K-State Basketball
Angel Rodriguez led K-State past Texas A&M on Saturday in Manhattan. Rodriguez and the Wildcats turned a one-point deficit at halftime into a 64-53 win behind Rodriguez's fearless drives to the basket and a full-court press that led to a turnover barrage from the Dash Harris-less Aggies.
Among the better news to come out of Saturday's game was that Will Spradling finally broke out of his shooting slump. The sophomore had 19 points on 4-5 shooting from three-point range.
An injured toe limited Rodney McGruder's effectiveness, as the junior went 1-9 from the field and scored only five points.
K-State Women's Basketball
After the Wildcats took an early lead, No. 1 Baylor roared back and rolled to a 70-41 win in Manhattan.
Big 12 Basketball
In the game of the weekend, KU couldn't hold an eight-point lead in the last three minutes against Missouri and lost to the Tigers, 74-71 ... Iowa State shot the cover off the ball in Norman and took a 77-70 win over Oklahoma ... It wasn't quite as easy as last time, but Baylor swept Oklahoma State with a 64-60 win ... Texas Tech is still winless in conference play after a 74-57 loss to Texas.
0 recs | 90 comments
What are some of your feelings on where we will finish the big 12?
As much as I want to be optimistic going forward, I can’t help but think 9-9 is likely for us and with that, a bubble resume. I see home games against OSU, Iowa State and Tech as wins and at Baylor and Missouri as losses hands down. At Texas really scares me because they are desperate for wins and KU at home will be tough. I see one win out of 3 for at A&M, at Texas and KU at home, putting us at 9-9. Two out of those three and 10-8 should be in the tourney as big 12 #5, but 9-9 makes me think NIT.
I love the grit and make up of this team but with terrible inconsistency I can’t be more optimistic.
mjk7166 - February 6, 2012
I tend to agree with you
I see at best a 10-8 record, with a 8-10 record not out of the worry zone.
The guys looked better against a depleted A&M squad, but TO’s and stupid fouls are still big problems. I think, though, that as long as Will stays out of his slump, Rodney gets healthy, and we continue to see more growth out of Angel this team could realistically make 10-8.
At this point, I think the bigs aren’t going to wow us anymore; they are going to be solid, get some points, play some dumb defense, and out rebound the other team. But this team goes the way of the guards. If the “big” 3 are on, this team is unstoppable; if they aren’t, hello NIT.
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
You hear a log of analysts talk about the importance of matchups.
I haven’t been as much of a believer in the “matchup theory” as a lot of people in most years. Even if you don’t match up well player to player with a certain team, you can do other things to either take advantage of or to neutralize a certain player or players. However, this year I think we’ve seen where the matchup theory has its’ place.
For some reason, we do matchup well with Missouri and if we’re playing at or near our potential, we can give them fits even at home. Same with Baylor. I’m concerned about Iowa State on our own court. For some reason, they have hurt us in Manhattan at critical times over the years. I would like to have the two OK games back but that is a team that for some reason, we don’t match up well with. I hope like hell we don’t get them in the tournament.
ArkieCat - February 6, 2012
I agree about OU.
I can’t explain the game in Norman. I really just want the one in Bramlage back. That was ridiculous.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Getting to 10 wins is going to take some work.
Even getting to nine wins is going to be pretty difficult. Here are Ken Pomeroy’s percentages for our remaining games:
Tech: 97%
@UT: 35%
KU: 37%
@BU: 27%
@MU: 22%
ISU: 71%
@TAMU: 68%
OSU: 86%
So we’re favored in four games, but even at that we’re less than 50/50 (40%) to win all four of those. The home game with Iowa State and the road game at Texas A&M make me nervous, and we absolutely can’t afford to slip up in any of these games.
If you want to assume that we need to get to 10-8 to feel safe on Selection Sunday, the likelihood of doing so in the five games in which we have the best chance to win is just a shade under 15%. We’ll know soon, because after Texas Tech we have four straight games in which we will be solid underdogs.
TB - February 6, 2012
This sure sounds familiar: "because after [team X] we have four straight games in which we will be solid underdogs."
I’d take the same record as the football team when faced with either of those stretches (4-0 or 2-2).
