I'm fading K-St tonight. I think tihs is very similar to Drexel last night. They aren't happy about the NIT, but they have sold 7,000 + tix. I don't care- Vermont +12
Wildcats try to stay positive
K-State is putting aside its NCAA disappointment and gearing up for run in the NIT.
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
MANHATTAN, Kan. | You couldn?t tell by the expression on Kansas State senior Cartier Martin?s face that the Wildcats had just accomplished something rare in the recent history of this program.
When the NCAA Tournament field was announced Sunday, and the Wildcats were left out, they soon learned that at least the NIT wanted them. K-State?s stretch of postseason futility had come to an end.
Martin, with no hint of satisfaction on his face, tried to make a case for the NIT, even though he looked more dejected than optimistic.
?It?s disappointing, not being able to get the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, but we just feel like we got selected into the NIT and have to look forward to trying to win this one,? Martin said.
K-State makes its first postseason appearance since 1999 by playing Vermont at 7 tonight in the opening round of the NIT at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State coach Bob Huggins said Tuesday that he asked his players whether they wanted to participate in the NIT. After all, the Wildcats didn?t have to accept a bid. There?s precedent for programs saying no thanks after having their NCAA bubbles burst.
Oklahoma State, Louisville and Georgia Tech are among those in the past who passed on the NIT.
Huggins believes his team wants to be part of it.
?I asked them if they wanted to play. They assured me they did, and they were good in practice yesterday,? he said.
K-State junior forward David Hoskins said: ?Coach asked everybody in there what they wanted to do. Everybody said they wanted to win this NIT championship. I don?t think it will be tough at all for anybody to get motivated. If we?re going to do it, we?re going to do it to win.?
Huggins now has guided the last 18 teams that he has coached to the postseason.
Huggins has done his best to focus on the NIT, and not the disappointment of being left out of the NCAA Tournament.
?There isn?t anything we can do about it. There?s no appeal process. So you move on,? Huggins said.
?Life?s not as easy as everybody wants to make it out to be. It?s not what happens to us. It?s how we respond to it. We need to respond to it in a fashion becoming of what we all want Kansas State basketball to stand for.?
The NIT field has been reduced from 40 teams to 32 starting this season.
Back in 1999, K-State lost its NIT game to TCU 72-71 in the first round at Bramlage. The winner of the Wildcats? game against Vermont faces the DePaul-Hofstra winner. If K-State wins tonight, that game will be at home Monday.
?I?m happy for these guys if they get to keep playing. That?s what it?s about this time of year,? Huggins said. ?There are a whole lot of folks that aren?t playing. We get to continue to go on and play. If you get to play in Madison Square Garden (for the final four), that?s a heck of a deal.?
?TICKETS SELLING WELL: As of late Tuesday afternoon, K-State officials said they had sold more than 7,000 tickets so far for tonight?s game.
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Wildcats try to stay positive
K-State is putting aside its NCAA disappointment and gearing up for run in the NIT.
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
MANHATTAN, Kan. | You couldn?t tell by the expression on Kansas State senior Cartier Martin?s face that the Wildcats had just accomplished something rare in the recent history of this program.
When the NCAA Tournament field was announced Sunday, and the Wildcats were left out, they soon learned that at least the NIT wanted them. K-State?s stretch of postseason futility had come to an end.
Martin, with no hint of satisfaction on his face, tried to make a case for the NIT, even though he looked more dejected than optimistic.
?It?s disappointing, not being able to get the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, but we just feel like we got selected into the NIT and have to look forward to trying to win this one,? Martin said.
K-State makes its first postseason appearance since 1999 by playing Vermont at 7 tonight in the opening round of the NIT at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State coach Bob Huggins said Tuesday that he asked his players whether they wanted to participate in the NIT. After all, the Wildcats didn?t have to accept a bid. There?s precedent for programs saying no thanks after having their NCAA bubbles burst.
Oklahoma State, Louisville and Georgia Tech are among those in the past who passed on the NIT.
Huggins believes his team wants to be part of it.
?I asked them if they wanted to play. They assured me they did, and they were good in practice yesterday,? he said.
K-State junior forward David Hoskins said: ?Coach asked everybody in there what they wanted to do. Everybody said they wanted to win this NIT championship. I don?t think it will be tough at all for anybody to get motivated. If we?re going to do it, we?re going to do it to win.?
Huggins now has guided the last 18 teams that he has coached to the postseason.
Huggins has done his best to focus on the NIT, and not the disappointment of being left out of the NCAA Tournament.
?There isn?t anything we can do about it. There?s no appeal process. So you move on,? Huggins said.
?Life?s not as easy as everybody wants to make it out to be. It?s not what happens to us. It?s how we respond to it. We need to respond to it in a fashion becoming of what we all want Kansas State basketball to stand for.?
The NIT field has been reduced from 40 teams to 32 starting this season.
Back in 1999, K-State lost its NIT game to TCU 72-71 in the first round at Bramlage. The winner of the Wildcats? game against Vermont faces the DePaul-Hofstra winner. If K-State wins tonight, that game will be at home Monday.
?I?m happy for these guys if they get to keep playing. That?s what it?s about this time of year,? Huggins said. ?There are a whole lot of folks that aren?t playing. We get to continue to go on and play. If you get to play in Madison Square Garden (for the final four), that?s a heck of a deal.?
?TICKETS SELLING WELL: As of late Tuesday afternoon, K-State officials said they had sold more than 7,000 tickets so far for tonight?s game.
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