Kansas State is finally on the edge of game action, and Casey Alexander is still sorting out the details that matter most: who’s healthy, who’s starting, and how much he’ll really reveal in the Wildcats’ two exhibitions.
Alexander, along with projected starters Brandon Rechsteiner and Isaiah Abraham, spoke Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Big 12 Media Days at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas State opens its exhibition slate Friday against Missouri at Bramlage Coliseum, a first look at Alexander’s team before the regular season begins Nov. 5 against South Dakota State.
One of the biggest question marks remains Miami transfer Timo Malovec, whose preseason injury continues to limit him. Alexander had already suggested the issue could stretch into the regular season, and he doubled down Wednesday.
"He's well on his way to being full speed and ready to go," Alexander said. "We've missed him; we need him, but the good thing is that it's opened up doors for some other guys, and we've learned how to play without him."
Malovec was projected to start and could still end up in that role once he returns. For now, though, Kansas State may have to adjust its look from game to game depending on the opponent.
"It definitely makes you have some adjustments and throw some smaller lineups out there," Alexander said. "I do like the flexibility we have to go in multiple directions, small, big or somewhere in between."
That flexibility will be on display in a pair of exhibitions against tough competition. After hosting Missouri on Friday at 7 p.m., the Wildcats travel to Grand Island, Nebraska, to face Nebraska on Monday, Oct.
- Alexander called both teams strong tests, noting that each is projected to be an NCAA Tournament team.
Still, he’s not planning to empty the playbook.
"We'll play to win the game and, by and large, it'll be what our rotations look like, but not exclusively," Alexander said. "It's not like we're gonna exhaust all options to win the game. I imagine it'll be pretty vanilla on offense and defense, just sticking with the basics, but you're always concerned with winning, but that's not my priority."
As for the starting five, Alexander said he has not locked anything in yet. He wants to see which players are available against Missouri before making the call, though he said he has a "pretty good idea" of where things stand.
Rechsteiner and Abraham appear set, with Jaden Schutt and JT Rock also likely to be in the opening group. If Malovec is unavailable, Matt Gilhool could move into the lineup, or Kansas State could go smaller with Montana Wheeler in the mix.
"The two exhibitions will model the game, but we'll still see some guys out there getting more minutes than they will as the season goes on," Alexander said. "There's a lot of TBD on starters and just roles in general, but that's what these games are for."
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That matters because Kansas State leans on the ground game as a central part of its offensive identity, especially with Avery Johnsons running ability adding another layer to the attack. When a backfield is being managed on feel and flow as much as on depth-chart order, every game can become a test of how the coaching staff balances development, reward and production without disrupting the offenses timing. [Read more 🡒]