On Saturday evening, the Wildcats (25-7) recorded their sixth straight first-round NCAA victory by defeating Drexel. However, Patterson's team has only managed to escape second round play, and reach Sweet 16 once in its previous attempts.
Monday night, Patterson's team will be presented with yet another opportunity to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the program's history and the second time under the direction of Patterson.
That challenge may seem like déjà vu for Patterson as it comes in the form of the fourth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt broke the hearts of the Wildcats in 2005 with a three-point victory, also in the second round of the tournament.
Patterson, though, has pushed history aside and is focused on the present challenge at hand.
"I think it is going to be a great match up between two basketball teams that are relying right now on great senior leadership," Patterson said.
That senior leadership helped the Wildcats to roll over the Drexel Dragons on Saturday night as senior point guard Shalee Lehning baffled the zone defense of Drexel by handing out 13 assists, tying her career high.
Senior forward Marlies Gipson scored a game-high 18 points, while senior Danielle Zanotti added nine points.
Vanderbilt, (25-8) the SEC tournament champions, comes into the contest riding a four-game win streak after defeating Western Carolina 73-44 in their opening round game on Saturday evening.
The Commodores are led in scoring by senior forward Christina Wirth, who averages 16 points per game and was named the SEC tournament most valuable player and was an unanimous selection for first-team All-SEC choice. Wirth enters the game having scored double figures in 16 straight contests.
"Wirth is definitely an extremely emotional leader for her team, and I think it is just going to be a team role to try and contain her," Gipson said.
While K-State's defense finished the regular season ranked first in the Big 12 by allowing opponents only 52 points per game, Patterson emphasized the importance of containing and being aware of Wirth's presence on the floor.
"I think she is one of the premier players in the country," Patterson said. "We're going to have to have a radar on her and not lose sight of her. From that point on it's just do what you do defensively, but certainly if fail at all or bring in a preoccupation to knowing where she is and where she's going she's going to beat you."
The Wildcats meanwhile will look to their cornerstone players in Ashley Sweat, Gipson and Lehning trio Monday evening. The trio combined for 34 points in the victory against Drexel. As a team, K-State managed to shoot an even 50 percent from the floor, thanks largely to a second half surge in which they scored 42 of their 68 points after shooting 42 percent in the first half.
The K-State bench played a large part in offensive production Saturday evening, led by senior Kelsey Nelson and freshman Jalana Childs, both with eight points.
Lehning said the bench will be vital in their efforts against Vanderbilt on Monday.
"It (K-State bench production) was tremendous," Lehning said. "At this time of the year you have to rely on your bench. That is definitely something we need to happen next game. All good teams go to their bench and rely on that. That is definitely something we need to happen next game."
With a victory in the first round against Drexel completed, Patterson's squad is 40 minutes away from breaking the four-year Sweet 16 drought.
"It would be tremendous for our program and for our players more than anything," Patterson said. "You think about where we are at right now competing in the second round and in such a precious moment with such a tremendous achievement, but to be one of the 16 remaining teams would be a dream."
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