K-State basketball 2014-15: Kellis Robinett breaks down the Wildcats

If college basketball had no postseason, Kansas State basketball fans would have little to complain about from Bruce Weber’s teams.

Since arriving on campus in 2012, Weber has guided the Wildcats to a a pair of 20-win seasons, a conference championship (the program’s first since 1977) and victories over every team in the Big 12.

With talented scorer Marcus Foster returning for his sophomore season, along with starters Wesley Iwundu, Thomas Gipson, Nino Williams and promising newcomers Justin Edwards, Stephen Hurt and Brandon Bolden, K-State seems poised for another strong regular season and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Question is: Does this team have what it takes to deliver Weber his first meaningful postseason victory since leaving Illinois?

The postseason is ultimately where the true success of K-State will be measured. In 2013, Weber couldn’t get the Wildcats past No. 13 seed La Salle in Kansas City, Mo. Last year, it was overmatched against Kentucky. The early exits left an unfinished feeling on both seasons. This time, they are hoping for more.

K-State hasn’t advanced past the round of 64 since 2012, and it hasn’t been to the Sweet 16 since 2010. Both those streaks could come to end, if everything lines up correctly.

That responsibility falls on Weber. Unlike previous seasons, when K-State’s roster has been limited on size and depth, Weber has more talent than he knows what to do with right now. Should he start Nigel Johnson or Jevon Thomas at point guard? Should he split Foster between point guard and shooting guard? Should he bring Edwards off the bench? Should he go small with Iwundu, Williams and Gipson? Or should he go big with Brandon Bolden and Hurt?

Those questions will create competition at every position, which should help everyone.

Searching for answers to those questions is a good problem to have. But it is still a problem. Team chemistry is not a given. Can Weber keep happy 11 players who think they deserve playing time? Can he create lineups that bring out the best in those players?

The talent is there for a memorable run, but he won’t have much room for error early on with nonconference games against Texas A&M and Tennessee on top of a daunting trip to the Maui Invitational.

This season may say a lot about Weber. He has proven his coaching abilities at K-State, but not like this. And never in the postseason.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 9:59 AM with the headline "K-State basketball 2014-15: Kellis Robinett breaks down the Wildcats."