NIT is a disappointment given how good the team has looked at times. If this sets up huge year (but with some trophies, please) like the last NIT bid, I’ll take it, but it will still leave a bad taste.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
Since I always want the best I suppose I could be disapointed
but to be honest we didn’t win the games we were supposed to in order to be successful…it is what it is and I still like Martin a lot more than Wooly.
mac attack ict - February 6, 2012
That's like saying...
The Cotton Bowl is better than the Pinstripe Bowl. Duh!
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
I think we get in at 20-10, 9-9.
Would make us sweat a bit on Selection Sunday, but we’re pretty firmly in right now, probably more than most might suspect.
yeahboozin - February 6, 2012
I'd say ceiling is 11-7
I don’t see us losing all 3 of our remaining games vs. MU, KU and Baylor. I think we get 1 of those.
GTcat - February 6, 2012
but don't take that as me saying we will go 11-7
still likely to Frank up something like home vs iowa state
GTcat - February 6, 2012
favorite commercial from last night had to be
the naked M&M,
lol
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
One of the few i missed
saw the tail end, and it looked funny, but I’ll have to go rewatch them
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
here it is
link
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
That was one of like only three actually funny/good commercials.
Seriously disappointed in the commercials last night.
The game was pretty exciting though.
ChrisP Wildcat - February 6, 2012
I think my favorite was
The Kia Optima one with the sand man. That m&m one was good to tho.
Kohawk84 - February 6, 2012 via iPhone app
That was pretty good...
but just to show how much of a geek I am The Avengers promo had me anxious to see that movie – along with the Seal Team 6 movie coming out.
mac attack ict - February 6, 2012
The Avengers looks good
So does Battleship, and the Lorax.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
To me
It looks like they’re going to ruin the Lorax soooo hard. But Act of Valor(the Seals movie) and the Hunger games are going to rule. Of course Battleship has Liam Neeson to save it from being anything other than Transformers on water.
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
A lot of the sound effects
sound the same as transformers, and the “robot” special effects look extremely transformer-esque. When it first came on I thought it might be another transformers sequel because of that, it took a good 10-15 seconds of promo to finally realize it wasnt. But still…geez guys, come up with something new
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
Speaking of Transformers
one of the guys I met in the Atlanta KSU watch club has a sister who was involved in the production of the “Transformers the ride” commercial that came on during the pre-game festivities.
/coolstorybro
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Also speaking of transformers
My dad met the guy responsible for all the sfx for the movies in downtown Detroit.
motown wildcat - February 6, 2012 via Android app
yeah...well...my dad could beat up your dad
k-stater86 - February 6, 2012
Dadfight!
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
Is that k-stater86 there on left in the grey shirt?
Sean T - February 6, 2012
Her first name wouldn't happen to start with a C, would it?
Would be kinda strange to think that your friend’s sister is a girl I went out with in high school a time or two.
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 7, 2012
I don't know what her name is
he just posted on facebook to be watching out for that commercial. He is from St John, KS, so maybe that will answer your question.
Jeremy Sharp - February 7, 2012
It does, and it's her.
What a small world!
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 7, 2012
I grew up about 30 minutes from St. John,
and went to youth group with her. I think we went on two dates over to Great Bend, the summer before I went to college. Great girl!
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 7, 2012
No kidding?
30 minutes which way? Both sides of my family are from Great Bend. If you ever went to a farm with 64,000 chickens (egg production) on the Barton/Stafford county line for a school field trip, that’s my dad’s parent’s farm.
Jeremy Sharp - February 7, 2012
I grew up in a little town called Lewis, about 30 miles west of St. John, right on 50.
I also know of that chicken farm you mention, mainly because I think my dad either bought or sold some chickens to the owners of it when I was like 6 years old. I just remember I’d never seen so many chickens in my life!
What a small world!
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 7, 2012
I think he bought chickens from them
at the end of their 2 year cycle. Laying hens are only kept 2 years (or around 20 months) in an operation like that. Then they are usually sold to Campbell’s or Tyson, since they aren’t really good for fried chicken (too tough after being in a cage for nearly 2 years).
I spent many a summer on that farm.
