Kansas State basketball clinging to NCAA Tournament hopes ahead of Big 12 Tournament
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An upset victory over No. 6-ranked Iowa State to close the regular season gave Kansas State's basketball team a much-needed shot in the arm.
It also kept the Wildcats' slim hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid alive heading into the Big 12 Tournament, where they open with a second-round game against No. 7 seed Texas at 6 p.m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Center.
K-State finished the regular season at 18-13 overall and 8-10 in the Big 12. Texas is 20-11 and 9-9, including a 62-56 head-to-head victory over the Wildcats on Feb. 19 in Austin.
Whether the confidence gained from the Iowa State game — not to mention a No. 10 seed and first-round bye — will lead the Wildcats to bigger and better things remains to be seen. But coach Jerome Tang does not want them to get too comfortable.
"Winning for some teams really might propel you, but for other teams sometimes it causes them to relax," Tang said. "These guys, they operate way better when their backs are against the wall, so I want them to feel that wall.
Related: Kansas State basketball ends season on a high note with upset of No. 6 Iowa State
"I want them to feel the wall there on their back, that it's on the line. Because that's when they bring their best."
Still, Tang remains steadfast in his belief that the Wildcats' resume is good enough that they already are worthy of NCAA Tournament consideration.
"My statement all along has been nine wins in this conference, and you are going to get in for sure," he said. "It didn't mean that eight doesn't get you in or seven doesn't get you in. Last year I think West Virginia was 7-11 and they got in.
"So that's not the thing. I just knew what I had to put in front of our guys so they understood that you do this and then you're going to get in, and then if it's less than that, now it's people's judgement."
Their backs may still be against the wall, but the Wildcats felt much better about their chances after knocking off Iowa State, 65-58, on senior day. Especially after clinching a first-round bye.
Related: Kansas State basketball seniors hold out hope for NCAA bid ahead of final home game
"It was huge for us," said junior guard Cam Carter, who busted out of a shooting slump with 21 points and three 3-pointers in the victory. "We talked about it as a team, and even on the bench we were making it a big thing because nobody wants to play the first game in the Big 12 Tournament and have to play all five days.
"So that was a motivation. It's the start of a winning streak."
Forward Arthur Kaluma, who scored 23 points against the Cyclones, agreed.
"Winning always builds momentum," he said. "We've just got to take the momentum into practice and int our preparation."
Winning also builds better resumes, and Tang argues that the Wildcats have done warrant to earn a look from the NCAA selection committee.
"I think if you put our resume up against anybody else's blind, the teams that are on the bubble, our Quad 1 wins, our no losses in Quad 3s and 4s, our strength of schedule because of the league we play in, I like our schedule," Tang said. "Now, as I think Bob Huggins said one time, if first is available, why go for second?
"And so, we're going up there trying to win a Big 12 championship. But you can't win it unless you win the first game, and so that's why we're only focused on the first game."
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball to face Texas in Big 12 Tournament opener
