Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

6. Kansas State Wildcats (9-2)

Previous Ranking: No. 4

Kansas State has been good enough so far this season, but good enough doesn’t get you anywhere in the Big 12.

The Wildcats have struggled mightily on offense at times, and the loss of star senior forward Dean Wade for at least eight weeks with a torn tendon in his right foot hasn’t helped Kansas State’s offensive woes.

The Wildcats have managed to pick up a couple of solid wins in non-conference play, including wins against Vanderbilt, Georgia State and Penn.

Kansas State‘s two losses have come to Marquette, a top-25 team, and Tulsa, an above-average high major team.

But again, Kansas State hasn’t looked amazing, and they certainly haven’t been able to live up to their preseason top-25 ranking.

Senior guard Barry Brown Jr. has, and will need to continue to carry the load for the Wildcats. Despite the loss of Wade, Kansas State is still an extremely experienced team, and will have the leadership and defense to be competitive and pull out wins.

Kansas State has a fairly difficult first month of Big 12 conference play, which will only be more difficult in the absence of Wade. However, if the Wildcats can somehow manage to stay afloat heading into February, the estimated time of Wade’s return, they can still be a sleeper in the Big 12.

They’re far from where they were to begin the season, but Kansas State hasn’t totally fallen off the map.