Wildcats rally, but fall in OT

It didn't take long in the post-game press conference for it to become clear just how much the Kansas State women's basketball team's 75-67 overtime loss to Texas Tech stung on Wednesday.

As KSU coach Deb Patterson described to members of the media how the Wildcats let their most recent opportunity slip through their hands, senior guard Kari Kincaid, sitting to the left of Patterson, struggled to control her emotions.

It's only been four games, but this late-season losing streak has taken a toll on the Cats. That stress slowly turned to tears for Kincaid, who will be playing in her final game at Bramlage Coliseum next week.

"For our team, it's just about hunger," said Kincaid, who scored a team-high 18 points. "We have had to be so hungry just to get one win, or just to get one basket. That's what it's coming down to. You just have to want it so bad."

Kincaid wants it, and she showed that on Wednesday night. She made 5-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point arc in a game where the Wildcats, as a team, struggled offensively.

The 18 points was a season-high for the Andover native and tied her career-high.

But it was the win that she and the Wildcats so desperately wanted.

"I'm not too excited about points right now," Kincaid said, as tears began to fill her eyes. "I'm more upset that (Jordan) Murphree got 26 points and I was guarding her.

"It was nice to make shots, but it doesn't really mean much when you lose."

The Wildcats did what they wanted to do, however. They finally put together a solid 40 minutes of basketball, something Patterson had been looking to see for some time.

KSU and Texas Tech battled throughout the first and second half, changing leads 11 times over the contest. K-State held the lead early in the first half, thanks to two 3-pointers by Kincaid at key moments. But a late 12-6 run by Texas Tech pushed the Lady Raiders ahead 28-23 at halftime.

Yet unlike recent games, the Wildcats made a push in the second half and stayed in the game.

"It's been a long time since our second half was better than our first half, so that was positive," Patterson said.

Late in that second half the Wildcats, down by two points with 14 seconds left, were able to take advantage of two missed free throws by Murphree.

Freshman guard Brittany Chambers handled the rebound, drove the length of the court, spun and connected on a layup to tie the game with 1.7 seconds left, pushing the game into overtime.

It looked like the Wildcats had the momentum needed to secure their first win in four contests — but they failed to show up for the final five minutes.

The Lady Raiders (17-10, 5-8) began the overtime period with an 8-0 run, led by Murphree, who netted six of those crucial eight points. It took until the 1:08 mark in the overtime period for the Wildcats to get their first points, when Kincaid hit a pair of free throws to cut the Lady Raiders' lead to six points.

"Unfortunately we just regressed back to wasting possessions," Patterson said. "That is the element of the game that we have to continue to put before us and bring a discipline to, and we are not making the quality basketball decisions that are putting us in positions to finish games and get that win."

With the loss, the Wildcats fell to 12-15 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 play, allowing the Lady Raiders to move ahead of them and into ninth place in the conference.

And it doesn't get any easier for the Wildcats. With the losing streak now stretched to four games, K-State travels to Ames, Iowa to face No. 15 Iowa State on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

Photo K-State Sports

K-State Baseball Preview: 2010

Fresh off of the most successful year in school history, Kansas State baseball coach Brad Hill and his squad are set to build upon all that they accomplished in 2009.

It was certainly a remarkable year for the program, and while the Wildcats enjoy discussing the run they made into an NCAA Regional appearance last season, Hill and his team have set its focus on the new year.

"I think we are all just ready to get on a plane and go somewhere and be outside and play," said Hill, the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year. "I know we are excited about it."

And that journey begins Friday as the Cats open the season against Delaware in the Citadel Memorial Challenge in Charleston, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. with senior right-hander Ryan Daniel taking the mound for the Wildcats, who were 43-18-1 last season.

The game is part of a 12-game road trip to open the season for the Wildcats, who enter the season ranked 34th in the NCBWA preseason poll. It marks the first time in the program's history that they have opened the season ranked in a preseason poll.

The lengthy road trip will provide the Wildcats an opportunity to answer several of the questions that surround the squad.

