SE: K-State Returns to Big 12 Play Refreshed, Focused on Preparation
Feb 01, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
For the K-State men's basketball team, Monday was the last day to think about its loss at Texas A&M last Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The team watched the film, dissecting what went wrong and what went right. They talked about it over and over.
Then, the Wildcats moved on to Oklahoma State.
"We're now done with Texas A&M. No more Texas A&M," sophomore guard Cartier Diarra said, as K-State (15-5, 5-2) will face the Cowboys (9-11, 2-5) in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday at 5 p.m., on ESPNU. "We're focused on Okie State."
"It's done and over with. You can't change it," added head coach Bruce Weber. "Every game now is huge. It starts with Oklahoma State, and that's all we can worry about is getting ready for them."
Tied with Baylor for first place in the Big 12, K-State returns to conference play on a five-game win streak within the league. It marks the Wildcats' longest Big 12 winning streak since they shared the regular season conference championship in the 2012-13 season, a goal this year's team has in its sights as well.
"We want a Big 12 Championship. That's the same thing on our mind," senior guard Kamau Stokes said. "I know every guy on the team is hungry."
The Wildcats also agreed that the weeklong gap between games should help in a couple different ways.
To start, it has given K-State more time to get ready for the Cowboys, whom are fresh off an impressive win against a red-hot South Carolina team.
"Whether we won that (Texas A&M) game or not, a week off definitely helps," Stokes said. "It helps any team. You have a lot more time to prepare for the next team and you get to correct any mistakes you made in the game before. It gives us a lot more time to prepare for Okie State, and that's what we're worried about right now."
While Oklahoma State has struggled in the league thus far, Diarra said the Big 12's unpredictably — Kansas losing to last-place West Virginia and Baylor winning handedly at Oklahoma, for example — has made it clear that each game will be difficult.
"In the Big 12, anybody can beat anybody, so you have to be prepared. Preparation is key coming into each game," Diarra said. "We're locked in, I believe, after a tough loss. We know that, in order for us to win a Big 12 title, we have to be very precise, execute, be disciplined and consistent in our approach."
Physical health was the other factor widely referenced as a positive from the big break between games.
At this point in the season, Weber said about every player is dealing with a minor injury or pain of some sort. Xavier Sneed, for example, has been getting treatment for just about everything, Weber said, only exaggerating a little bit. To help his team recoup, Weber said he gave them about two-and-a-half days off after Saturday's loss.
"I'm hoping a couple of days off will refresh them," he said, "mentally and physically."
Diarra said he expects it to do so. He added that while K-State's defense, which ranks fourth in the country in terms of points allowed, will be vital as the Wildcats move forward, its physical style can take its toll on bodies. This week, he said, should help get everybody back to normal for another stretch of tough games.
"Everybody needs their rest, at times," he said. "We're a defensive-minded team, so we play really hard, and that wear and tear puts a lot of stress on the body, so this week off gives us a lot more time to rest, recover, sleep and get our bodies back to 100 percent."
For the K-State men's basketball team, Monday was the last day to think about its loss at Texas A&M last Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The team watched the film, dissecting what went wrong and what went right. They talked about it over and over.
Then, the Wildcats moved on to Oklahoma State.
"We're now done with Texas A&M. No more Texas A&M," sophomore guard Cartier Diarra said, as K-State (15-5, 5-2) will face the Cowboys (9-11, 2-5) in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday at 5 p.m., on ESPNU. "We're focused on Okie State."
"It's done and over with. You can't change it," added head coach Bruce Weber. "Every game now is huge. It starts with Oklahoma State, and that's all we can worry about is getting ready for them."
Tied with Baylor for first place in the Big 12, K-State returns to conference play on a five-game win streak within the league. It marks the Wildcats' longest Big 12 winning streak since they shared the regular season conference championship in the 2012-13 season, a goal this year's team has in its sights as well.
"We want a Big 12 Championship. That's the same thing on our mind," senior guard Kamau Stokes said. "I know every guy on the team is hungry."
The Wildcats also agreed that the weeklong gap between games should help in a couple different ways.
To start, it has given K-State more time to get ready for the Cowboys, whom are fresh off an impressive win against a red-hot South Carolina team.
"Whether we won that (Texas A&M) game or not, a week off definitely helps," Stokes said. "It helps any team. You have a lot more time to prepare for the next team and you get to correct any mistakes you made in the game before. It gives us a lot more time to prepare for Okie State, and that's what we're worried about right now."
While Oklahoma State has struggled in the league thus far, Diarra said the Big 12's unpredictably — Kansas losing to last-place West Virginia and Baylor winning handedly at Oklahoma, for example — has made it clear that each game will be difficult.
"In the Big 12, anybody can beat anybody, so you have to be prepared. Preparation is key coming into each game," Diarra said. "We're locked in, I believe, after a tough loss. We know that, in order for us to win a Big 12 title, we have to be very precise, execute, be disciplined and consistent in our approach."
Physical health was the other factor widely referenced as a positive from the big break between games.
At this point in the season, Weber said about every player is dealing with a minor injury or pain of some sort. Xavier Sneed, for example, has been getting treatment for just about everything, Weber said, only exaggerating a little bit. To help his team recoup, Weber said he gave them about two-and-a-half days off after Saturday's loss.
"I'm hoping a couple of days off will refresh them," he said, "mentally and physically."
Diarra said he expects it to do so. He added that while K-State's defense, which ranks fourth in the country in terms of points allowed, will be vital as the Wildcats move forward, its physical style can take its toll on bodies. This week, he said, should help get everybody back to normal for another stretch of tough games.
"Everybody needs their rest, at times," he said. "We're a defensive-minded team, so we play really hard, and that wear and tear puts a lot of stress on the body, so this week off gives us a lot more time to rest, recover, sleep and get our bodies back to 100 percent."
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