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
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