Kansas State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Wildcats

By Brian Rauf | Sep 22, 2018

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 08: Head coach Bruce Weber of the Kansas State Wildcats talks with players during a timeout in the Big 12 Basketball Tournament quarterfinal game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center on March 8, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Barry Brown #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats celebrates against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

With several talented returners, Kansas State enters the 2018-19 season with top-15 expectations and hopes of improving on last year’s Elite Eight finish.

Kansas State was 40 minutes away from making the school’s first Final Four berth since 1964 last season and return all five starters from that team – and expectations in the Little Apple are as high as they have been in recent years because of it.

The Wildcats enter the 2018-19 season as a consensus top-15 team in the country and are the biggest threat to end rival Kansas‘ reign atop the Big 12. Head coach Bruce Weber has gradually increased K-State’s win total over the last four seasons but easily has his most talented team.

Star big man Dean Wade is back after missing most of last year’s stretch run due to injury while Barry Brown Jr. and Xavier Sneed also return after becoming national stars in March. That trio forms one of the best in the entire country and is the biggest reason why many are so high on the Wildcats.

Weber has also turned Kansas State into one of the better defensive teams in the nation, which was the backbone of their Elite Eight run. They ranked 21st nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and third in steal percentage, and those turnovers spearheaded their offense. K-State also only gave up at least 60 points one time in the NCAA Tournament and, uncoincidentally, that happened to be the game the lost.

Defense figures to be this team’s calling card once again. How far will it take them? Here’s a full preview of Kansas State for the upcoming season, including an in-depth look at their projected lineup and non-conference schedule.

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