Pitching Rotation

The largest void the Wildcats will be faced with filling this year will be in the starting rotation, as they lose the services of A.J. Morris. The righty racked up a 14-1 record last year en route to earning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors in 2009.

Furthermore, the Wildcats lost weekend starters Lance Hoge and Todd Vogel. With the three pitchers gone, the Wildcats will look to fill each of the weekend starting roles.

The competitors for the starting rotation include senior Ryan Daniel, as well as a group of sophomores that include Evan Marshall, Kyle Hunter and Justin Lindsey.

"Honestly, it never changes," Hill said. "Every year you are trying to see who is going to be able to go out there and perform."

Daniel recorded more than 50 innings in 17 appearances last season for a 4-1 record and a 4.44 ERA.

Both Marshall and Hunter received two starts last season.

Bullpen

The Wildcats will benefit from a great deal of depth in their bullpen in 2010. Junior left-hander Thomas Rooke and sophomore James Allen will anchor the group. Rooke, who notched a 5-2 record and a 4.33 ERA in 54 innings of work last year, will serve as the Wildcats main reliever out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, Allen, a freshman All-American, will take on the closing duties.

Following his first start of his career in the Wildcats' final game last season — a 13-4 loss to Rice — Rooke was considered for a starting role in 2010. However, during offseason workouts, it was clear the team would benefit more from his duties in the bullpen.

"Right now we have depth in the starting role and they don't really need me to step in there," Rooke said. "Having me in the bullpen gives us more depth than what we would have had before. Going back there is what I am comfortable doing, I would be fine with starting, but I have two years of experience doing this so it's probably the best thing for me now."

The Wildcats also return sophomores Keyvon Bahramzadeh and Matt Applegate to the bullpen from last season. The two combined for 63 innings of work last season.

Infield

The Wildcats lost first baseman Justin Bloxom and shortstop Drew Biery from last season's starting infield, and took another hit this offseason when third baseman Jason King underwent Tommy John surgery following a summer injury.

According to Hill, it is possible that King could return as early as March, but if his recovery is delayed, he would apply a medical redshirt.

"If he is able to come back in middle to late March, then obviously he will be a key ingredient to our team." Hill said.

Meanwhile, Adam Muenster will take over the services at third base, while Carter Jurica will move from second base to shortstop. Jurica hit .353 last season with 15 doubles and four home runs. He will also add speed on the basepaths, as he stole 24 bases in 2009 and currently ranks seventh nationally among active players with 52 career stolen bases.

Redshirt senior Daniel Dellasaga will receive his first opportunity as starting catcher Rob Vaughn is now in the professional ranks in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Kent Urban and Jake Brown will serve as the newcomers in the infield at first base and second base, respectively.

Outfield

Much like the starting rotation, the Wildcat outfield will be a work in progress under the supervision of sophomore returner Nick Martini.

Martini, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American who hit .336 last season, will be making the move from left field to center and will be the only outfielder with any significant experience.

"Our depth is really down." Hill said. "We only have four outfielders right now. It's going to be an interesting challenge."

Martini will be assisted by redshirt freshman Nick Cocking in left field and sophomore Mike Kindel in right field. Kindel hit .250 in 28 plate appearances last season, mostly as a pinch hitter.

The Wildcats return home from the 12-game road trip on March 12 when they begin a three-game series with Kent State.

Photo- Manhattan Mercury File

Wildcats escape with win

A win's a win, and Kansas State coach Deb Patterson will gladly take Wednesday's 37-33 victory over Missouri.

No, it wasn't pretty, and at times, it was far from being entertaining.

But the Wildcats were able to overcome their worst shooting performance of the season to grab a needed victory and stay relevant in the Big 12.

With the win, the Wildcats improved to 12-11 overall and 4-5 in the conference.

"This is a win I am really excited about," Patterson said. "I know it wasn't a win that on the offensive side of the floor, would have pleased a lot of people. It was a grind-out game."

It indeed was a slow grind on offense for both the Wildcats and the Tigers, as the 70 combined points was the lowest point total in KSU women's history. The point total broke the previous record low, which was set in 1997 when K-State lost to Kansas, 51-38.

