Kansas State gets another shot to find its footing Friday night when Cal State Northridge comes to Manhattan, Kan., with both teams still looking for their first win of the season.
For the Wildcats, the focus is on bouncing back after a narrow 68-66 loss to South Dakota State in Casey Alexander’s debut on Tuesday. Kansas State had a chance to force overtime at the end, but Brandon Rechsteiner’s runner in the lane didn’t fall. Rechsteiner finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, and afterward he pointed to execution rather than energy.
"We’re going to play hard every night," Rechsteiner said. "I don’t think there was a lack of effort tonight, but a lack of focus."
Alexander saw the same issue in the closing minutes, calling out several defensive breakdowns late. Even so, he said there’s still plenty of room for the group to grow.
"We’ve got good leaders, but not good leaders who’ve been with us before, and that’s just going to take some time to develop," Alexander said. "You’d love to see it come together right off the bat, but it’s going to take some time, so there’s a lot out there for us, for sure. We’re a long way away from being a finished product -- I hope."
One encouraging sign for Kansas State was the production from Pape N'Diaye, who came off the bench for 18 points and eight rebounds in just 18 minutes.
Cal State Northridge arrives with its own frustration after a 79-67 loss at Wichita State on Wednesday. The Matadors didn’t shoot it well, but coach Andy Newman still liked the effort his team brought into a tough road setting.
"The guys played great, came here into a hostile environment, defended their butts off and outrebounded a very physical and big team," Newman said.
The rebounding edge was a bright spot for Northridge, which finished with 48 boards. But the long-range shooting never showed up, as the Matadors missed 16 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc. Brooklyn Hicks led the team with nine rebounds, though he went just 1-for-7 from the field.
"There are some bright spots, but there are no moral victories in this program," Newman said. "We’re all disappointed with the result and know we’ve got to work to get better."
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than Just One Loss
Kansas States rough afternoon in Stillwater did more than add another mark to the loss column. The Wildcats were beaten 66-28 by Oklahoma State, a result that stretched their slide to three straight defeats and suddenly made bowl eligibility a real concern rather than a distant annoyance. For a program that expected to be in the thick of the Big 12 race, the setback was jarring enough that head coach Collin Klein called it one of the worst games he has experienced.
The damage was spread across both sides of the ball, and Oklahoma State made sure there was no soft landing. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker picked apart the Wildcats with 22 completions in 28 attempts for 313 yards and four touchdowns, while Kansas States offense and defense both drew failing grades in the postgame analysis. With the season now at a crossroads, the bigger issue is no longer just one ugly loss, but how quickly the Wildcats can stop the skid before it swallows the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Slide Puts Collin Klein Under A Tougher Spotlight
Kansas States latest loss to Oklahoma State left the Wildcats at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, a slide that has only sharpened the scrutiny on first-year coach Collin Klein. With the season moving deeper into November and the margin for recovery shrinking, the conversation around the program has shifted from early growing pains to a more urgent question about how quickly the staff can stabilize things.
Klein has taken responsibility for the struggles and said the coaching staff needs to do a better job putting players in position to succeed, a message that carries extra weight given the injuries that have hit the roster. Season-ending losses along the offensive line and at quarterback have made the task tougher, and now the Wildcats are trying to navigate the rest of the year while also sorting out what this stretch says about the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has No Answer At QB After Another Loss
Kansas States quarterback situation has turned into a week-to-week puzzle, and the latest loss only added to the uncertainty. The Wildcats have now gone through four different starters in their last four games, a stretch that has helped fuel a three-game losing streak and forced the staff to keep searching for something stable under center.
After the setback against Oklahoma State, Collin Klein said Dillon Duff and Blake Barnett both were evaluated and will keep getting chances as the staff looks for the right fit. Avery Johnson, who had been the steady presence earlier in the season, remains sidelined and is unlikely to return this year, though there is at least a possibility he could explore a fifth season of eligibility under the new NCAA rules. [Read more 🡒]