And believe it or not, that;s actually a small operation. There were about 15 producers in Kansas who had a contract with the same company my grandparents did, and my grandparents were about the middle of the pack in terms of size. Now it is done a bit differently, and the operations are much bigger. The new facility the company was building around 2000 was something like 1.5 million chickens all in one location. Crazy.
Jeremy Sharp - February 7, 2012
I know that at one point we had at least one hen and a rooster,
as well as a BUNCH of little chicks running around. I imagine that my dad must have bought his hen(s) from them or something like that. We raised them ourselves, and my little brother and I treated them like little pets.
(This may be the first time a BOTC sub-thread has ever discussed chicken farming. And to think that it all started with a friend of yours who knows a girl I went out with a couple of times who happened to work on the Transformers The Ride Super Bowl commercial.)
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 8, 2012
It makes you wonder what's going on with Jeremy Jones
when Frank wont play him because of a “bum ankle” but Rodney still gets extended minutes on an injured toe… especially when Rodney was largely ineffective when he was in.
Also, who do you guys expect to see gone at the end of the season?? If you had asked me earlier this year, I probably would have said Diaz, but since his minutes and production have come around, I am going to say that I think Omari Lawrence is gone at the end of the year; maybe Jones and Watson too.
Thoughts?
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
I agree with you
on Lawrence, Jones and Watson. Don’t want to see Jones go but something is obviously not going well with he and HCFM. My pick for surprise departure is JO. We have two big men coming in next year and with the dog house he has been in this year would not be surprised to see him leave.
BvilleCat - February 6, 2012
The problem with Omari and JO leaving would be timing.
Omari has already sat out a season for transferring, and JO would have to sit out a season, and then has one year left to play (unless they were to transfer to other than a Div 1 school).
I wonder if Watson will get a medical redshirt since he has only played, what, like less than 10 minutes all season and apparently his elbow (or something on his arm) is messed up.
Don’t know what the deal with Jones is, but i agree that it seems weird he wasn’t given an opportunity when Rodney was clearly off his game Saturday.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
I would be. JO isn't going anywhere. He's going to be fighting Diaz (probably the biggest surprise at this point), but he'll be here next year.
Watson is gone, and I think it is likely Lawrence is too. I really hope Jones sticks around. He was really quite good for a while, so I don’t know what has happened.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
They way I've heard Watson talk to people
makes it seem like he will be here next year. He wants to play, and play here, he’s just had injury problems
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
Worried
I was just looking over the big 12 race. Even if we play lights out, I state is going to have to shit the bed, and all over themselves for us to have a solid tourney bid. I see them losing maybe 3 more. hopefully we can pull of a miracle and only lose one maybe two more games and take 4th place.
motown wildcat - February 6, 2012 via Android app
The guys absolutely HAVE to take care of business at home
to have a shot. Sweeping the traitors on the road would help too (though I really see a 1-1 record in those games more likely), plus picking up a W at one of the Texas schools (probably UT).
At the end of the day, the Cats can only control the games they play in. If these boys want to go places, they need to buckled down, step up, and win out
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
If we remain in the 5 spot
and ISU in the 4 spot we will play them in the Big 12 tournament and at least have a chance to show the commitee that we are the better team.
margibso - February 6, 2012
keep in mind that we can still receive a bye in the tourney even with a 5th place finish.
If I’m not mistaken, top 6 finishers get a bye, and 7-10 play on the first day.
Not sure where I saw this bracket though, so I could be completely wrong about this.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
And if we take care of Iowa State at home
hopefully in a blow out, I could see the committee seeding us higher even if we finish behind them. Their non conference schedule was really weak and ours looks much better. A win over KU would take my more bleak outlook sky high and solidify our tourney resume though.
mjk7166 - February 6, 2012
I was thinking about this as well
If we win out at home (including KU), and beat Texas and aTm on the road, I think we are solidly in the tourney.
A win over KU (even in a “down” year) does wonders for a team’s resume.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Plus if we finish 11-7 with your above games
we will have the tie break over ISU
mjk7166 - February 6, 2012
yep
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
and regardless of who you were rooting for last night
(I am not a fan of either team)
You have to give Manningham tons of credit for that sideline catch he made. Probably the play of the game.
