A lot of people are highly anticipating the upcoming game versus Kansas being a big game for K-state. I don’t see it as that big of a game for two reasons: First, KU isn’t even our biggest rival, that honor belongs to Missouri. Second, K-State holds a clear advantage and will absolutely dominate this game.

For those of you that would like to think that KU is somewhat of a rivalry game because the two schools are in the same state, well, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. There really is no comparing the two schools. K-State has long ago proven themselves to have one of the most storied traditions is basketball, while KU has used gimmicks (hiring the original inventor of basketball) and mimicry (building Allen Fieldhouse) to try to chase K-State’s legacy. K-State’s notoriously moribund football program was resurected by Bill Snyder, in what is referred to as the greatest turnaround in college football history and has enjoyed season after season of success (okay, except for last season, we were beaten by KU, we were obviously terrible). KU’s notoriously moribund football program had a good season last year…achieved by hiring a graduate assistant that used to work for Bill Snyder. I’m not going to go too far into academics, because we are discussing sports here, but let me say this: K-State has some of the most talented students and teachers in the country and no other school in the state can even come close to matching their academic excellence. If you want to get a real education in Kansas, go to K-state.

On the basketball court, K-State’s Michael Beasley has no equal. Not on KU’s roster, not on anyone’s roster. If there was some kind of man, let’s say a superman, that was capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, or melting objects with his eyes, one super power he could never possess would be the ability to guard Michael Beasley. That is a proven fact. Seriously, a superman did actually come and try to defend Beasley one time and he was horribly humiliated, and was forced to retreat to some kind of ice fortress in the Arctic.

Then there is Bill Walker. I’m not saying that Bill Walker is better than Beasley or anything, but let’s be honest. We should all take a second, take a deep breath and be thankful that Beasley and Walker are on the same team. No one can be sure what would happen if they were to one day play against each other, but most scientists agree it would result in some kind of strange, post-Beasley-Walker-apocalyptic universe that none of us ever want to even begin to imagine. Has anyone seen Soylent Green? I digress.

The point is this: I can’t wait for Wednesday to be over. After we beat KU, we can get on to the real game at hand - Missouri. I’m liking the things that Mike Anderson is bringing to Missouri and I think they represent a tremendous challenge for K-State. Since it is a immense rivalry for us, it adds an extra level of meaning. Honestly, I wonder if there will be a better game this year. Two quality teams, classic rivals, going to toe to toe between the lines. That is what college basketball is all about.

I can’t wait for Saturday.

Despite Richard Roby’s excellent night, and K-State’s sloppy play, the cats won the game in lop-sided fashion. Prior to the game, first-year head coach Frank Martin was concerned due to a serious lack of focus in the last few wildcat practices. Perhaps a sign of Frank Martin’s hard-nosed style, Frank told the team after the win that they got lucky, the game should have been a loss.

This game could have been a loss easily…without Michael Beasley and Bill Walker. These two freshman are proving why they are the best in the country. The Beaz was in top form in the second half, scoring 26 of his 29 points and grabbing 10 of his 13 rebounds. Walker finished with numbers almost as impressive: 18 points, 8 rebounds. All of these numbers were pretty decent, considering both players were in foul trouble early and spent a abnormally long portion of the game on the bench.

Next up is Iowa State, which again presents some interesting problems. The cyclones have been playing improved basketball of late and are not to be taken lightly. It will be an interesting game and if the cats come out on top, they will be neck and neck with KU for the top spot in the conference.

Don’t get me wrong, Bill Walker is a total bad ass. I have to admit I was seriously looking forward to having Bill make a lot of Big 12 players look silly this season, but unfortunately, that will have to wait until next year.

Without Walker available, some other players will have to step up and do better. Over the last few games, that is exactly what has happened. With more solid point guard play from Clent Stewart and some dependable scoring from David Hoskins, we are starting to see what this team can do. Don’t forget that a virtually identical K-state team beat KU at Allen field house last year, with Wooly as the coach. I bring up KU as an example, because KU is an excellent team. Definitely one of the top teams in the Big 12 north. Allow me to reiterate. Last year, K-state beat KU on their home court using an identical team without Huggins calling the shots.

