Kansas State Wildcats: 25-8, 14-4 in the Big 12
Head Coach: Bruce Weber (7th season)
Players to watch: Barry Brown Jr. (14.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG); Dean Wade (12.9 PPG, 41.8 3PT%); Kamau Stokes (10.8 PPG, 3.3 APG)
Season Recap: After 14 straight conference championships for rival Kansas, the Wildcats made a statement this season by taking home the regular season title in a deep Big 12 league. Kansas State owns a respectable 4-3 record against AP Top 25 teams this season including wins against Kansas and Texas Tech, but were never tested in non-conference play. The lone tournament team the Wildcats played out of conference was Marquette, which they lost to 83-71. Coach Bruce Weber also boasts one of the most experienced teams in the country this season.
The biggest question mark surrounding the Big 12 regular season champs is their sharpshooting big man Dean Wade, who missed the conference tournament after hurting his foot in the season finale. The All-Big 12 first-teamer has dealt with foot problems over the past two seasons and is no sure thing to be ready for the Big Dance.
How they make a run: Behind their senior backcourt of Brown Jr., and Stokes and rebounding by committee, the Wildcats play it safe and simply survive and advance.
How they falter: Wade misses the tournament and Kansas State’s offense fails to establish an interior presence.
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