Even before his team lost in Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber was gazing past the high-profile showdown with rival Kansas to a crucial matchup with Baylor.
He didnt mention it to his team, of course. But Weber made it clear to his staff.
Win or lose against the Jayhawks and the No. 16 Wildcats on Monday night lost in decisive fashion the game against the Bears could make or break their Big 12 title hopes. They remain tied with Texas Tech for the conference lead with three games to go, both teams a game ahead of Kansas, and holding serve at home against the up-and-coming Bears is vitally important.
I told our staff that. I said it to our staff a week ago, Weber said. But Im always worried. I was worried about Oklahoma State I cussed them out at shoot-around and they were lights-out.
We are in first place, we have a three-game season, eight days, he added. What are we about?
Few teams have been in this position before, mostly because the Jayhawks have won or shared the last 14 conference titles. But if the Wildcats or Red Raiders can run the table, it would mean the glass bowl awarded to the regular-season champions would reside somewhere other than Lawrence.
In the case of Kansas State (21-7, 11-4), it would be just down the road in Manhattan.
But the Bears (19-9, 10-5) are also a game back in the standings after squeaking out a victory over Texas earlier this week, and three straight wins have them right in the mix, too.
Theyre very physical, play hard. We know, Weber said. Its game-by-game and thats all you can do. We have to get ready to face Baylor. That has to be our immediate focus.
Its been hard to prepare for anybody lately.
The Wildcats were so banged up a couple weeks ago that they didnt even have enough bodies to have a full practice. And while some of the illnesses and nagging injuries are getting better, three of their crucial pieces remain sidelined when Weber rolls the balls out for a workout.
Senior forward Dean Wade, the leagues preseason player of the year, is dealing with a foot injury that has caused him problems all season. He hasnt practiced in weeks as Weber tries to keep him on the floor for games, and even then its been clear that Wade is not 100 percent.
He was held to eight points on 2-of-7 shooting by the Jayhawks, and his inability to push off his ailing foot reduced him to a spot-up shooter rather than a lanky forward capable of getting to the rim.
His backcourt running mate, Kamau Stokes, also has been dogged by injuries the last few weeks, and he ends up standing next to Wade during most practices. He also has been able to grit through games, but he was held to 12 points in 35 minutes against the Jayhawks.
When you dont practice, you dont have rhythm, Stokes said, and thats always tough in that sense. But you have to prepare the same as any other game.
