Another Opportunity to Sharpen
Jan 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
There's a message written in silver block lettering that rests upon the large purple wall on the way to the practice court at Ice Family Basketball Center. The message simply reads: "As Iron Sharpens Iron So One Man Sharpens Another."
This is Kansas State basketball.
The Wildcats are coming off a heartbreaking 60-59 loss at Texas Tech. The Wildcats have still won nine of their last 11 games. They've beaten Villanova, Providence and LSU. They've slayed Wichita State, UCF and West Virginia. They've allowed just 59.4 points on 37.5% shooting, including 29.0% from 3-point range in their last seven contests. They held the Red Raiders to nearly 19 points under their season scoring average.
There is so much that is good about K-State, 12-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference, which returns home to face No. 9 Baylor, 14-2 and 3-0, in Tuesday's 7 p.m. tipoff at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats have a strong scoring trio of junior Cam Carter (16.6 points), senior Tylor Perry (15.1) and Arthur Kaluma (14.9), who are responsible for 62% of the team's scoring (46.6 out of 75.2 points per game). The Wildcats are the only Big 12 team to have three players rank in the league's top-15 in scoring.
The Wildcats are entering the sharpening stage.
"Our word this year is we're 'forging,' and we took a piece of metal and turned it into a weapon," K-State head coach Jerome Tang says. "If you look at our last three games (a 77-52 win over UCF, an 81-67 win at West Virginia, and the Texas Tech loss), you'll say, 'Those dudes have turned into something.' But we're not finished. We're not as sharp as we need to be. There's a process.
"Now it's time for (our players) to start helping and sharpen each other and hold each other accountable. That's the process of the team. When players start holding each other accountable and taking ownership of it, you improve a long way."
Tang continues.
"We felt like we gave one away at Texas Tech. When they watch film, they see it. They can coach each other through it and talk about it. As a team, they're willing to take it from each other. That says a lot. The sharpening process, we've done the forging and pounding and heating, but now it's sharpening and tightening things up."
A challenge awaits the Wildcats.
Baylor is ranked in the top-10 of the AP Top 25 poll for a fifth-straight year, one of just four programs (Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas) to achieve that feat. Baylor's 57-18 Big 12 record over the last five seasons is the best record of any power-conference team. Baylor had won seven-straight over K-State before the Wildcats swept the Bears last season (a 97-95 overtime win in Waco and a 75-65 win in Manhattan).
Currently, Baylor leads the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.2%), fourth in offensive efficiency (121.3) and 10th in points per game (86.1). Although the Bears endured their lowest offensive output of the season, they posted a 62-59 win over Cincinnati to remain unbeaten at Foster Pavilion.
"They've got dudes," Tang says. "They do a really good job taking the right shots. They rarely take out-of-character shots and that's what helps them."
Through sharpening itself, K-State can take another step Tuesday night.
"In the process of sharpening, the blade loses a piece of itself," Tang says. "You have to get rid of some of that metal to get a fine-tip blade. You have to get rid of some of yourself in order to be as sharp as you need to be. Hopefully, that results in us defending a little bit better and communication, and not turning the ball over by hitting singles, and finishing plays with two-handed rebounds that aren't tipped away — all the details of it.
"I like where we're going, and I think we're headed in the right direction. I like where we're at right now. You can do all those things in this league and still not win. That's part of it."
K-State has 36 wins against ranked foes in the last 12 seasons, including 13 versus top-10 opponents, and 26 top-25 home wins. Last season, the Wildcats tied the school record with seven wins over top-25 opponents.
A part of the Wildcats' success can be attributed to their large home crowds. Currently, the Wildcats rank No. 20 with a 95.99% stadium capacity this season.
The K-State students are back in Manhattan after holiday break.
"I'm fired up," Tang says. "I mean, man, our people are back. No doubt in my mind our students are ready. We need our alumni and season-ticket holders to do whatever they have do.
"We have the best homecourt environment, but we want to take it to a whole another level (Tuesday). When (Baylor) leaves, we want them to leave and say, 'Man, I never want to play in that place again.'"
