Bruce Weber hasn’t exactly been a fan favorite in Manhattan since he arrived. The Kansas State mentor doesn’t have an easy job, especially in following the more recent success of Bob Huggins and Frank Martin. After a couple of shaky years that followed two NCAA Tournament seasons, however, the narrative has changed, and now, much is expected of the Wildcats.
It’s fair to say that they won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.
Weber started his tenure with seasons of 27-8 and 20-13, reaching the NCAA Tournament both times but losing in the first round, the former as a No. 4 seed to eventual Sweet 16 team La Salle. When the Wildcats followed those seasons up with 15-17 and 17-16 showings, some wondered how long Weber might be there as it was a clear trend downward. The thought was that he had the early success with Martin’s players and now had to show he could win on his own. Adding to that was the 2015-16 season seeing a number of players transfer out.
Last season, the Wildcats got into the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, and they did a little more than that. In fact, with Weber’s teams there having lost three straight in the first round, there might have been some angst among the fan base. All they did was take care of Creighton, knock off sentimental favorite UMBC and then edge Kentucky to reach the Elite Eight. They then bowed out to the story of the tournament as Loyola Chicago took care of them 78-62.
But the stage is set. They won’t be a surprise if they get that far this year, or before then, if they are contending for the top spot in the Big 12.
The Wildcats won 25 games along the way and now have everyone of consequence back. The senior trio of Barry Brown, Jr., Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade lead the way, with Wade being one of the most underrated big men in the country and the preseason Player of the Year in the Big 12. All three have started since their freshman year. Xavier Sneed had a good run in the NCAA Tournament, and add them to Makol Mawien, Kamau Stokes and Carter Diarra, and you have the core of one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12, which has been on a great run and had incredible depth last season.
Kansas State has a roster this year that is built to win soon. They have just two freshmen, one of them a redshirt, and just three seniors, though all three are major contributors. It’s clearly a team driven by its upperclassmen.
The Big 12 has been ruled by arch-rival Kansas for well over a decade, and one would pick against the Jayhawks at their peril. Kansas State, however, looks like they could at least be the team right behind them, with West Virginia likely being better than many expect, TCU remaining on the upswing, and others ready to challenge as well.
In non-conference play, the Wildcats will get some challenging games, but they might not leap off the page at you as they’re not going to play one high-major after another. They are in the Paradise Jam, where their second opponent will be either Northern Iowa or Ivy League contender Penn, and later go to Marquette and take on Vanderbilt in the Wildcat Classic in Kansas City. But there are other games that are solid opportunities, as they host Patriot League contender Lehigh, Sun Belt favorite Georgia State and Atlantic 10 contender George Mason. They also have to go to Texas A&M in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in late January.
Weber has run the program his way, and the results are getting better. He’s doing it with players who fit how he and his staff run a program. Last year had a pleasant surprise ending for them, and that has raised the expectations for this year and likely beyond.
