First half

•  Key play: Kevin Young connected on a put-back layup that gave Kansas a 24-16 lead at halftime.

•  Key stat: K-State made six of 27 shots.

Second half

•  Key play: Ben McLemore hit a three moments after Martavious Irving missed an open three, giving Kansas a 50-36 lead it would maintain the rest of the way.

•  Key stat: Kansas made five of eight three-pointers.

K-State notes

The big question for Kansas State is whether the Wildcats play at the Sprint Center in the NCAA Tournament this week. K-State, 27-7, entered Saturday ranked 16th in the RPI. Most online bracket projections have the Wildcats receiving a top-four seed, which would make them one of the favorites to land a coveted spot in the opening-round regional games at the Sprint Center.

For what it’s worth, K-State players think they will be back.

“We have a good resume,” Martavious Irving said. “We should.”

But the Wildcats won’t worry about their seed or destination as they wait for the selection show to air on Sunday.

“Wherever the send us,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said. “We will play good basketball.”

If K-State can take one positive away from the Big 12 tournament, it’s defense.

The Wildcats didn’t play well defensively in their final two games of the regular season, but now seem back on track. They beat Texas and Oklahoma State with stingy efforts, and held Kansas to 70 points.

“That’s how you win championships in any sport,” Irving said. “That’s how they beat us. We missed shots, but the defended us well.”

• Jordan Henriquez played extended minutes against Oklahoma State and Kansas after struggling to stay on the court near the end of the regular season because of a back injury. He had six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes against the Jayhawks.

“I’m fine. I’m ready to go,” Henriquez said. “I’m going to keep going hard. I don’t want to end my career right away.”

KU notes

Kansas coach Bill Self wasn’t about to campaign for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after Saturday’s 70-54 victory over Kansas State. Some of the Jayhawks, though, liked the sound of a top seed.

“I think we have a good argument,” senior center Jeff Withey said.

The seventh-ranked Jayhawks, 29-5, pulled off the Big 12 double — winning the regular-season and tournament titles — and they should have a decent case, especially after Duke, Michigan and Indiana all suffered losses this week.

Still, senior Elijah Johnson brought up last season, when the Jayhawks were a No. 2 seed and advanced to the Final Four in New Orleans. The two previous seasons, in 2010 and 2011, the Jayhawks were No. 1 seeds and came up short of the Final Four.

“It doesn’t matter,” Self said. “It’s more about matchups.”

• Senior forward Kevin Young showed no ill-effects after suffering a right lower-leg injury during Friday’s victory over Iowa State. Young wore extra padding on his legs during Saturday’s game, but he started and finished with nine points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes.

“He said he was pain-free,” Self said.

• Kansas improved to 9-1 in Big 12 tournament title games and have now won six of the last nine Big 12 tournaments.