And on the other side, Welker’s drop can be pointed to as a huge reason why the Pats lost.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
I just enjoyed Chris Collinsworth' commentary
“He will catch that 100 out of a 100 times”. Right after he drops it.
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
Al Michaels called him out...
saying, “well, that must’ve been the 101st time”
k-stater86 - February 6, 2012
I thought that was funny too.
Collinsworth bothers me a lot more than he should. At least we didn’t have to listen to Mushberger of Vitale. While I thought the charging call on T-Rob was questionable, I didn’t think it was as obvious as Vitale thought it was.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
I don't know.
It was pretty bad. Robinson made a tremendous drop-step spin move, and the Mizzou player just outright flopped. At WORST, it should have been a no-call.
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 6, 2012
Totally agree on the no-call.
as a non-fan of both teams competing, that is how I saw it. If I was a KU fan, I definitely would have seen a block.
And to be honest, a no-call in this situation still would have been miles ahead of the no-call on Rodney’s mugging in the ISU game (seeing as how T-Rob got the basket).
Let me rephrase. Watching it live, I thought it was a block for sure. After watching the replay multiple times, I am leaning towards thinking it should have been a no-call.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
If I'm the ref there,
I call it a block, just to punish the guy for blatantly flopping.
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 6, 2012
This. Thought baiting the official was a T? Way too much floppin' going on.
TheBigE - February 6, 2012
Same thought here about baiting
but I’ve never seen it called…
jtarkman - February 6, 2012
If they actually called too much flopping a T
Samuels would foul out of every game.
rich04 - February 6, 2012
Would that be any different from what happens now?
TB - February 6, 2012
Oww....stingy.
Catbacker98 - February 6, 2012
Well he would do it a little quicker...
rich04 - February 7, 2012
I agree, Manningham's catches (he was slightly out of bounds on a very similar play earlier) were terrific.
I love that last TD “run”. That has to be one of the goofiest TDs ever. I think the Giants have more likeable players, and I don’t like Belichek, so I’m glad the Giants won.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
Agree on the likability of Giants players...
however, I am a fan of Gronkowski. Yeah, his TD spikes are a bit obnoxious, but I like watching him play, not to mention salivating when I think about what his little brother could do for us if he really is the “most athletic of all the kids” like dad Gordon claims.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
"I am a fan of Gronkowski." Me too, and for the same reason as you about his little brother
But also because I nabbed him on my fantasy team. Boo yeah!
Sean T - February 6, 2012
he and Jimmy Graham were awesome later round TE picks this year
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
I was kind of rooting for the Giants too, because of the likeablity factor, but I have to say,
If Brady had completed that Hail Mary to win the game that would have been fine by me. You don’t see those kind of plays very often, and to decide the Super Bowl winner? That would have been memorable.
ChrisP Wildcat - February 6, 2012
I thought they were gonna come through there for a second
EMAW 4 Ever (iphone) - February 6, 2012 via iPhone app
That TE (I think it was Gronk) had a legit play on the ball.
Just didn’t bounce quite high enough.
Collin's Bloody Elbow - February 7, 2012
That throw and catch was just ridiculous.
Perfect pass by Eli and a great catch by Manningham.
Watched the breakdown in the highlights after getting back to the hotel from the game. It is just crazy how quickly NFL QBs go through their progressions and make split second decisions to fit the ball into the tiniest of windows.
Indianapolis was an amazing host city. Really recommend going to any big sporting events there. Lucas Oil Stadium felt like a field house. Was really really cool. Made even better by a great game won by my favorite team of course…
yeahboozin - February 6, 2012
Not a pretty game (hey BigE, where's the recap? I'm curious about your thoughts on Will's D)
But I’ll take a hot Will (good to have him back) and smarter Angel (one foul!) every game. Angel still had a pair of daft TOs, but he reined himself in and played much better after that.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
And because I forgot, I enjoyed the Baylor game.
It was announced as a sell-out, but there were probably a couple hundred empty seats. At any rate, it’s the highest attendence for a women’s game in ages, and I hope the fans come back, particularly for Sunday’s important game at noon hosting the Jay-chickens. Anyone else going? (Why isn’t the game against the big rival the Pack the House game, and not against the Baylor juggernaught?)
