Bracketology Winners: Ole Miss, Temple, and Gonzaga have huge weeks

Kansas State Wildcats

From a preseason top-15 team to bubble squad in mid-January, Kansas State simply hasn’t taken that next step with everyone essentially returning. But when healthy, they’re still a dangerous team.

That’s been the issue, with Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Dean Wade missing the last several weeks with a foot injury. It’s had a huge effect on the team, having to squeak out wins over George Mason and Southern Miss. Then the Wildcats lost their first two conference games to Texas and Texas Tech.

This week could’ve gone disastrously for Kansas State, nearly beating West Virginia and Iowa State by just a combined three points. With the Mountaineers being arguably the worst team in the conference, that would’ve been an awful loss have on the resume. But a win is a win, meaning that the Wildcats get to 2-2 in a very difficult Big 12 Conference.

What really makes the team a big “winner” this time around is that Wade has returned, getting the start and playing 22 minutes against Iowa State. With him back, Kansas State will have the necessary firepower to deal with the top teams in the league.

This upcoming week will tell us a lot about Kansas State, with games at Oklahoma and TCU coming up. A win over either team would represent the best one of the season for the Wildcats while going winless takes a bubble team to 2-4 in the Big 12. But they survived this last week’s games underhanded, so that deserves some kudos.