Kansan file photo

Jeremiah Massey, Kansas State senior forward, appeals a call during the game at Bramlage Coliseum on Feb. 9. The Wildcats take on the Jayhawks at 8 tonight for senior night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas State will enter tonight’s match-up with Kansas, at 8 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse, with plenty to play for.

After defeating the Bears and the Buffaloes last week, the Wildcats improved their record to 15-9 overall, 5-9 in the Big 12 Conference, and are in the mix for an NIT bid.

Kansas State hasn’t made a postseason appearance since 1999, when the team went to the NIT. With history as an indicator, a strong finish would propel Kansas State into the NIT.

Since the Big 12 was formed, only one team — Baylor in 1999 — has been denied a postseason appearance after finishing with a winning record and at least six conference victories.

“This is a big week for us,” Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge said. “We really need to strive for more success, and then we’ll see where we are at the end of it.”

Kansas State struggled through the middle of the conference season, but a recent switch to a smaller lineup has helped right the ship.

In addition to its two straight victories, Kansas State gave Oklahoma all it could handle before losing by a point, on a last-second shot.

“We put that lineup in three games ago,” Wooldridge said. “We beat Baylor with that lineup and went on the road and beat Colorado with that lineup. We do give up some size, but that hasn’t been a big factor for this team this year. I think it’s provided us with our best chance to win.”

Sophomore guards Fred Peete and Lance Harris have excelled from the perimeter lately and have become solid complimentary players to senior forward Jeremiah Massey.

Massey, who was last year’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, scored 20 points against Kansas earlier this year, and is being considered for first-team All Big 12 honors.

“He is right there and I think certainly deserves consideration,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “When you look at his numbers and how he carries a team, how the team is centered on him and defenses are designed to stop him first, I certainly think he deserves plenty of recognition for that.”

Massey averages nearly 18 points and seven rebounds a contest, and is coming off a monster game at Colorado, in which he scored 28 points and pulled down 19 rebounds.

Junior forward Christian Moody guarded Massey in their first meeting, but he picked up two quick fouls, and freshman forward Sasha Kaun was on him for most of the game.

“I never really got the chance to guard him because he got me in that kind of foul trouble,” Moody said. “Hopefully that won’t happen again, but if I do Sasha did a good job last time and I’m sure him and the other big guys will be ready to step in.”

Self said he would again give Massey’s defensive assignment to Moody, but he may also mix it up to combat K-State’s smaller lineup.

Moody said he was looking forward to playing against Massey again, but he is hardly going to be the focus of the Kansas defense.

“He’s a great player, but they’ve got great outside shooting and their other big guys can step up,” Moody said. “We’ve got to focus on them as a team.”