This wasn't supposed to happen.
No, I'm not referring to the fact that K-State lost in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament (though there is credence to that argument). Instead, I'm referring to the posting of this season wrap to The Writings. It was actually intended for another web site. (GASP!)
Never fear, dear readers. I'm not turning my back on The Writings, nor cheating on them with another blog. I have, however, signed on to do some writing for www.thescoopmanhattan.com. (You should probably bookmark it/favorite it/make it your homepage if The Writings don't currently hold that honor.) It's a site intended to bring light to all the great things that Manhattan has to offer. Alas, there have been some issues on the development end; issues covered eloquently in the placeholder text that currently appears at the website. (If you don't understand it, go rent Billy Madison immediately and then watch it twice... I can wait.) As a result, the return of The Scoop has been delayed to a point where my K-State hoops piece will no longer be "timely." Thus, I'm bringing it to The Writings. Enjoy. (Or don't. Who am I to tell you what to do?)
----------
With the publication of this post, K-State’s basketball season has been finished for over 24 hours. The season capped with a nail-biter of a contest fueled by an extraordinary effort from one of the greatest players in the history of the program. Alas, that game is all you’re reading about at every other website with even a loose connection to Manhattan or sports in general. (Well, maybe not www.joyofbocce.com, but you get the idea.) Instead of a quick game recap, we at The Scoop want to take the opportunity to look back on the season as a whole. (Well, truthfully, we wanted to plan a trip to New Orleans for the Sweet 16, but one has to make lemonade with lemons thrown maliciously his way, right?)
How does one properly summarize the 2010-2011 K-State basketball season? The highs and lows seem so extreme that any sort of roller coaster analogy may not do justice. (Roller coasters are, after all, constricted by the laws of physics.) Handing out postseason awards is overplayed and far too predictable. (If you can’t determine this team’s MVP without our help, basketball might not be your sport. Have you considered jai alai?) The “predicted champ falls on hard times, but then bests its rival on its way to possible redemption” storyline could be one destined for film, but the budget here is low and we lack directors’ chairs. It seems the best way to look back at the season is to simply look back. (Original idea, no?) Here’s an examination of key points in K-State’s season, detailed in effort to accurately illustrate how remarkable/strange/mind-boggling the campaign has been.
*Please note: “Fan confidence level” ratings were determined through a very scientific process utilizing retrospective surveys, ink blot illustrations and polygraph tests… That, or the author simply tried to remember how encouraged (or frustrated) the majority of the fan base seemed at that particular point in time. As a point of reference, the final season of the Tom Asbury era scored a -6 (of 10) on the scale.
Date: Early Nov., 2010
Event: Preseason love
K-State record: 0-0
Fan confidence level: 10 (of 10)
After years of receiving Sports Illustrated college basketball preview magazines featuring random Jayhawks on the cover, Wildcat fans all over Kansas rejoiced to see Jacob Pullen gracing the regional issue. The nod from SI not only eliminated ritualistic mass burnings of the annual issue in Manhattan, but also gave national credence to the expectations surrounding the 2010-2011 team. K-State saw national rankings as high as No. 3 in the preseason and was predicted to be league champ by Big 12 coaches. There was even talk that the K-State frontcourt might be the best in the nation. At no point in the modern era had so much been expected of a K-State basketball team.
Date: Nov. 23, 2010
Event: Cats fall to Duke; Kyrie Irving proves that he’s really quick
K-State record: 4-1
Fan confidence level: 9 (of 10)
K-State’s first loss of the season came at the hands of Duke, the nation’s No. 1 team and defending National Champion. Losing to the best was nothing to fret about, but the manner in which the Wildcats lost did raise concerns. Pullen finished with just four points, shooting 1-12 from the field. Meanwhile, Duke freshman guard Kyrie Irving torched KSU, finishing with 17 points and six assists, seemingly revealing a glaring hole in the K-State defense. It was clear that the Wildcats were not at the level of Duke, but few teams could claim that they were.
