Wildcats pull it together for season-end.

By Wendy Haun

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Editor’s note: Wendy Haun is Kansas State Collegian co-sports editor. The Collegian and Kansan columnist Travis Robinett swapped columns for today’s paper.

I’m confused. What team am I covering again?

I certainly don’t recognize this K-State basketball team. To say they did a lot of growing up while the students were home for break is somewhat of an understatement. It’s like they went from toddlers to applying for their driver’s licenses in three weeks.

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I’m not saying this team hasn’t made mistakes or acted like freshmen since the winter break. But there’s something magical in the air whenever they step onto the court at Bramlage Coliseum.

Suddenly, when a triple-team is thrown on Michael Beasley, the team doesn’t panic and run for the hills. If their offensive scheme completely breaks down (see the last five seconds of the Oklahoma game), they think clearly and actually make a worthwhile play.

I’m not saying this team hasn’t made mistakes or acted like freshmen since the winter break. But there’s something magical in the air whenever they step onto the court at Bramlage Coliseum. The fans have been coming out in droves to support their team and, trust me, it has helped. If the fans honestly don’t think they are affecting the final score, they should think back to the Texas A&M game, when the raucous purple mass thoroughly rattled the Aggies right out of their No. 10 ranking.

Not only has the team grown up, but the coach has as well. Frank Martin has been coaching better now and his team of assistants has done an excellent job of developing schemes to play to the team’s strengths. They have put together a starting lineup of Clent Stewart, Blake Young, Andre Gilbert, Bill Walker and Michael Beasley. This lineup has a 6-1 record so far this season.

Martin has also been smarter with his substitutions. He’s seen the play of Darren Kent gradually improve, so he has been getting increasing minutes of play. Both Gilbert and Jacob Pullen stepped up and are being rewarded accordingly. Although Dominique Sutton has not made a significant impact on the scoreboard yet, he’s only been practicing with the team for a month. With a little time, I can see him making a viable contribution to the team.

I guess what is so confusing to me is that I don’t recall there being a K-State team in the recent past who has not hit the panic button multiple times going down the stretch when the game is close. For every three-point shot the other team makes, Walker or Stewart will step right up and down another one. When Beasley gets a few fouls and is taken from the game and replaced with Kent, someone on the floor still finds a way to score while doing everything they can to limit the other team.

When the other team ties the game with less than five seconds left, Beasley just does his thing: he steps right up to the plate and lays the ball in to stun a crowd of Sooners on their home turf.

Not only is this team playing cool and confident, but they are also playing smart. They have enough experience under their belt now that they can read screens, see defensive schematics and are quick to change from one defense to another. Even better, they are a true joy to watch. During the second half of the Texas A&M game, you could see them out there having fun. They were smiling, trying things they hadn’t before, doing fun passes and working hard together. They were a team and — even better — they were a team who proved they could come together when it really mattered. Even if Texas A&M was overrated, it doesn’t matter. K-State’s 20-point victory over them still opened a lot of eyes.

I almost don’t want this basketball season to end. It’s been a real joy to watch these guys play together. Whether they play together for four years or whether they cut their losses and take off to the NBA, I’ll say this for them: it’s been an enjoyable season so far.

—Edited by Madeline Hyden

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