With what must feel like an abundance of resources, Kansas State will host TCU Wednesday night in Manhattan, Kan., as both clubs look for their first Big 12 Conference victory.
K-State (8-6, 0-3 Big 12) had only eight scholarship players and one coach available Saturday at West Virginia. The Wildcats did have their five leading scorers and led for most of the game — including a 13-point halftime advantage — but couldn’t hold on in the 71-68 defeat.
Assistant coach Jermaine Henderson was the lone coach on the sideline, as head coach Bruce Weber and assistants Chris Lowery and Shane Southwell missed the game due to COVID protocol.
Weber wouldn’t say who would be available among coaches and players but said he would be able to coach Wednesday and that most of the team will be able to suit up. How fit or rusty they might be remains in question.
“I’m feeling fine; I’m still in COVID protocol,” Weber said in a Zoom press conference Tuesday morning. “I’m in my last day (of restriction). We have a few other guys who are still out, and we’ve had no new cases. After what we went through last week, that’s a positive.
“Even though we went through a lot last week, they came back ready to practice.”
TCU (10-2, 0-1) had three games canceled or postponed, including the first two conference games (at Kansas, vs. West Virginia). The Horned Frogs’ first game in 18 days came against the nation’s No. 1 team, and they battled undefeated Baylor before falling 76-64. TCU led by as many as nine points early in the second half before Baylor took control.
“Give them credit,” head coach Jamie Dixon said. “They’re ranked where they are because of experience and how they respond to adversity. But we just lost our pace offensively. And (giving up) 13-of-27 from 3-point range is not good. They had open 3 after open 3.”
Mike Miles scored 26 points for the Frogs, including 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. His 17.7 scoring average makes him the third-leading scorer in the Big 12. Joining Miles in double figures are Emanuel Miller (10.7) and Chuck O’Bannon Jr. (10.1).
–Field Level Media