Author: D. Scott Fritschen
Kansas State has a new team this year. It’s a different team.However, K-State head coach Jerome Tan His Wildcats employ a similar mindset to the team that advanced to the Elite Eight a year ago.
Tan wore a purple “Crazy Faith” T-shirt to highlight his efforts.
“If you look at the way we’re playing on paper, you say, ‘Man, I don’t know if we’re an NCAA Tournament team,'” Tan said Wednesday. “But I believe we believe in each other.”
She added, “We have great beliefs about who we are and who God wants us to be. And we believe that we love each other more than anyone else and truly support each other. If you stay focused, you can achieve things that people don’t think about,” he added. we can achieve. ”
That mindset is a valuable ally for K-State as the 10-3 Wildcats prepare to open the Big 12 Conference season against UCF with tipoff Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum at 5 p.m. There is a possibility that
K-State has won seven of its past eight games. Those include wins against Villanova (72-71 he won in overtime), LSU (75-60) and Wichita State (69-60). The Wildcats’ only blemish in this game was a disappointing 62-46 loss at home to Nebraska on December 17th.
K-State has played four overtime games, the most of any Big 12 team, including a 73-70 win over Providence on Nov. 17. The Wildcats went to overtime for the third straight game against North Alabama’s Oral Roberts (88-78). (75-74) and Villanova (72-71), for the first time since 1964.
K-State could probably use its experience in the Big 12, where close games are common across the league in perhaps the nation’s top conference.
“The players will give their all in every game,” Tan said. “You don’t have to worry about them missing anyone. Their juices are flowing a little bit more. That’s why they came to K-State to play in this conference. It’s a lot of fun.”
Three players in particular proved they were ready for their sophomore league season. cam carter (16.5 points per game), Jr. arthur karma (15.2) and Sr. tyler perry (15.0). They account for his 62% of the team’s points (46.7 of 75.8 points per game).
K-State is the only Big 12 school to have three players ranked in the league’s top 20 with Carter at No. 6 and Calma at 14 points.th and perry 16th. The trio performed even better in his 10 wins for the team, averaging 47.9 points per game.
“They were a blessing,” Tan said. “Someone DMed me and said Cam, Art, and Tyler’s first initials were spelled ‘CAT.’ So she called them the three ‘CATs.'” ”
Tan got unbearably close to the senior guard’s guidance. Kes Glover The graduate transfer, who played in the game but was cleared to play after rehabbing from an injury, suffered a setback before the Wildcats’ 62-55 win over Chicago State on Tuesday.
“The surgery went well,” Tan said, adding that Glover was “really distraught” over the setback that will likely cost him the remainder of the season.
“He gave his all for the players in the Chicago State game,” Tan said. “Well, he’s a tough kid and he really, really cares. I think he was disappointed the most because he felt like he was letting the staff down and the team down more than anything. How much we love him. ‘We’re going to tell him,’ and we’re going to support him. ”
Coach Tan indicated that the staff is actively searching for potential players to join the roster.
“We’re turning over rocks to see if there’s a guy there,” Tan said. “We haven’t found them yet, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop. The new school year starts like January 10th, and within 12 days from that date we’ll find enrollment. Until that happens, we have to keep going.” I plan to continue working on this. ”
Tang maintains crazy faith.
And the Wildcats must continue to have Crazy Faith.
What will it take for K-State to earn another spot in the NCAA Tournament?
“Nine wins,” Tan said.
“We have incredible faith, so we’re going to take it one step at a time,” Tan said. “Winning nine games in this conference is going to be a tough task for us. Any player who accomplishes that will qualify for the NCAA Tournament.”