Only two players in the contest registered double figures in points, as Christine Flores of Missouri had a game-high 11 points, and K-State freshman Taelor Karr had a team-high 10 points.

K-State tallied just a 16-10 lead at the 3:02 mark in the first half on a layup by junior Shalin Spani, and it was clear as the first half came to a close, that points would be at a premium.

The Wildcats led 16-13 at halftime and shot just 26 percent in the opening half on 6-of-23 from the field, while missing on all three attempts from behind the arc.

"At some point, it was just find a way to stay ahead and make enough defensive plays and board the ball and don't give in," Patterson said. "Don't give in just because things aren't going your way on the offensive end in terms of making shots."

In the second half, the Wildcats did just that, focusing on their defensive effort and refusing to give in as Karr buried two critical shots late in the second half. With the Wildcats trailing 29-28 and less than four minutes remaining in the game, the guard hit a 10-foot jumper from the left side of the key to give the lead back to K-State.

On the next possession, following a missed jumper by Missouri's Toy Richbow, senior Kari Kincaid pushed the ball quickly up the other end of the court, passed it off to Karr deep on the left side. Karr paused, stepped back and nailed a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up by four.

"I really didn't do anything special." Karr said.

It sure felt special though. Her 3 marked the first back-to-back baskets the Wildcats connected on the entire night, and it came in the midst of the their attempt to finally pull away from the Tigers.

"I believe in Taelor's ability to do that," Patterson said. "It's not an easy thing to do for everyone in a game like we just competed in, to keep a level of confidence and keep a level of focus when things on the offensive end are just so difficult."

Kincaid followed Karr's basket by connecting on a jumper from the right side as the shot clock expired, pushing the Wildcats' lead back to four after Missouri made a pair of free throws at the other end.

KSU held on to the slim lead down the stretch as Missouri threw up a two-point attempt inside the final four seconds, when the Tigers trailed by three.

The Tigers finished the game shooting just 24 percent on 13-of-54 shooting and 1-of-13 from behind the arc.

"I think we really need to take from this game the accountability that we brought," senior forward Ashley Sweat said. "Maybe not from the offensive end tonight, but for the most part, we did get some good shots. On the defensive side, we were very accountable and that is huge for us."

The Wildcats will hit the road for a two-game road trip in Texas beginning with a 7 p.m. matchup against Texas A&M on Saturday.

Photo- Rob Mikiniski

Rovelto excited about newcomers

It's very possible that destiny played a major role in freshman Erik Kynard's journey to Kansas State.

At least that is how head track coach Cliff Rovelto likes to tell the story.

"Before I ever saw him jump, I had other coaches tell me he was destined to be a part of our program," Rovelto said this week.

It's quite a statement, but take a quick look at the young freshman's resume, combined with the history of high jumpers at K-State, and it starts to make sense.

"When they (other coaches) watched him jumped, they said he jumps like your guys jump," Rovelto said. "And they were right."

It's that decorated history of KSU high jumpers that caught the eye of Kynard as he searched from his home in Toledo, Ohio for schools to jump at, even if he did find himself in the middle of the Flint Hills of Kansas.

"Kansas is boring," he joked Wednesday afternoon. "But when you are looking at schools, you kind of want to pick the one that is best one for what you do. It was all about who had the best program, and basically this is the best program."

The 6-foot-4 athlete, is looking to continue in the celebrated path of Wildcat high jumpers, which includes three-time national champion Scott Sellers, and four-time All-American Kyle Lancaster. Both Sellers and Lancaster have re-written the K-State record books over the last 10 years.

And even this early in his career, Rovelto has already seen parallels with Kynard and the previous K-State greats.

"With the history of guys that have been here in that event, as a freshman he is doing just as well as any of them did when they first came here." Rovelto said.

Kynard is part of a decorated group of newcomers in Rovelto's program that are looking to make a quick impact in the NCAA national events for years to come.

Those newcomers and the rest of the men's team will be competing in two events this weekend as some will be traveling to Ames, Iowa at the Iowa State Classic and others will be heading south to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the Tyson Invitational.