Date: Dec. 21, 2010
Event: K-State seniors suspended; Cats fall to Runnin’ Rebels; KSU fans contemplate boycotting all department stores in Manhattan
K-State record: 9-3
Fan confidence level: 7 (of 10)
If one wanted to get under a K-State fan’s skin at midseason, one good way was to repeatedly mention “impermissible benefits.” News that Pullen and Curtis Kelly had been suspended began to leak in the hours leading to tip-off of the night’s game at the Sprint Center, and fans that hadn’t heard the news became fully aware when the pair was not seen in KC. The Wildcats had struggled finding leadership to that point, and such an error in judgment by the team’s elder statesmen seemed to provide a glowing illustration of that fact. The Wildcats, playing without Pullen for the first time since Bob Huggins called Manhattan home, had four players finish in double-figures, but lost to UNLV by four points. With both seniors facing multi-game suspensions and Kansas State yet to find an identity as a team, fans were given a couple reasons for worry as conference play approached.
Date: Jan. 29, 2011
Event: KU decimates KSU; Wally Judge leaves team
K-State record: 14-8, 2-5 (Big 12)
Fan confidence level: 4 (of 10)
Think January is a slow month? Think again. In a span of 23 days, the Wildcats:
- Lost to Oklahoma State and Colorado with Kelly on the sideline;
- Drew criticism when Pullen said he would not play in the NIT;
- Saw Kelly return to the lineup, but had Freddy Asprilla quit the same week;
- Beat Texas Tech and Baylor at home, but fell to Missouri, Texas A&M and Kansas on the road by a combined 48 points;
- Suffered their second mid-season departure when Judge, a former McDonald’s All-American, left the squad one day after the loss to KU.
The drama, tribulations, and sudden departures rivaled those reality television shows. Near the end of this stretch, some K-State fans were fully expecting starting lineups to be determined by cooking challenges or sing-offs judged by Randy Jackson. If backup point guard Juevol Myles had announced he was leaving the team at that point to join Canadian alt-rock group Barenaked Ladies, it would not have seemed out of the ordinary. Frustrations and struggles peaked in the midst of a 24-point loss to Kansas; a game where the Wildcats shot just 19-percent in the first half and Kelly sat benched for the final 20 minutes.
Date: Feb. 14, 2011
Event: Wildcats celebrate Valentine’s day, stomp KU, and prove college hoops “experts” do not exist
K-State record: 17-9, 5-6 (Big 12)
Fan confidence level: 7 (of 10)
Who predicted that K-State might topple No. 1 Kansas that Big Monday? Answering “no one” almost seems generous. Two days earlier, the Wildcats suffered a soul-fracturing, now-you-have-it-now-you-don’t loss to the Colorado Buffalos and the week prior had been filled with rumors that Kelly’s days as a Wildcat were through after he had allegedly violated a university rule. Many fans entered Bramlage in purple, but expected to leave feeling black-and-blue. Instead, something happened – something many call “quality basketball.” The Wildcats pushed their defense to a level not seen since the 2010 postseason and showed that a midseason change in offensive philosophy by the K-State coaching staff was near brilliant. The Wildcats built a substantial lead early and – in a manner never before practiced against KU at Bramlage – piled on until the Jayhawks tapped out. It’s amazing what a win over the nation’s No. 1 (especially when it’s a rival) can do in relation to confidence.
Date: 3/17/11
Event: March Madness begins
K-State record: 22-10
Fan confidence level: 8 (of 10)
On the heels of the victory over KU, K-State rattled off five more wins to close the season before falling to Colorado in their first game of the Big 12 Tournament. After 130+ days, thousands of practice free throws, 497 cold and wordless stares by Frank Martin, ten different starters, two player departures, and one major change to the team’s offensive scheme, the Wildcats entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the scariest match-ups in college basketball. It’s a spot many expected K-State to be in from the start of the season, but the road to it was littered with Bramlage-sized potholes. Now, Kansas State appeared to be near strength and match-up against No. 12-seed Utah State would be the start of the postseason journey.
