Kansas State searches for answers before TCU trip
D.J. Johnson requires only four words to describe the collective mindset of Kansas State’s basketball team as it prepares for its next game at TCU.
“We really need it,” Johnson, a junior forward, said.
Much has changed for K-State in the past nine days. At this time last week, K-State had the look of a potential NCAA Tournament team. It was coming off an 80-69 victory over then-No. 1 Oklahoma, and its RPI surged to 37. A trip to last-place TCU looked like an ideal opportunity to pad its postseason resume.
Two losses later — to struggling opponents Baylor and Oklahoma State — and K-State has slid off the bubble at 14-11 and 3-9 in the Big 12. Its RPI has plummeted to 65, and it needs wins in a hurry to stay in the NIT hunt.
Motivation should be easy for the Wildcats to find.
“I am fired up. I want to win. I want to make a tournament push,” K-State senior guard Justin Edwards said. “I still feel if we win all these games we can make that push and do good in the Big 12. We just have to get our confidence back up.”
K-State will have to find answers to recent problems for that to happen. The cause of its recent downturn is a mystery.
Statistics point to a lack of offense, as the Wildcats scored 55 points in 45 minutes against the Cowboys and made 2 of 14 three-point attempts against the Bears. They made shots and enjoyed balanced scoring against Oklahoma, then everyone went cold. Their road struggles are also impossible to ignore. K-State has lost 13 straight conference road games.
Still, K-State coach Bruce Weber suggests his players lack something more basic — passion.
“I have to coach better,” Weber said. “They have to play better, and, hopefully, find a way to get a win. But you’re not going to do that unless you get some emotion.”
It may not take long to find out if the Wildcats solved that problem against the Horned Frogs. K-State has developed a habit of falling behind early in games. It overcame a 9-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma, but fell way behind Baylor and Oklahoma State, unable to mount a comeback.
Weber has tried different lineups and pregame speeches to try and help the Wildcats start fast, but nothing has worked.
Why not?
“I couldn’t tell you that answer, because we haven’t come out and punched somebody in the mouth yet,” Johnson said. “We are still working on the recipe for that.”
Kellis Robinett: @kellisrobinett
Kansas State at TCU
- When: 7 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth
- Records: KSU 14-11, 3-9 Big 12; TCU 11-14, 2-10
- Radio: KQAM, 1480-AM; KWLS, 107.9-FM
- TV: ESPNews
Kansas State at TCU
P | KSU | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb |
F | Dean Wade | 6-10 | Fr. | 9.8 | 5.4 |
F | D.J. Johnson | 6-9 | Jr. | 8.1 | 5.0 |
G | Wesley Iwundu | 6-7 | Jr. | 12.4 | 4.6 |
G | Barry Brown | 6-3 | Fr. | 8.8 | 2.8 |
G | Carlbe Ervin | 6-3 | Jr. | 3.0 | 1.9 |
P | TCU | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb |
F | Devonta Abron | 6-8 | Sr. | 4.8 | 3.7 |
F | Chris Washburn | 6-8 | Jr. | 8.0 | 4.6 |
G | Brandon Parrish | 6-6 | Jr. | 8.4 | 3.4 |
G | Chauncey Collins | 6-0 | So. | 10.9 | 3.2 |
G | Malique Trent | 6-2 | So. | 10.9 | 2.7 |
Kansas State: The Wildcats are striving to find consistency. One week after defeating then No. 1 Oklahoma, K-State responded with a pair of clunkers against Baylor and Oklahoma State, losing both games and looking inept on offense. It will try to bounce back Tuesday at TCU, but it won’t be easy. Though the Horned Frogs are the Big 12’s last-place team, they have beaten Texas and Oklahoma State at home. K-State has lost 13 consecutive road games. Bruce Weber may alter K-State’s starting lineup. Ervin has not played well since taking over for injured point guard Kamau Stokes.
TCU: The Horned Frogs are coming off their worst game of the season, a 73-42 loss at West Virginia. TCU wasn’t competitive against the Mountaineers and will look to play better at home against K-State. TCU has struggled in Big 12 play all season, but it has found home success, downing Texas, Oklahoma State and Tennessee. TCU lacks a go-to scorer, but several players average eight or more points. When the Horned Frogs are at their best, they have balanced scoring.
RPIs as of Friday: K-State 65, TCU 150.
This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Kansas State searches for answers before TCU trip."