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Posted on Tue, Jun. 23, 2009 11:21 PM
2009-10 basketball schedule should be a tough test for K-State
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This schedule might silence the critics.
Have a complaint about Kansas State not playing anyone of substance in nonconference play, especially at home? That was so last year.
During the 2009-10 season, the Wildcats will face Washington State on Dec. 5 (third edition of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series) and then Xavier (the end of a three-game series between the schools) three days later — and both games will be held at Bramlage Coliseum.
And that’s just the marquee home dates.
Throw in mid-December road games at UNLV (Dec. 12 at Orleans Arena, where K-State has played twice in the last three seasons) and Alabama (Dec. 19 in the Coors Classic at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.), and it’s already a competitive slate.
The Puerto Rico Tipoff pushes everything over the top. The Wildcats will join Boston University, Dayton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Mississippi and Villanova for a three-day Thanksgiving tournament in San Juan, a homecoming of sorts for seniors Luis Colon and Denis Clemente.
Eight of K-State’s potential opponents won 20 or more games in 2008-09. Seven advanced to the postseason.
“We have put together what I think is a strong nonconference schedule,” K-State coach Frank Martin said in a statement. “Anytime you can play eight teams that won 20 games a year ago, including seven that went to the postseason, you have put together a slate of games that will challenge your ballclub.”
Last year, with a relatively untested and inexperienced squad after the losses of Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, Martin scheduled accordingly. With increased expectations — ESPN.com’s Andy Katz lists the Wildcats No. 24 in his preseason top 25 — Martin, in his third year as coach, has done so again for the upcoming season.
At Washington State, new coach Ken Bone is at the helm. With a couple of players recently selected for the under-19 U.S. squad that will compete in next month’s FIBA World Championship, the Cougars have the look of a sleeper in the Pac-10.
Xavier, which has reached the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last nine seasons, also has a new coach in Chris Mack.
K-State returns four starters and adds a recruiting class ranked 16th in the country by ESPN’s Scouts, Inc., and 18th by Rivals.
K-State men’s basketball schedule
Non-conference
Big 12 home opponents: Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M.
Non-conference
| Nov. 8 | Pittsburg State* |
| Nov. 13 | Loyola (Ill.) |
| Nov. 15 | Western Illinois |
| Nov. 19 | at Puerto Rico Tipoff ** |
| Nov. 20 | at Puerto Rico Tipoff ** |
| Nov. 22 | at Puerto Rico Tipoff** |
| Nov. 28 | vs. IUPUI at Sprint Center |
| Dec. 1 | Fort Hays State |
| Dec. 5 | Washington State |
| Dec. 8 | Xavier |
| Dec. 12 | at UNLV |
| Dec. 19 | Alabama in Mobile, Ala. |
| Dec. 21 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| Dec. 29 | Cleveland State |
| Jan. 3 | South Dakota |
Big 12 road opponents: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech.
Big 12 tournament: March 10-13 at Sprint Center
NOTE: Home games at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., unless noted
*exhibition. **opponent TBA.
To reach Jeffrey Martin, send e-mail to jmartin@kcstar.com
Posted on Tue, Jun. 23, 2009 11:21 PM
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