year before that, they took down Oklahoma when it was ranked No. 1 and missed the NIT. Three years ago, they beat then No. 8 Kansas and finished with a losing record.
Bruce Weber has guided K-State to nine wins over top 10 teams in six seasons, but positive momentum has rarely followed.
For that reason, it’s hard for players to recall beating Buddy Hield and Oklahoma’s Final Four team in 2016 without some negative thoughts entering their minds.
“Maybe we were too emotional after that game,” Brown said. “There were high emotions. Maybe we weren’t focused. That was two years ago. We have a little bit more leadership now. We are more focused and ready to move on to the next one.”
Weber has used that season as a motivational tool this week.
“We were 3-7 after that. I know that for a fact,” Weber said. “... I believe in history. It will be brought up to the guys. Don’t let it be the end of the season. Just like after Kansas, we can’t let it be the end of the season with a loss. So you have to continue pushing forward.”
K-State players understand the importance of what lies ahead. A win over TCU will move the Wildcats (13-5, 3-3 Big 12) above .500 in the conference standings and boost their NCAA Tournament chances.
They want a winning streak, not just one big win.
“I think this team, we are just a little bit older,” K-State forward Dean Wade said. “I think we move on fast. I mean, (Oklahoma) was a great win, but you have to realize that was just one win. We still have a lot of season left to go.”