Date: Today
Event: Game over; K-State’s season ended with a 70-65 loss to Wisconsin
K-State record: 23-11
Fan confidence level: ?
Forgive the question mark denoting the fan confidence level, but it is a ponder-worthy subject at this point. If life was a comic strip, you would see that question mark above a K-State fan’s head when they’re presented with the question, “How will the Cats do next season?“ With the loss in the NCAA Tournament’s quasi-third round, there’s credence to the argument that the Wildcats failed to live up to the preseason expectations of the media, the Big 12 coaches, and of fans in general. But, in games against some of the nation’s best, the Wildcats showed that they could compete at that level. They showed a remarkable ability to bounce back from suspensions and departures that could have crippled the team. And they showed that their star player could take over a game as well as any player in the nation.
The Wildcats should have all but two players returning next season… Unfortunately, one graduating senior is the basketball program’s all-time leading scorer and the other is a wildly talented post. Neither will be easy to replace, but the Wildcats have been tasked with such a burden before. Two seasons after All-American Michael Beasley and uber-skilled Bill Walker took their brand of bucketization to the NBA, K-State put together its most successful season in 20+ years, led by players who were question marks when they arrived. As a freshman, Pullen was mainly known as the little point guard who Frank Martin yelled at incessantly. No one was predicting that he might one day have his No. 0 in the rafters. Kelly arrived in Manhattan as an underperforming transfer from UConn. He leaves K-State owning the record for blocked shots in a season and possessing one of the most picturesque high-post spin moves that you will ever see. While there are reasons for worry as Pullen and Kelly exit, thoughts of Rodney McGruder’s long-range shooting and Jordan Henriquez-Robert’s continued progression provide ample hope for the future.
What happens in the next chapter of this story? There will be plenty of time to pitch storylines as next season approaches. That said, after the twists 2010-2011 provided, little - beyond Frank Martin quitting to train for a fight against Clubber Lang - may come as a shock to K-State fans.
No, I'm not referring to the fact that K-State lost in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament (though there is credence to that argument). Instead, I'm referring to the posting of this season wrap to The Writings. It was actually intended for another web site. (GASP!)
Never fear, dear readers. I'm not turning my back on The Writings, nor cheating on them with another blog. I have, however, signed on to do some writing for www.thescoopmanhattan.com. (You should probably bookmark it/favorite it/make it your homepage if The Writings don't currently hold that honor.) It's a site intended to bring light to all the great things that Manhattan has to offer. Alas, there have been some issues on the development end; issues covered eloquently in the placeholder text that currently appears at the website. (If you don't understand it, go rent Billy Madison immediately and then watch it twice... I can wait.) As a result, the return of The Scoop has been delayed to a point where my K-State hoops piece will no longer be "timely." Thus, I'm bringing it to The Writings. Enjoy. (Or don't. Who am I to tell you what to do?)
----------
With the publication of this post, K-State’s basketball season has been finished for over 24 hours. The season capped with a nail-biter of a contest fueled by an extraordinary effort from one of the greatest players in the history of the program. Alas, that game is all you’re reading about at every other website with even a loose connection to Manhattan or sports in general. (Well, maybe not www.joyofbocce.com, but you get the idea.) Instead of a quick game recap, we at The Scoop want to take the opportunity to look back on the season as a whole. (Well, truthfully, we wanted to plan a trip to New Orleans for the Sweet 16, but one has to make lemonade with lemons thrown maliciously his way, right?)
How does one properly summarize the 2010-2011 K-State basketball season? The highs and lows seem so extreme that any sort of roller coaster analogy may not do justice. (Roller coasters are, after all, constricted by the laws of physics.) Handing out postseason awards is overplayed and far too predictable. (If you can’t determine this team’s MVP without our help, basketball might not be your sport. Have you considered jai alai?) The “predicted champ falls on hard times, but then bests its rival on its way to possible redemption” storyline could be one destined for film, but the budget here is low and we lack directors’ chairs. It seems the best way to look back at the season is to simply look back. (Original idea, no?) Here’s an examination of key points in K-State’s season, detailed in effort to accurately illustrate how remarkable/strange/mind-boggling the campaign has been.