The girls led early, which was great to see, but then someone covered the basket and Baylor just smothered them. From leading 19-13, to losing 70-41, that was some awful shooting from the girls.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
maybe because the powers that be feel like we can beat the lady BlueDucks with any size crowd
but we would need the extra large crowd to have a chance at beating Baylor?
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
That's true, but I think a better way to get people to come back is to highlight a game the girls will likely win, rather than one in which they would need a miracle!
Are you interested in going to the wbb KU game?
Sean T - February 6, 2012
you know, I wouldn't mind going to a game to support the girls.
I just didn’t feel like spending my entire day up at Bramlage on Saturday.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
I'm hoping...crossing fingers...that I can get to it tonight.
My thought on Will was that his D didn’t seem overly porous, but looking at the fact that the vast majority of the scoring from aTm came from their starting guards, I might be wrong there. Need to go back and watch again.
Angel played arguably his best game top-to-bottom of the year. Solid scoring, decent defense, AST/TO was net positive, and for God’s sake, he kept his hands off people. Showed that he’s got a first step that few can get in front of. Hope he can springboard that into some consistency.
Of note – Shane got his chance, and didn’t necessarily translate much of it into stats. Just a thought.
TheBigE - February 6, 2012
That's what I thought about Shane.
I was a little disappointed he didn’t do more while he was in the game.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Here's hoping Shane was sick - I hate saying that about people, but I'm hoping that's the reason for his lack of production and not something less easily fixed.
Will’s too smart to do the dumb fouls that have been plaguing Angel, but it seemed to me A&M was able to abuse him most of the day.
Sean T - February 6, 2012
BigE called the Angel/Will connection first...
in that if they find their game all the rest of the offense comes together. Even with Rodney on a bum peg. When they are off we have a hard time finding ways to win.
Catbacker98 - February 6, 2012
I might be being overly supportive as a known Paradox fan,
but while he didn’t fill up the stat sheet, I thought he played pretty well. Solid defense. Seemed to fill in for Rod admirably even though didn’t do a ton offensively.
At least showed more than he has in recent weeks.
yeahboozin - February 6, 2012
So yesterday I woke up at 6 AM
Why, you ask?(probably didn’t ask but that’s beside the point) Well ol’ MeatGeek is starting pick up on the English soccer. And not that Premier League shit, no I’m talking that hardcore Football League 2nd tier stuff. Anway, I chose my team, Derby(dArby) County FC. Smallish club from a small town county in ol’ England. Anyway, I was going to watch a stream online. Come to find out the game was cancelled for 2 inches of snow. That was when I came to the realization that without college football and watching an inconsistent K-State basketball team(this year anyway), my life turns to frackin Soccer!
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
Were you drunk at 6am? How about 5:40 today? That's all I can figure to explain this!
Sean T - February 6, 2012
Both?
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
If you're gonna choose a soccer team
I guess Derby County FC is as good as any. (I’m from Derby, KS)
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Umm 2nd division English soccer...
I thought you were going to say Seria A, Bundesliga or BBVA. Much better soccer to be had there lad.
Catbacker98 - February 6, 2012
Shrugs
Like an ignorant fella like me would know the difference. I picked Derby almost entirely on a movie and the fact that their somewhat similar to Kansas State(agricultural, smallish town)
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
Oh I thought you were looking for quality. But I see your reasoning now.
Catbacker98 - February 7, 2012
It's still better than MLS
Derby plays fairly ugly, but their a scrappy defensive team with very small resources. I can identify with that obviously.
MeatGeek - February 7, 2012
Funny I played with a kid in club
who trained at the Derby academy. I think he even made an appearance for the senior squad as well. Hell of a player he said it was quite the experience.
RMartell - February 7, 2012
Well ain't that a damn coincindence.
MeatGeek - February 7, 2012
Both?
MeatGeek - February 6, 2012
Texas at aTm for Big Monday tonight?!?
I bet ESPN is pretty upset about how crappy aTm has been this season.
Jeremy Sharp - February 6, 2012
Anyone else going to the game in Austin?
If so email me.
Anon_the_younger - February 7, 2012
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