Jeff Mittie hopes Kansas State’s women are on fast track to NCAA Tournament

Jeff Mittie asks his players to take things one day at a time, so it should come as no surprise that he too tries to avoid focusing on the big picture.

But he couldn’t help himself when a reporter asked if the Kansas State women’s basketball team was capable of reaching the NCAA Tournament this season.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” Mittie said.

What will it take for the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year absence?

Mittie is quick to answer that, too.

“We are going to have to score the ball better,” Mittie said. “I don’t believe we can win scoring in the 40s and 50s like we did last year. If you are a tournament team, you have the ability on a given night to outscore another good team, because the ball is just going in the basket and you have that ability. Last year, we didn’t have that ability to really outscore many teams, certainly not tournament teams.”

K-State averaged 59.6 points, riding its defense to a 19-14 season that featured a 7-11 mark in the Big 12. It was an encouraging start for Mittie, who guided the Wildcats to the WNIT in his debut season. He has recruited well and the program appears to be on the rise.

Louisville transfer Megan Deines should make an instant impact and Wamego sisters Lanie and Kaylee Page should help the team in future years, though Lanie will miss this season as a redshirt transfer.

But appearances don’t mean anything without results. Mittie thinks K-State’s roster has potential, but needs improvement.

“We were an offensively challenged team last year, and that is putting it as nicely as I can,” Mittie said. “There were three games in the Big 12 where we won three games shooting less than 30 percent. It was ugly, ugly basketball. We need to be an improved offensive team.”

Senior forward Breanna Lewis will be asked to lead the charge. She averaged 11.5 points and is K-State’s top returning scorer. She spent the summer working on her game, and Mittie expects a different player.

“She is ready to handle the load of being the No. 1 option,” Mittie said, “and having other teams recognize that.”

Kindred Wesemann will also be asked to step up her game after averaging eight points. Kaylee Page, Bri Craig and Deines could also be difference makers.

The Wildcats have more talent than they did a year ago. It is up to them to put it all together.

“We have a higher ceiling than we did,” Mittie said. “That is one of the things we wanted to find on the recruiting trail, so we could develop young players and help them reach that high ceiling. That has to become a staple of our program, developing. I have never been one to put limitations on my players.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Jeff Mittie hopes Kansas State’s women are on fast track to NCAA Tournament."