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Big 12 Basketball: Key storylines heading into 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Chris Kern

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - FEBRUARY 25: Kamau Stokes #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats drives toward the basket as Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks defends during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on February 25, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - FEBRUARY 25: Kamau Stokes #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats drives toward the basket as Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks defends during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on February 25, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – DECEMBER 15: Dean Wade #32 of the Kansas State Wildcats receives help leaving the court after hurting his right foot, by Xavier Sneed #20 and team trainer Luke Subaer (L) during the second half against the Georgia State Panthers on December 15, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – DECEMBER 15: Dean Wade #32 of the Kansas State Wildcats receives help leaving the court after hurting his right foot, by Xavier Sneed #20 and team trainer Luke Subaer (L) during the second half against the Georgia State Panthers on December 15, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

Dean Wade’s Health

If the Kansas State Wildcats aren’t able to have Dean Wade in the NCAA tournament they will not get back to the Elite Eight. They made it last year without him but that was because Virginia became the first one seed to lose to a 16 seed. They deserve a lot of credit for that run, especially for the win over Kentucky but it would’ve been much different if they had to go through Virginia.

This is starting to resemble the 2013 Kansas State team that earned a share of the Big 12 regular season before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to 13th seeded La Salle. They are going to try to avoid that but they are facing a very tough 13th seeded UC Irvine team. They will need a good performance to get that win.

This team showed they can compete without Wade but the offense has struggled big time without him on the floor. If he is in fact not able to go that just puts more pressure on their guards. Barry Brown and Kamau Stokes are good players but they’ll need Xavier Sneed to play well to go on a deep NCAA Tournament run.

It is never good when you have a big man dealing with lingering foot issues. There have been reports that Kansas State has a “wait and see” approach. When you take that into account it makes it seem as if the odds of him playing aren’t very good. You always want to stay optimistic but we saw what happened during the NCAA Tournament last season.

Wade did play eight minutes in the game against Kentucky but he wasn’t very effective. They could have him play to try and give it go as he did in that game. It is important to note he has injured his foot on multiple occasions this season. He has been able to play through it at times so hopefully, he can do so again in the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas State is hopeful he can play but they have to be prepared if he isn’t out there. They have played many games without him the past two seasons so they will be ready to go either way. They will need good performances from Levi Stockard and Makol Maiwen but they’re both more than capable.

Dean Wade is a special talent and one of the best players in this conference. This is the best Kansas State team in years so they’re hoping to have him healthy for one more NCAA Tournament run. This is his final season at Kansas State so hopefully, we haven’t seen Wade in a Wildcat uniform for the final time.

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