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Kansas State Wildcats Show Promise In Debut Under Coach Casey Alexander
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- Kansas State Wildcats Show Promise In Debut Under Coach Casey Alexander
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
No doubt, the Kansas State Wildcats basketball team are going to take their lump this season under first-year coach Casey Alexander.
It showed in the 71-67 exhibition loss to the Missouri Tigers Friday at Bramlage Colisuem in Manhattan. The Wildcats struggled at times but also showed signs of promise under Alexander. The key for the fans to remain patient because of the circumstances.
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Jaden Schutt and Montana Wheeler led three players in double figures with 12 points.
The Wildcats play host to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits Nov. 3 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. While the season has seemingly arrived fast, the plan for the Wildcats should be to take it slow at first and perhaps even next season.
Alexander has arguably the toughest fix in the Big 12 conference. He takes over a program that has struggled the last three seasons, missing the NCAA Tournament each time. This all comes after the Wildcats were on top of the college basketball world in coach Jerome Tang's first year in 2023. That season they were a surprise participant in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and reached high as No. 5 in the rankings.
After replacing Tang, Alexander was left scrambling for players. The result was the Wildcats only having one player left from last year's roster, Andrej Kostic.
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Although Kostic is a solid player, he won't be able to do this alone. That's why it's best to practice patience with the Wildcats this season and perhaps even the next. If anyone is up for the rebuilding job, it's Alexander.
It's going to take some time for this hire to become a winner. Hopefully, the fans and the administration are willing to understand that.
Here's the Big 12 schedule:
Jan. 2 at Baylor Bears, TBD
Jan. 5 vs. Houston Cougars, TBD
Jan. 9 vs. Arizona Wildcats, TBD
Jan. 12 at West Virginia Mountaineers, TBD
Jan. 16 vs. Texas Christian Horned Frogs, TBD
Jan. 19 at Arizona State Sun Devils, TBD
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Jan. 23 vs. Kansas Jayhawks, TBD
Jan. 30 at Iowa State Cyclones, TBD
Feb. 3 vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys, TBD
Feb. 6 vs. Colorado Buffaloes, TBD
Feb. 10 at Utah Utes, TBD
Feb. 13 at Brigham Young Cougars, TBD
Feb. 16 vs. Arizona State Sun Devils, TBD
Feb. 20 at Cincinnati Bearcats, TBD
Feb. 24 vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders, TBD
Feb. 27 at Kansas Jayhawks, TBD
March 3 at Central Florida Knights, TBD
March 6 vs. Cincinnati Bearcats, TBD