*Please note: “Fan confidence level” ratings were determined through a very scientific process utilizing retrospective surveys, ink blot illustrations and polygraph tests… That, or the author simply tried to remember how encouraged (or frustrated) the majority of the fan base seemed at that particular point in time. As a point of reference, the final season of the Tom Asbury era scored a -6 (of 10) on the scale.
Date: Early Nov., 2010
Event: Preseason love
K-State record: 0-0
Fan confidence level: 10 (of 10)
After years of receiving Sports Illustrated college basketball preview magazines featuring random Jayhawks on the cover, Wildcat fans all over Kansas rejoiced to see Jacob Pullen gracing the regional issue. The nod from SI not only eliminated ritualistic mass burnings of the annual issue in Manhattan, but also gave national credence to the expectations surrounding the 2010-2011 team. K-State saw national rankings as high as No. 3 in the preseason and was predicted to be league champ by Big 12 coaches. There was even talk that the K-State frontcourt might be the best in the nation. At no point in the modern era had so much been expected of a K-State basketball team.
Date: Nov. 23, 2010
Event: Cats fall to Duke; Kyrie Irving proves that he’s really quick
K-State record: 4-1
Fan confidence level: 9 (of 10)
K-State’s first loss of the season came at the hands of Duke, the nation’s No. 1 team and defending National Champion. Losing to the best was nothing to fret about, but the manner in which the Wildcats lost did raise concerns. Pullen finished with just four points, shooting 1-12 from the field. Meanwhile, Duke freshman guard Kyrie Irving torched KSU, finishing with 17 points and six assists, seemingly revealing a glaring hole in the K-State defense. It was clear that the Wildcats were not at the level of Duke, but few teams could claim that they were.
Date: Dec. 21, 2010
Event: K-State seniors suspended; Cats fall to Runnin’ Rebels; KSU fans contemplate boycotting all department stores in Manhattan
K-State record: 9-3
Fan confidence level: 7 (of 10)
If one wanted to get under a K-State fan’s skin at midseason, one good way was to repeatedly mention “impermissible benefits.” News that Pullen and Curtis Kelly had been suspended began to leak in the hours leading to tip-off of the night’s game at the Sprint Center, and fans that hadn’t heard the news became fully aware when the pair was not seen in KC. The Wildcats had struggled finding leadership to that point, and such an error in judgment by the team’s elder statesmen seemed to provide a glowing illustration of that fact. The Wildcats, playing without Pullen for the first time since Bob Huggins called Manhattan home, had four players finish in double-figures, but lost to UNLV by four points. With both seniors facing multi-game suspensions and Kansas State yet to find an identity as a team, fans were given a couple reasons for worry as conference play approached.
Date: Jan. 29, 2011
Event: KU decimates KSU; Wally Judge leaves team
K-State record: 14-8, 2-5 (Big 12)
Fan confidence level: 4 (of 10)
Think January is a slow month? Think again. In a span of 23 days, the Wildcats:
- Lost to Oklahoma State and Colorado with Kelly on the sideline;
- Drew criticism when Pullen said he would not play in the NIT;
- Saw Kelly return to the lineup, but had Freddy Asprilla quit the same week;
- Beat Texas Tech and Baylor at home, but fell to Missouri, Texas A&M and Kansas on the road by a combined 48 points;
- Suffered their second mid-season departure when Judge, a former McDonald’s All-American, left the squad one day after the loss to KU.
The drama, tribulations, and sudden departures rivaled those reality television shows. Near the end of this stretch, some K-State fans were fully expecting starting lineups to be determined by cooking challenges or sing-offs judged by Randy Jackson. If backup point guard Juevol Myles had announced he was leaving the team at that point to join Canadian alt-rock group Barenaked Ladies, it would not have seemed out of the ordinary. Frustrations and struggles peaked in the midst of a 24-point loss to Kansas; a game where the Wildcats shot just 19-percent in the first half and Kelly sat benched for the final 20 minutes.
