K-State Q&A: Jerome Tang’s starting lineup in Year 1 and Avery Johnson’s recruitment
The middle of June is normally way too late for a way-too-early look at Kansas State’s upcoming basketball season.
But these aren’t normal times.
Jerome Tang officially added a ninth player to the Wildcats’ hoops roster earlier this week. He isn’t done recruiting. Roster member No. 10 (keep an eye on Hofstra transfer Abayomi Iyiola) should be announced in the near future, and K-State will still have three open scholarships afterward. But the Wildcats will soon have enough players on campus to practice five-on-five. That means it’s time for people like to me to start projecting a starting lineup and rotation.
Here’s my prediction for K-State’s starting lineup: Markquis Nowell, Desi Sills, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Ismael Massoud and Jerrell Colbert.
Cam Carter, David N’Guessan and Iyiola will all play important roles off the bench, with Dorian Finister and Taj Manning also possibly helping in certain situations.
My thinking: Nowell feels like an absolute lock to start at point guard. Colbert also seems like the obvious choice at center, though Iyiola could give him some competition. And I have heard so many good things about Tomlin that I’m ready to pencil him in.
Give me Sills over Carter, because Sills is a grad transfer who averaged 12.6 points last season at Arkansas State. But it’s a close call. Carter is going to play a lot, even if he isn’t a starter right away. It’s also possible he could play alongside both Nowell and Sills in a small lineup.
I gave Massoud the edge at the four, because of his previous experience at K-State, but that spot could be up for grabs. N’Guessan and Tomlin can both play there. So can Manning. We will probably see a revolving door at that position, depending on Tang’s lineup preferences.
What can we expect from this group? I asked for some reader opinions on Twitter earlier this week, and the general consensus was that the Wildcats should be around .500 next season and potentially show small improvement in Tang’s first season. Some think K-State has an outside shot at the NCAA Tournament. Some think K-State will be lucky to win 10 games.
As for me, I still think finishing not last in the Big 12 next season will be a challenge for a brand new team and a brand new coach. But I see potential for more. Sills was an excellent late addition, and I’m starting to really like Tomlin. There is a lot of length and athleticism on this roster. I could see this team exceeding expectations. I’m not predicting that, but it wouldn’t shock me.
Bart Torvik currently has K-State’s roster ranked 90th nationally and last in the Big 12. The next closest team in the league is Iowa State, which checks in at 45th nationally. By comparison, K-State finished last season ranked 65th nationally and ninth in the Big 12 standings. That’s down from last season. But sometimes you have to take a step back before you take a step forward, right?
For now, there is no wrong projection.
Perhaps the best way to end this is by stealing a line from “The Replacements.” Let’s just say they will be fun to watch.
Dang, this is a good question. Well done!
There are a few thoughts racing through my mind on this topic.
The easy answer is a retractable roof. Nobody likes to watch football in the rain, the extreme heat or the bitter cold. I love watching games outdoors in the fall, but having the option to control the weather is always a perk.
Maybe a dome would make it easier for fans to stay for an entire game instead of leaving at halftime.
But I’m also a sucker for the enormous video boards at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The four video boards at Bill Snyder Family Stadium are fine, and a big improvement over what used to be there, but they are still a little small compared to what else is out there.
Other than that, I could also get behind better concessions. How about a beer hall or a permanent restaurant somewhere in the stadium?
Whataburger just moved into Kansas. Perhaps In-N-Out Burger could answer by opening its first restaurant here, at K-State’s football stadium!
E-MAIL QUESTION: Hey there, Kellis. I’ve got a question you can use for this week’s Q&A. It’s short and sweet. Will Avery Johnson be a Cat? - Paul M.
I don’t like trying to predict what a high school kid is going to do.
So you’re not going to get an official prediction from me on Avery Johnson, the coveted four-star quarterback from Maize. But I will say this: K-State is in the driver’s seat.
He had a blast on his official visit to Manhattan last week. He has a great relationship with offensive coordinator Collin Klein and his family really likes the way Chris Klieman has recruited him. They think he has shown Johnson plenty of love without putting any pressure on him.
K-State hasn’t landed a “local” quarterback with Johnson’s talents since Josh Freeman all the way back in the Ron Prince era. He would be seen as a superstar the moment he arrives on campus, if he picks the Wildcats. He will also have a shot at starting right away as a freshman. He is also K-State’s top recruiting priority at QB. They want him ... badly.
That is all important to him.
One more plus: Manhattan is also a quick drive up the road from Wichita.
Johnson has also visited Washington and will visit Oregon this weekend. Unless a school like LSU, Mississippi or Notre Dame swoops in at the 11th hour, he will mull his options next week and announce his commitment at the end of the month.
I don’t see Washington as much of a threat, even though he liked his visit there. I will be shocked if he picks the Huskies.
But he is strongly considering Oregon. He has a great relationship with offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and grew up liking the Ducks because of their flashy Nike uniforms.
If Oregon wows him and his family this weekend, it could be a tough decision for him between the Ducks and Wildcats.
I would give K-State the advantage as of Friday morning. But things can always change.
A list?
A list!
I’m allowed to do that, too, right?
K-State’s upcoming home football games ranked:
7. Tulane: The Green Wave are a decent team and all, but fan excitement tends to fade for the third nonconference home game.
6. South Dakota: On paper, this is the worst game on the schedule. But nothing beats the excitement of opening day. People are going to want to see Adrian Martinez throw for the first time in a K-State uniform.
5. Kansas: Lance Leipold may beat Chris Klieman at some point, but I doubt it happens this season. This should be another blowout win for the Wildcats.
4. Texas Tech: It will be interesting to see how much differently the Red Raiders play with a new coach.
3. Missouri: It’s always fun to see a SEC team come to Manhattan, even if that team is an old Big 12 rival. This will be an important swing game for both teams, and the highlight of K-State’s nonconference season.
2. Oklahoma State: This game could have Big 12 championship implications.
1. Texas: This might be your last chance to boo the Longhorns before they leave for the SEC.
My guess is Collin Klein’s offense will feel new for opposing coaches until K-State reached the midpoint of the season.
Maybe that is a little generous, seeing as how teams already have the Texas Bowl to watch. But it can be hard to prepare for a no-huddle offense. Defensive coordinators won’t be dialing up every blitz known to man while K-State eats clock between plays next season. That should help.
I’m starting to feel like one of the few people on this planet who hasn’t seen the Top Gun sequel yet. I probably need to change that in the near future.
Alas, I stand a much better chance of making it out to see Lightyear. My kids are pumped about that one.
I don’t have much desire to watch another Jurassic Park movie.
On the streaming front, how about I just list some shows that I have enjoyed lately: The Boys, Tokyo Vice, Better Call Saul, Cobra Kai, Cowboy Bebop, Love Death + Robots, Moon Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi and a re-watch of Bojack Horseman.
The latest seasons of The Flight Attendant and Peaky Blinders have been disappointing, though.
Never say never, I guess. But that seems incredibly unlikely.
And when I say incredibly unlikely, I mean astronomically unlikely. I see myself walking on the moon before that happens.
BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF would have to show the Longhorns and Sooners an incredible amount of hospitality for them to reconsider their move.
The only way Oklahoma and Texas could be convinced to stay in the Big 12 would be for a TV or streaming service to offer the conference way more money than the SEC for its broadcast rights. And that’s not going to happen.