SE: K-State Hoops Hits the Lonestar State Looking to Get Back on Track
Jan 10, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
With the spring semester still more than a week away, K-State women's basketball took advantage of its last work week without a game this regular season.
The Wildcats (6-6, 0-1), who play at Texas Tech (12-1, 1-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m., left for Texas on Wednesday afternoon. Instead of Lubbock, however, head coach Jeff Mittie's squad went to the Athletic Performance Ranch in Fort Worth, where K-State practiced and trained for two days.
After a Big 12-opening loss to No. 19 West Virginia on Sunday, the Wildcats looked to build on some positives and clean up a few other areas in a different setting.
On the positive side, K-State outscored West Virginia by two in the second half of its 74-63 loss. The Wildcats shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the final two quarters and made 9 of 11 from the free throw line.
The key, Mittie said, is turning that half into four quarters going forward.
"I just got done telling the team, 'Those are all great, except if you don't carry that over. The next time we step on the floor, turn it into 40 minutes as opposed to 26 minutes or whatever. You have to transfer that and take it into practice. Then, you've got to apply that in a game into 40 minutes,'" Mittie said in Sunday's press conference. "If you don't do that, in this league you're playing against WNBA players, and if you want to play a 36-minute game, then you're going to leave it open to somebody beating you. You have to play 40 minutes to have an opportunity."
Another focus will be cutting down on turnovers. Even in a bright second half, the Wildcats tallied eight of their 18 turnovers in the last 20 minutes, which hindered any real chance at a comeback attempt.
Limiting those mistakes against a high-scoring Texas Tech team ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring offense, 11th in field goal percentage and sixth in assists per game will be key.
Mittie said both shooting from the perimeter and defending the 3-point line — WVU went 10-of-28 from three compared to K-State's 1-of-15 — need to improve as well. He also hoped to see more growth from his bench, shortened and being asked to do more with the injury of Rachel Ranke. He said it's a two-way street, however.
"I've probably got to trust them a little more. It's really about effort. Those that are giving effort get a lot longer leash. If I don't feel like you're engaged or giving effort, then that leash is pretty short," Mittie said. "You can make mistakes, but I have to see great effort. I have to see those things. Some of them it's about cutting loose in the game with that effort, because I do think that group practiced well (last) week. We've got a good opportunity this week. That group did practice well (last) week, so if they can put together another good week of practice, that will be helpful for us going forward."
K-State MBB Seeks First Big 12 Win at Texas
K-State men's basketball keeps finding itself on the wrong end of close games. The Wildcats (7-7, 0-2) look to change that trend at Texas (10-4, 0-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m., on the Longhorn Network.
Their average margin of defeat, near the halfway point of the season, is 5.9 points. They have lost five games by six points or less this season, most recently adding a two-point setback at home against TCU on Tuesday, when the Horned Frogs scored the go-ahead bucket off a tip-in with 2 seconds left.
The game before, at Oklahoma, K-State led for nearly 34 minutes and held as big of a lead as 11. A 12-0 run from the Sooners squandered K-State's chance at a road win, however.
Still, the opportunities have been there. Bruce Weber said he believes they will continue to be. It's just about seizing them in the future.
"We keep battling and we keep giving ourselves chances, but we have to play smarter," Weber said. "It's frustrating, disappointing for the guys. They care, they prepare to win. That's why we're close. The coaches do a great job. You can blame it on youth, new (roles), whatever, and no one wants to hear that. We have to get better. We have to be a little smarter, get some consistency where we know we're getting consistent production out of guys every game."
Against TCU, K-State trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half. The Wildcats rallied to within one possession seven different times in the final 20 minutes before they tied the game up on a David Sloan three with 13 seconds left.
In the end, those six other missed opportunities to tie or take the lead added up against the Wildcats. Whether it was a missed three from K-State or a deep make from the Horned Frogs, a Wildcat turnover or second-chance points from the Horned Frogs, little plays in different areas held Weber's team back.
It's why senior Xavier Sneed said the Wildcats must bring a mentality that every play matters.
"We never know…it could go either way. It could be the possession that helps us win," Sneed said. "So, we just have to be on our horse, be more active, be more competitive and just have that edge, that fight, especially now, being .500. We have to get some wins, got to get some toughness to us."
With the spring semester still more than a week away, K-State women's basketball took advantage of its last work week without a game this regular season.