Date: Feb. 14, 2011
Event: Wildcats celebrate Valentine’s day, stomp KU, and prove college hoops “experts” do not exist
K-State record: 17-9, 5-6 (Big 12)
Fan confidence level: 7 (of 10)
Who predicted that K-State might topple No. 1 Kansas that Big Monday? Answering “no one” almost seems generous. Two days earlier, the Wildcats suffered a soul-fracturing, now-you-have-it-now-you-don’t loss to the Colorado Buffalos and the week prior had been filled with rumors that Kelly’s days as a Wildcat were through after he had allegedly violated a university rule. Many fans entered Bramlage in purple, but expected to leave feeling black-and-blue. Instead, something happened – something many call “quality basketball.” The Wildcats pushed their defense to a level not seen since the 2010 postseason and showed that a midseason change in offensive philosophy by the K-State coaching staff was near brilliant. The Wildcats built a substantial lead early and – in a manner never before practiced against KU at Bramlage – piled on until the Jayhawks tapped out. It’s amazing what a win over the nation’s No. 1 (especially when it’s a rival) can do in relation to confidence.
Date: 3/17/11
Event: March Madness begins
K-State record: 22-10
Fan confidence level: 8 (of 10)
On the heels of the victory over KU, K-State rattled off five more wins to close the season before falling to Colorado in their first game of the Big 12 Tournament. After 130+ days, thousands of practice free throws, 497 cold and wordless stares by Frank Martin, ten different starters, two player departures, and one major change to the team’s offensive scheme, the Wildcats entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the scariest match-ups in college basketball. It’s a spot many expected K-State to be in from the start of the season, but the road to it was littered with Bramlage-sized potholes. Now, Kansas State appeared to be near strength and match-up against No. 12-seed Utah State would be the start of the postseason journey.
Date: Today
Event: Game over; K-State’s season ended with a 70-65 loss to Wisconsin
K-State record: 23-11
Fan confidence level: ?
Forgive the question mark denoting the fan confidence level, but it is a ponder-worthy subject at this point. If life was a comic strip, you would see that question mark above a K-State fan’s head when they’re presented with the question, “How will the Cats do next season?“ With the loss in the NCAA Tournament’s quasi-third round, there’s credence to the argument that the Wildcats failed to live up to the preseason expectations of the media, the Big 12 coaches, and of fans in general. But, in games against some of the nation’s best, the Wildcats showed that they could compete at that level. They showed a remarkable ability to bounce back from suspensions and departures that could have crippled the team. And they showed that their star player could take over a game as well as any player in the nation.
The Wildcats should have all but two players returning next season… Unfortunately, one graduating senior is the basketball program’s all-time leading scorer and the other is a wildly talented post. Neither will be easy to replace, but the Wildcats have been tasked with such a burden before. Two seasons after All-American Michael Beasley and uber-skilled Bill Walker took their brand of bucketization to the NBA, K-State put together its most successful season in 20+ years, led by players who were question marks when they arrived. As a freshman, Pullen was mainly known as the little point guard who Frank Martin yelled at incessantly. No one was predicting that he might one day have his No. 0 in the rafters. Kelly arrived in Manhattan as an underperforming transfer from UConn. He leaves K-State owning the record for blocked shots in a season and possessing one of the most picturesque high-post spin moves that you will ever see. While there are reasons for worry as Pullen and Kelly exit, thoughts of Rodney McGruder’s long-range shooting and Jordan Henriquez-Robert’s continued progression provide ample hope for the future.
What happens in the next chapter of this story? There will be plenty of time to pitch storylines as next season approaches. That said, after the twists 2010-2011 provided, little - beyond Frank Martin quitting to train for a fight against Clubber Lang - may come as a shock to K-State fans.
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