Kansas State isn’t the same team it was just a week and a half ago. For the Wildcats, that might not be such a bad thing.
Like Oklahoma State last week, the Colorado men’s basketball team welcomes a longtime conference rival from CU’s previous Big 12 stint back to the Events Center, as it hosts the new-look Wildcats on Wednesday night.
Although CU appears destined for a bottom-half finish in the 16-team Big 12, its win against Oklahoma State keeps the door wide-open for CU to secure a favorable first-round matchup in the conference tournament. The Wildcats arrive to play the third game under interim head coach Matthew Driscoll, who took over for Jerome Tang on Feb. 15 after Tang was fired in the wake of heated postgame comments made following a lopsided home loss against Cincinnati.
“He’s been around a long time,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “One thing I do know about coach Driscoll is he’s a high energy guy. He’s a guy thatap really going to do everything he can for those kids as the season finishes up. Here’s what I do know about Kansas State and their roster: they’ve got a lot of talent.”
On the same night Boyle said his team didn’t deserve its chartered flight home following a 34-point loss at Texas Tech on Feb. 11, saying, “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year.”
Kansas State entered the season with legitimate expectations of competing for an NCAA Tournament bid, finishing eighth in the Big 12’s preseason media poll after making one of the Big 12’s biggest offseason transfer additions in guard PJ Haggerty, a second team All-American selection last year at Memphis.
Yet K-State’s season went sideways well before Tang lost his cool. The Wildcats started 0-5 in Big 12 play and stood at 1-11 in the league after a Valentine’s Day loss at Houston. Tang was fired the following day.
Driscoll only joined the K-State staff this season, but he previously enjoyed a long and successful tenure as the head coach at North Florida, where he won 248 games in 16 years while leading the program to its first NCAA Tournament berth in 2015. Driscoll provided a steadying hand, as the Wildcats recorded a home win against Baylor in his debut as interim head coach. K-State followed with a lopsided loss this past weekend at Texas Tech.
Haggerty ranks second in the Big 12 in overall scoring (23.5) and scoring in league games (24.0).
“Haggerty, we saw him in Maui last year when he was with Memphis and he’s a hell of a player,” Boyle said. “Second-leading scorer in the league. They’ve got some talent on that team. They can shoot the ball. We’re going to have to guard the 3-point line. And we’re going to have to guard the ball. Because (Nate) Johnson and Haggerty, one-on-one, can do a lot of good things.”
CU began Tuesday at 11th-place in the Big 12, and still has a pair of top-five opponents remaining with Saturday’s date at No. 5 Houston and the regular season finale at home against No. 2 Arizona. Yet CU also has games remaining against the two teams tied for last in Kansas State and Utah, which the Buffs visit next week.
“Everybody believes in what we can do,” CU freshman guard Josiah Sanders said. “We have full faith we can finish out the season strong. We’re in control of our own destiny. We’ve got five games guaranteed, but it can be as many as we want it to be. For us, just kind of having the mentality that we’ve got to play desperate. If we want to keep playing, we’ve got to play like it.”
Kansas State Wildcats at CU Buffs men’s basketball
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center.
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports 1/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Kansas State 11-16, 2-12 Big 12 Conference; Colorado 14-12, 5-9.
COACHES: Kansas State — Matthew Driscoll, 1st season (1-1, 249-265 overall; named interim head coach on Feb. 15). Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (327-216, 383-282 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Kansas State — G PJ Haggerty, 6-4, Jr. (23.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, .491 FG%); G Nate Johnson, 6-3, Sr. (12.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .397 3%); G David Castillo, 6-1, So. (11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .373 3%); F Khamari McGriff, 6-9, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .715 FG%). Colorado — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (16.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, .482 FG%, .378 3%); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (14.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, .543 FG%, .500 3%); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .475 FG%); F Alon Michaeli, 6-9, Fr. (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg); G Jalin Holland, 6-5, Fr. (4.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg); G Josiah Sanders, 6-5, Fr. (4.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .455 FG%).
NOTES: Dak was named to the Big 12’s “Starting Five” on Monday after recording 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots during a win against Oklahoma State. … Dak increased his career blocked shot total to 87 with two against Oklahoma State, breaking a tie with Martice Moore for 15th in team history. Next on the list is Chris Copeland with 88 blocks. … In Big 12 games, Kansas State ranks last in average rebound margin (minus-9.5) and points allowed (84.5). The Wildcats also rank 15th in Big 12 games in field goal percentage (.429) and have averaged 12.5 turnovers, the second-highest mark in the league. … This is K-State’s first visit to the Events Center since Feb. 12. 2011. … The Buffs have won their past three home games. … Hargress has averaged 17.3 points over the past four games. He has shot .556 (25-for-45) with 19 assists and four assists during that span. … CU hits the road to face No. 5 Houston on Saturday (10 a.m. MT, ESPN2).
