Kansas State finally got the kind of win that can change the mood around a young season.
The Wildcats knocked off Creighton 89-82 on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Bramlage Coliseum, giving Casey Alexander his first statement victory in Manhattan. Brandon Rechsteiner was the headliner, pouring in 26 points as Kansas State improved to 2-1. The matchup also carried a little extra edge because Creighton is now coached by Alan Huss, who had been in the mix for K-State’s opening this offseason.
Kansas State will have some time to sit on it before getting back to work. The Wildcats’ next game is Monday, Nov. 16, against Montana at 7 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum.
Rechsteiner was the difference-maker when the game tightened up. The senior Colorado State transfer knocked down six shots from deep and kept answering every Creighton push with a big bucket of his own.
His biggest came with 5:52 left, when he buried a 3-pointer after the Bluejays had trimmed a 15-point Kansas State lead to three. From the primary ball-handling spot, he helped steady the Wildcats and keep the offense flowing.
Kansas State still made life harder than it needed to be. The Wildcats coughed it up 22 times, and Rechsteiner had five of them.
Creighton turned those mistakes into 30 points, which is a big reason the Bluejays were able to hang around so long. Alexander’s frustration showed at times, including when he sent Rechsteiner to the bench after three turnovers before the first media timeout of the second half.
That turnover issue has been a theme through three games. Kansas State had 12 in its opening-night loss to South Dakota State and 17 in the win over Cal State Northridge.
There was also a debut worth watching. Timo Malovec, the Miami (Florida) transfer, finally got on the floor after missing the first two games with an injury.
Alexander had hinted Monday that the debut was close, and it came the very next day. Malovec entered for the first time with 15:55 left in the first half and finished with 14 minutes, four points and one rebound.
Alexander said Malovec should eventually help settle things down for a team that has not had much time together since July. He praised Malovec’s intelligence on both ends of the floor and his offensive ability.
In Other News...
Kansas State Faces A Costly QB Decision With TCU Up Next
Kansas State is still sorting through one of the most important decisions on its schedule, with Collin Klein not ready to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming meeting with TCU. Sophomore Dillon Duff and junior Blake Barnett are both in the mix, and Klein said the competition will continue in practice as the Wildcats try to steady themselves after Avery Johnsons injury helped trigger a recent losing streak.
The possibility of using both quarterbacks adds another layer to a situation Kansas State would rather have settled by now. With TCU next and the offense still adjusting to life without its starter, Klein is weighing not just who gives the Wildcats the best chance to move the ball, but how much flexibility he wants to keep available once the game begins. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Feel Better
After a flat opening loss to South Dakota State, Kansas State has started to steady itself with back-to-back wins over Cal State Northridge and Creighton. The early response mattered, because it showed the Wildcats could absorb an ugly start and come back with more pace, better shot selection and a sharper edge on offense. Brandon Rechsteiner has been at the center of it, leading the way with 26 points in both victories while K-States three-point shooting took a noticeable step forward.
For a team trying to build confidence early, that kind of bounce-back is exactly what coach Casey Alexander wanted to see. He pointed to the progress and readiness the Wildcats showed after the opener, and the next question is whether this stretch is the start of something more stable or just a brief correction. Either way, K-State has already given its fans a much better reason to feel optimistic than it had after game one. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Pushing For A Young Tight End Fans Should Watch
Kansas States recruiting board keeps expanding, and one of the more intriguing names to surface is Caden Palmquest, a young tight end from Aledo High School in Texas. Collin Klein has extended a scholarship offer to Palmquest, who is already committed to SMU but is drawing attention from programs that like his upside and long-term potential. He is also hearing from Arkansas, Baylor and Oregon State, a sign that the Wildcats are competing in a crowded race for a prospect who is still early in his high school career.
For Kansas State, the offer fits a broader push across multiple positions and recruiting classes as the staff keeps working to build out its future board. Tight end is always a position worth tracking in this offense, and Palmquest is the kind of name that can linger on the radar for a while as the recruiting process unfolds. The Wildcats have made clear they want to stay involved, and for fans following the next wave of targets, this is one to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]