My guess is that K-state can beat a lot of teams this year. The great thing about being an up and coming team is that there is always a tendency for stronger teams to overlook you. When K-state plays its’ game and executes, they can beat anyone in this league, and I think we will see more than a few examples of that this year.

Before any fans of other teams in Kansas start a post-mortem on the cats, let’s be clear: by the time K-State sets foot in a gym to play a Big 12 conference game, they are going to be ready to compete for one of the top spots in the league. What’s that? You respectfully disagree?? Not surprising. A lot of K-State fans have chalked this year up as a pre-season practice for next year. With Wichita State apparently world-beaters and KU being…well…themselves, the cats certainly appear to be a lost cause.

However, people quickly forget that this is Huggins first year, and these were his first seven games. He is busy leaning on guys to play their best, and it is not happening. I have noticed one thing about Bob Huggins. He isn’t going to help players who aren’t going to help themselves. He isn’t going to even bother to out-coach someone else, if his team isn’t going to try their hardest. If things aren’t getting done his way, they don’t get done at all. Huggins wants to win, but he wants to win his way.

The difference between that philosophy and the philosophy of past K-State coaches is the long-term benefits. With Huggins’ philosophy no one win is more important than making sure that the players are buying into the system, and those players are executing the system as best as they possibly can.

Expect the cats to continue with their growing pains for the next few games, then just in time for the Xavier game…they raise their game.

Let’s start with the obvious. Micheal Beasley is the top player in the class of 2007. Everyone in purple has been anticipating this recruit arriving in Manhattan since it became clear that not only did we have a shot at him, he had us at the top of his list. Mr. Beasley is going to give us some incredible athleticism, and it will be amazing to watch him take it to the best players in the big 12 on a weekly basis. The last time K-State landed a recruit of this caliber…was…well…Bob Boozer?

Bill “Sky” Walker, officially a member of the 2007 recruiting class, has already landed here in Manhattan. Bill Walker is said to possess an incredible athleticism that can give a defender’s mother nightmares. Bill was so anxious to get started here, he graduated high school early and will join the wildcats on December 17, against Kennesaw state. How unfortunate for Kennesaw state. Watch for Bill to make an immediate impact.

Dominique Sutton is a dominating shooting guard, that turned down offers from the likes of Illinois and KU to attend K-State. Sutton, like Walker, will make an immediate impact. With the departure of senior guards Akeem Wright and Lance Harris, look for Sutton to step in right away and make a strong impression.

Fred Brown is an athletic shooting guard from Florida. A seemingly perfect fit for Huggins’ system, Fred has the reputation of being an incredibly strong defender and passer. Fred will add depth to the shooting guard rotation, and it will be interesting to see how he develops under Huggins.

Finally, Jacob Pullen a 6-1 true point guard from Chicago joins the wildcats to add some much needed depth at the point guard position. It will be a huge boost to this team to add a true point guard to our lineup, and it looks like Jacob will fit the bill perfectly.

All in all, probably not the GRCOAT that we were all hoping for. However, we were probably about one player away from that goal…we’ve got to have some room to improve for next year…right?

A lot of people are quick to point out that the odds of K-state actually achieving this feat are long. So long in fact, that the mere mention of GRCOAT outside of the city of Manhattan incites a hardy chuckle from opposing fans. Here is an excerpt of a typical naysayer’s reaction to GRCOAT:

“No way does K-state get those players, you guys are dreaming. Those guys want to go to an urban area, not Manhattan, Kansas. K-state isn’t high profile enough to get their attention. You guys just haven’t experienced big-time recruiting, I mean, your competition is Kansas, North Carolina, Connecticut. You can’t win over those teams.”

I happen to agree that landing all of those players is a long shot. However, calling it impossible is just as absurd as calling it a done deal.