Overall, the Wildcats will be sending 13 of their newcomers to compete in the events at Iowa State and Arkansas. It will be the eighth competition of the indoor season, and Rovelto said nothing of what he has seen thus far, has really surprised him.

"It (the indoor season) is kind of what we thought it would be," Rovelto said. "We have a number of talented guys, but a lot of them are young, and a lot of them haven't even competed in this country yet.

"So we are kind of opening their eyes to what it is like to compete here."

One of the other newcomers that excites Rovelto is sophomore Martynas Jurgilas of Kaunas, Lithuania. Jugilas has yet to run in a meet his year, however he is looking to compete in sprinting events as the outdoor season approaches.

Jurgilas is not scheduled to compete this weekend.

"When it is all said and done, he will be one of the faster guys ever in our school history." Rovelto said.

Above all, this weekend will provide Rovelto with another opportunity to evaluate his young roster, as the Wildcats have athletes scheduled to compete in 19 events between the two locations.

"We've got, I think a couple quality guys in just about every event," Rovelto said.

Kynard is scheduled to travel to Arkansas and compete in the high jump competition. However he said he is not worried about results just yet, and that the current indoor season is serving as a break-in period to the program prior to the more anticipated outdoor season, which begins in the spring.

"I haven't really done anything yet," Kynard said. "I don't want to say this is like practice, but I'm just trying to figure things, like the events, out."

Thus far, Kynard has jumped twice in the indoor season, once at the Adidas Classic in Lincoln, Neb., and once at the Bill Bergan Invitational at Iowa State and already he has a career-best of 7-feet-2.25-inches.

After the two events this weekend, the Wildcats will have one more meet, the KSU Open on Feb 20, before the Big 12 Championships and subsequent NCAA Championships to wrap up the indoor season.

As the indoor season wraps up, and his newcomers become acquainted with the program, Rovelto said he is excited for what his squad has the opportunity to accomplish over the next few years.

"We could be a good team this year," he said.. "And down the road we could be very, very good."

Wildcats try to break losing skid against Missouri

Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson made it quite clear Monday afternoon what it is she wants from her team.

Of course a win over Missouri on Wednesday would be ideal, but Patterson wants something more.

And so one day after the Wildcats' first loss to in-state rival Kansas in three years, Patterson explained what she wants to see not only on Wednesday, but also in coming weeks from her young team.

"The reality is, from game to game, we haven't established a consistent personality and character for how we are going to compete —win or lose," Patterson said. "That's what I'm still looking for."

It seemed the Wildcats might have started to find that identity just a little more than a week ago. The Cats traveled to Lincoln, Neb., to face the then-No. 6 Huskers, and showed an immense amount of improvement and growth in just three days from their home loss to Colorado. The Wildcats put up a fight in the 71-56 loss, overcoming a 22-point deficit to nearly tying the game at halftime against one of the top teams in the nation on the road.

Yet, what was equally as impressive was the Wildcats' ability to come back home, build upon their improvements in Lincoln, and knock off a ranked Iowa State team, 73-67.

They were in the midst of building some momentum during the two games and meanwhile establishing that consistency Patterson so badly wanted to see with her young team.

But following the improvement, the Wildcats (11-11, 3-5) dropped back-to-back games against Baylor and most recently Kansas in Lawrence.

"Right now, I am interested to see which basketball team will take the floor." Patterson said.

And if there is a team in which the Wildcats have had some consistent success against — at home at least — it's Missouri. K-State hasn't lost to the Tigers at Bramlage Coliseum since the 2005-06 season.

In their last meeting, the Wildcats saw a phenomenal shooting performance from their pair of freshman guards, Brittany Chamber and Taelor Karr. The duo combined for 33 points in the 65-50 victory in Columbia on Jan. 13.

"Overall, it was one of our best (shooting performances) together," Chambers said.

Meanwhile, Missouri (11-11, 1-8) is in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Although, those losses have come against some of the top teams in the Big 12, including Oklahoma State and Iowa State.

