Big 12 Basketball: 2019-20 power rankings heading into conference play

This season was always going to be a struggle for Kansas State after they lost arguably their three most important players from the team which won a share of the Big 12 regular-season title last year. As expected, the Wildcats seem to be a way behind the rest of the pack in the Big 12. Their record could be considerably better if they were able to pull off a win in close games against Saint Louis and Pittsburgh, but this K-State team just doesn’t have the talent to compete in the Big 12.

Defense is always the calling card for Bruce Weber’s team, and they remain solid on that end of the floor. The Wildcats are disruptive on defense, currently ranking ninth in the nation in steal rate. Overall, they are 46th in adjusted defensive efficiency, but their offense is holding the team back. K-State does rank 8th nationally in steal rate, a sign that the team is competing hard on the defensive end of the floor.

Kansas State doesn’t have a go-to scorer or shot creator who can consistently put the ball in the basket. They move the ball well, but they simply lack the athletes that they will need to score against Big 12 opponents. Seniors Cartier Diarra and Xavier Sneed are the two primary scorers on the team, but neither is an efficient scorer. While Kansas State can create turnovers, they are just as likely to give the ball back to their opponents, as they rank 303rd nationally in turnover rate.

League play is going to be a struggle for the Wildcats, but they are a tough team that will probably pull off an upset or two. While it is very unlikely they finish outside of the bottom third of the conference standings, Kansas State isn’t a team that others can afford to take lightly. Every team has to perform well every night if they want to win in the Big 12.