There's a message written in silver block lettering that rests upon the large purple wall on the way to the practice court at Ice Family Basketball Center. The message simply reads: "As Iron Sharpens Iron So One Man Sharpens Another."
This is Kansas State basketball.
The Wildcats are coming off a heartbreaking 60-59 loss at Texas Tech. The Wildcats have still won nine of their last 11 games. They've beaten Villanova, Providence and LSU. They've slayed Wichita State, UCF and West Virginia. They've allowed just 59.4 points on 37.5% shooting, including 29.0% from 3-point range in their last seven contests. They held the Red Raiders to nearly 19 points under their season scoring average.
There is so much that is good about K-State, 12-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference, which returns home to face No. 9 Baylor, 14-2 and 3-0, in Tuesday's 7 p.m. tipoff at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats have a strong scoring trio of junior Cam Carter (16.6 points), senior Tylor Perry (15.1) and Arthur Kaluma (14.9), who are responsible for 62% of the team's scoring (46.6 out of 75.2 points per game). The Wildcats are the only Big 12 team to have three players rank in the league's top-15 in scoring.
The Wildcats are entering the sharpening stage.
"Our word this year is we're 'forging,' and we took a piece of metal and turned it into a weapon," K-State head coach Jerome Tang says. "If you look at our last three games (a 77-52 win over UCF, an 81-67 win at West Virginia, and the Texas Tech loss), you'll say, 'Those dudes have turned into something.' But we're not finished. We're not as sharp as we need to be. There's a process.
"Now it's time for (our players) to start helping and sharpen each other and hold each other accountable. That's the process of the team. When players start holding each other accountable and taking ownership of it, you improve a long way."
Tang continues.
"We felt like we gave one away at Texas Tech. When they watch film, they see it. They can coach each other through it and talk about it. As a team, they're willing to take it from each other. That says a lot. The sharpening process, we've done the forging and pounding and heating, but now it's sharpening and tightening things up."
A challenge awaits the Wildcats.
Baylor is ranked in the top-10 of the AP Top 25 poll for a fifth-straight year, one of just four programs (Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas) to achieve that feat. Baylor's 57-18 Big 12 record over the last five seasons is the best record of any power-conference team. Baylor had won seven-straight over K-State before the Wildcats swept the Bears last season (a 97-95 overtime win in Waco and a 75-65 win in Manhattan).
Currently, Baylor leads the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.2%), fourth in offensive efficiency (121.3) and 10th in points per game (86.1). Although the Bears endured their lowest offensive output of the season, they posted a 62-59 win over Cincinnati to remain unbeaten at Foster Pavilion.
"They've got dudes," Tang says. "They do a really good job taking the right shots. They rarely take out-of-character shots and that's what helps them."
Through sharpening itself, K-State can take another step Tuesday night.
"In the process of sharpening, the blade loses a piece of itself," Tang says. "You have to get rid of some of that metal to get a fine-tip blade. You have to get rid of some of yourself in order to be as sharp as you need to be. Hopefully, that results in us defending a little bit better and communication, and not turning the ball over by hitting singles, and finishing plays with two-handed rebounds that aren't tipped away — all the details of it.
"I like where we're going, and I think we're headed in the right direction. I like where we're at right now. You can do all those things in this league and still not win. That's part of it."
K-State has 36 wins against ranked foes in the last 12 seasons, including 13 versus top-10 opponents, and 26 top-25 home wins. Last season, the Wildcats tied the school record with seven wins over top-25 opponents.
A part of the Wildcats' success can be attributed to their large home crowds. Currently, the Wildcats rank No. 20 with a 95.99% stadium capacity this season.
The K-State students are back in Manhattan after holiday break.
"I'm fired up," Tang says. "I mean, man, our people are back. No doubt in my mind our students are ready. We need our alumni and season-ticket holders to do whatever they have do.
"We have the best homecourt environment, but we want to take it to a whole another level (Tuesday). When (Baylor) leaves, we want them to leave and say, 'Man, I never want to play in that place again.'"
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