"Missouri has proven an ability," Patterson said. "Although they haven't gotten a lot of wins, they have been very close. This is a match up I am sure they are looking forward to. They've played a lot of very athletic teams that are going to finish in the upper tier of this league."

The Tigers are led in scoring by their two forwards, Jessera Johnson and Amanda Hanneman. The duo combine for 22.7 points per game for head coach Cindy Stein's team.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats will look to forward senior forward Ashley Sweat, who has been hot for K-State in recent games. Sweat leads the Wildcats at 18.2 points a game. But a lot of what Sweat does depends on what the outside shooters do in opening the offense for a consistent inside-outside game.

"When we are hitting shots that opens a lot of other things up," Sweat said. "It's an inside-outside game that we have developed this year, and that is where we have had success this year, and that's what we need to work on."

Above all, the Wildcats need a win. K-State enters the game having lost five of their last six games.

"We really need a win," Chambers said. "I think we are a little disappointed because we feel like we haven't been playing our best lately. We want to come out and play the best that we can."

And the time is now for K-State. With a tough two-game road trip featuring two south division teams in Texas and Texas A&M, their postseason hopes may linger on their ability to find that consistency, beginning Wednesday.

"We need a win badly," Sweat said. "If we want any chance at a postseason we have to go now."

Photo- Michael Schweitzer

Bears' Griner registers dominant performance against K-State

Brittney Griner not only stole the spotlight in Baylor's 65-47 victory over Kansas State on Wednesday night, she made history doing it.

After the game, Baylor coach Kim Mulkey made it clear that her 6-foot-8 freshman center's performance was special.

"My God, tell your buddies what they missed," she said.

What did those absent from the game pass up?

Well, first, Griner threw down the first dunk in Big 12 women's basketball history. To add to it, she blocked eight Wildcat shot attempts -- the most by a single player from an opposing team in Bramlage Coliseum history.

Griner was simply dominant.

K-State had no answer for Griner, who also finished with a game-high 26 points and seven rebounds.

As dominant as Griner was, K-State made this a game in the first half, trailing by only two at halftime, 30-28.

In those 20 minutes, they scratched, clawed, and downright played gutsy against the more physical and athletic Baylor squad.

They drove the lane as if they were blind to the fact that Griner and her 7-4 wingspan were waiting there. And they scored.

Sophomore forward Jalana Childs opened the Wildcats' scoring in the first half with a hard drive right at Griner, and converted. Then she did it again.

Senior forward Ashley Sweat got in on the action too as she kept the Cats close with seven points in the first in the first 10 minutes of the half -- including a 3pointer.

Childs had seven points in the half -despite sitting out 10 minutes with two fouls. Sweat netted 12 first-half points.

"I was just trying to play my game," said Childs, who also had seven rebounds. "There was not a different strategy this game. I just had to keep going at it and try to get to the line."

Yet Griner came out in the second half, and immediately reminded the 3,893 in attendance why she was one of the most feared post presences in the county.

On the Wildcats' first possession of the second half, K-State freshman point guard Brittany Chambers made a drive at the right side of the basket -- staying true to the attack strategy K-State used in the first half.

This time, though, it didn't work, as Griner blocked the shot out of bounds.

The swat set the tone for the second half for a Bears team that was still looking for its first Big 12 road win of the season.

"Starting off with a blocked shot like that not only gets me pumped up, it gets my whole team pumped up," Griner said.

"It gives them reassurance that if they happen to get beat off the dribble, I am there to help them out," She did more than help them out -dominating on both ends of the floor.

"If you get by one player for Baylor, there (Griner) stands," Mulkey said.
"They have to make decisions -- her ability, her wingspan to block shots -- I don't know that any of you or I will ever see it again in women's basketball."

Those forced decisions by K-State often came at the end of the shot clock in the second half, as KSU shot only 25 percent from the field in the half and finished the game just 17-for-55.

K-State was denied any significant post game in the second half due to Griner, and their shooting was just not present to bail them out.

The Wildcats will look to rebound on the road Sunday as they travel east to face their in-state rival Kansas with tip off set for 1 p.m.

-Photo K-State Sports Information.