The Wildcats (6-6, 0-1), who play at Texas Tech (12-1, 1-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m., left for Texas on Wednesday afternoon. Instead of Lubbock, however, head coach Jeff Mittie's squad went to the Athletic Performance Ranch in Fort Worth, where K-State practiced and trained for two days.
After a Big 12-opening loss to No. 19 West Virginia on Sunday, the Wildcats looked to build on some positives and clean up a few other areas in a different setting.
On the positive side, K-State outscored West Virginia by two in the second half of its 74-63 loss. The Wildcats shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the final two quarters and made 9 of 11 from the free throw line.
The key, Mittie said, is turning that half into four quarters going forward.
"I just got done telling the team, 'Those are all great, except if you don't carry that over. The next time we step on the floor, turn it into 40 minutes as opposed to 26 minutes or whatever. You have to transfer that and take it into practice. Then, you've got to apply that in a game into 40 minutes,'" Mittie said in Sunday's press conference. "If you don't do that, in this league you're playing against WNBA players, and if you want to play a 36-minute game, then you're going to leave it open to somebody beating you. You have to play 40 minutes to have an opportunity."
Another focus will be cutting down on turnovers. Even in a bright second half, the Wildcats tallied eight of their 18 turnovers in the last 20 minutes, which hindered any real chance at a comeback attempt.
Limiting those mistakes against a high-scoring Texas Tech team ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring offense, 11th in field goal percentage and sixth in assists per game will be key.
Mittie said both shooting from the perimeter and defending the 3-point line — WVU went 10-of-28 from three compared to K-State's 1-of-15 — need to improve as well. He also hoped to see more growth from his bench, shortened and being asked to do more with the injury of Rachel Ranke. He said it's a two-way street, however.
"I've probably got to trust them a little more. It's really about effort. Those that are giving effort get a lot longer leash. If I don't feel like you're engaged or giving effort, then that leash is pretty short," Mittie said. "You can make mistakes, but I have to see great effort. I have to see those things. Some of them it's about cutting loose in the game with that effort, because I do think that group practiced well (last) week. We've got a good opportunity this week. That group did practice well (last) week, so if they can put together another good week of practice, that will be helpful for us going forward."
K-State MBB Seeks First Big 12 Win at Texas
K-State men's basketball keeps finding itself on the wrong end of close games. The Wildcats (7-7, 0-2) look to change that trend at Texas (10-4, 0-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m., on the Longhorn Network.
Their average margin of defeat, near the halfway point of the season, is 5.9 points. They have lost five games by six points or less this season, most recently adding a two-point setback at home against TCU on Tuesday, when the Horned Frogs scored the go-ahead bucket off a tip-in with 2 seconds left.
The game before, at Oklahoma, K-State led for nearly 34 minutes and held as big of a lead as 11. A 12-0 run from the Sooners squandered K-State's chance at a road win, however.
Still, the opportunities have been there. Bruce Weber said he believes they will continue to be. It's just about seizing them in the future.
"We keep battling and we keep giving ourselves chances, but we have to play smarter," Weber said. "It's frustrating, disappointing for the guys. They care, they prepare to win. That's why we're close. The coaches do a great job. You can blame it on youth, new (roles), whatever, and no one wants to hear that. We have to get better. We have to be a little smarter, get some consistency where we know we're getting consistent production out of guys every game."
Against TCU, K-State trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half. The Wildcats rallied to within one possession seven different times in the final 20 minutes before they tied the game up on a David Sloan three with 13 seconds left.
In the end, those six other missed opportunities to tie or take the lead added up against the Wildcats. Whether it was a missed three from K-State or a deep make from the Horned Frogs, a Wildcat turnover or second-chance points from the Horned Frogs, little plays in different areas held Weber's team back.
It's why senior Xavier Sneed said the Wildcats must bring a mentality that every play matters.
"We never know…it could go either way. It could be the possession that helps us win," Sneed said. "So, we just have to be on our horse, be more active, be more competitive and just have that edge, that fight, especially now, being .500. We have to get some wins, got to get some toughness to us."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballK-State Women's Basketball | Tess Heal Senior Video
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Mikayla Parks Senior Video
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Senior Night Ceremony 2025 - 2026 Season
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Coach Mittie Press Conference vs Kansas
Sunday, February 22
