K-State Wildcats Q&A: Football opener, Irish beer and a big basketball transfer
A friend posed an interesting question to me earlier this week about Jerome Tang’s newest addition to the Kansas State men’s basketball team.
When was the last time the Wildcats had a more robust player than Bowling Green transfer Marcus Johnson.
Unfortunately, my friend didn’t use the proper channels and submit it for everyone’s favorite weekly mailbag about K-State sports. Instead, he asked me this question while we were watching a youth baseball game in Manhattan. But I liked it enough to use it here anyway.
At first, I didn’t have an answer. Johnson is a 6-foot-7 and 265-pound bowling ball of a forward who plays and shoots like a small forward. His playing style and heft should make him a fan favorite at Bramlage Coliseum if he can come anywhere close to recreating the 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds he averaged for the Falcons last year. If he doesn’t leave town with a nickname similar to “Diesel” or “Tractor Trailer” or “Big Fella” then something has gone horribly wrong.
It’s been a while since the Wildcats have boasted a player like him.
How long? Well, they have had several players check in at more than 265 pounds. But they have all stood 6-9 or taller. It’s not really fair to compare Johnson to, say, Davion Bradford or Ugonna Onyenso.
The best comparison I could find was Thomas Gipson. He was also 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds as a senior in 2015. His game was much different. He was a center and a master of low-post moves who could wrestle a rebound away from anybody. He almost never took a shot from 3-point range. But he was large and in charge. So is Johnson.
Long story short: It’s been a decade since K-State had a player as robust as Johnson.
Now, lets dive into the rest of your questions. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
I’m worried with all the Busch Light Apple content I have been seeing. If it becomes the beverage of the summer, I won’t be ready for Week Zero in Dublin and downing Guinness. What sort of summer training should we fans engage in to be in midseason form? -@the_funky_andy via X.
You and I are thinking on the same wavelength.
One of my biggest questions about Farmageddon moving to Ireland in August is if Dublin has enough light beer to go around for all the Iowa State and Kansas State fans who plan to make the trek overseas.
Legend has it that Aviva Stadium ran out of beer and liquor trying to keep up with the demand of Nebraska fans when the Huskers played Northwestern in Ireland.
Now, that could just be an urban legend created by Nebraska fans to make themselves look cool. I asked an Aer Lingus representative last year if he was worried about running out of beer this time around and he said there was no way they would let that happen.
But, like Barney Gumble at a poker game, I am still worried about the beer supply, nonetheless.
Nobody drinks more Busch Light than an Iowa State fan. Few people can down more cans of Michelob Ultra or Bud Light than a Kansas State fan. Put them both together on a football trip and the demand for light beer in Ireland figures to be off the charts.
That being said, Guinness gets a bad wrap with most light beer drinkers. Most assume it tastes like a craft stout or porter and has a high alcohol content because of its color. But 12 ounces of Guinness only contain 125 calories and 4.2% alcohol. Believe it or not, it’s an easy drinker. I have also been told that Guinness in Ireland is better than other parts of the world. So don’t be afraid to try it.
(Editor’s note: Having just returned from an Ireland trip ... I can confirm. Significantly better. And the Guinness Storehouse experience in Dublin is worth a trip, too. Just make sure your bartender knows the proper way to pour it.)
My advice for anyone looking to drink like an Irishman during the K-State/Iowa State game is to buy a six pack of Guinness at the store (it’s available here, you know) and start mixing one in with your Busch Light Apples over the summer.
By the time game day arrives, you will be ready to go.
Or, if you are really dead set on drinking American light beer in Ireland, you can always pack a few in your checked bag and fly them overseas.
Part of me is jealous that Iowa State has been able to send two great players to the pros in Brock Purdy and Tyrese Haliburton. Another part of me wants to laugh at the Cyclones for not winning a Big 12 championship with either of them. How do you think I should feel? - Andrew B. via e-mail.
You can quietly be impressed by the fact that Iowa State has produced an NFL starting quarterback (Brock Purdy) and NBA All-Star (Tyrese Haliburton), but I feel like it is your duty as a K-State fan to loudly shame the Cyclones for not winning more when they were both in Ames.
Iowa State had Breece Hall and Brock Purdy on the same teams and was never able to win a Big 12 championship with them. Matt Campbell is such a bum!
To be fair, it’s not like they finished last with those guys. Iowa State made it all the way to the Big 12 championship game, and beat K-State like a drum, during the pandemic season.
If you really want to laugh at a Big 12 team for underachieving with star players, cast your shame at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were mediocre with both Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes.
I’m still not sure if Purdy is a great NFL quarterback, but he is in a good situation with the 49ers.
I never saw Haliburton becoming one of the best players in the world, but he is killing it right now in the NBA Playoffs.
We can all respect the fact that they both played for Iowa State in college. But you are not obligated to publicly share that respect as a K-State fan.
Are the Bat Cats safe for a NCAA Baseball Regional? -@Cat_Fan451 via X.
Finishing the season with losses at Cincinnati and then a one-and-done trip to the Big 12 Tournament didn’t help their chances but, yes, I think the Bat Cats are going to make the NCAA Tournament.
K-State has a solid RPI of 36. That is usually good enough to make the field of 64.
The folks over at Baseball America have the Wildcats projected as a No. 3 seed in the Ole Miss regional.
It’s summertime in the Robinett house hold. How are you and your family planning to recharge before the grind of school and K-State football begins again? Is the Professor truly retired? Will he ever come back to do some field trips or another activity? -@ChadFullington via X.
My days as a professor are over.
Unless my children want to learn about the Simpsons, Bojack Horseman, Star Wars or the Nintendo 64 then I don’t have anything else to teach them.
These days, I feel more like a shuttle driver. My two oldest sons are on competitive baseball teams and I just signed up to coach a Little League squad of first graders. Between practices, games and tournaments, I am always on the move.
Fortunately, baseball season doesn’t last forever. After it’s over, we have some family trips planned.
But the very best way to recharge is by going to the swimming pool. Professor Kellis will gladly return to organize some field trips there.
My weekly recommendations
Streaming: Andor on Disney+. Season 2 is a slow burn with 12 episodes. Some of the storylines are downright boring. But that’s Star Wars for you. Luckily, the last few episodes are highly entertaining. Now I want to watch Rogue One again.
Food: The buffalo chicken taco at Taco Lucha. With students out of town for the next few months, this is an ideal time to head down to Aggieville for a meal.
K-State Highlight: Barry Brown just won a basketball championship in China. And his game has never looked better.