Micheal Beasley has already verbally committed to K-state. He is going to choose K-state over heavyweights such as North Carolina, Connecticut and Florida. Based on his comments regarding the situation, Beasley knows that this is a great situation for him. He can come into a school and turn their basketball program into a national powerhouse, all while being in the national spotlight, playing for Bob Huggins. It doesn’t hurt that from the day he steps foot in Manhattan, Kansas, he will be recognized like a rock star everywhere he goes.

Beasley wants to go somewhere that he can make an instant impact, and he isn’t alone. Beasley is good friends with O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker, both of whom have expressed interest in playing for Bob Huggins. Having all three of those players suit up for the cats would bring all eyes on K-state basketball, and would have everyone believing we are a legitimate contender.

Our odds of landing each of these players goes up considerably with each one that commits. By this I mean, if Beasley commits, Bill Walker will probably give K-state a closer look. If Walker and Beasley commit, O.J. will probably give K-state a closer look…etc. My honest estimate is that a few of these players will commit and play for the cats, but we will fall just short of the GRCOAT, leaving the door open for the 2008 GRCOAT class…

Last year, it seemed like we had the offense to remain in games until the last minute, but when that last minute came, you knew K-State wasn’t going to walk away with the W. Possibly, Blake Young will provide the missing firepower to get the Cats over that elusive hump this year. Well, that and Huggs screaming at the players from the sidelines.

So that leaves one scholarship left to fill. From what I can see that scholarship could go to either Luis Colon or Stefhon Hannah. Stefhon Hannah is a athletic point guard who looks to pass first, averaging 7 assists a game last year for Chipola Junior College. Luis Colon is a 6-10 High School power forward, who has been getting some attention from some of the better programs in the nation of late.

With the departure of Kenny Williams, it is vital that the cats get another big man. I am guessing that means Colon is our top target. That is, unless another scholarship becomes available somehow. It is will be interesting to see how this one plays out. We have some capable guards, but we could use an athletic, assist-happy point to get the ball down the court. Another player to throw in the mix here is Devan Downey, the former Cincinnati player who is looking to transfer after one year with the bearcats.

Finally, early this week the message boards were all abuzz regarding the *gasp* departure of Huggins to West Virginia. Are you kidding me? Any K-State fan that actually bought this rumor for a second doesn’t know jack about our new head coach. To say Huggins is a man of his word is an understatement. When Huggs committed to coach the wildcats, it wasn’t a fluke. Huggs makes good decisions and sticks by them. That’s what makes him a good coach. He wants to make K-State a nationally respected program and that is just what will happen.

An apparent defensive force, Bennett doesn’t let much get by him. Last season our guard play was strong, and David Hoskins proved he could score in the post. With Bennett, we will have someone actually pushing people around in the paint. That makes for a very interesting team next year in the Big 12. Huggs has made several comments regarding our lack of size down low, and the positive impact a big defender will make.  Now that we have Jason and Kenny Williams we have some solid post players with the ability to make an immediate impact.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the recruits Huggins is going to bring in. Think about this for a second: In 2007, K-State could have the #1, #2, #3 high school recruits in the nation (according to Rivals.com) in O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker, and Micheal Beasley. Seriously.

Now I am not saying these guys will commit to K-State, but no one can deny they have been legitimately linked to the K-State program. Beasley has come out and discussed why K-State is his current leader. In the same statement, he even aluded to the chance to play with Mayo and Walker as a main reason to come to K-State.

This is absolute craziness. Can you imagine K-State getting these three recruits and how difficult it would be to beat us in 2007? We would basically have an inexperienced NBA team playing Big 12 competition…just plain scary.

Of course this is tough for fans of KU and other Big 12 schools to swallow. They will be quick to point out that none of these players have committed and many schools are after them. This is of course true, but these fans must try to understand the enthusiasm of a school that was painfully mediocure, but is now getting mentioned by recruits in the same breath as Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and other elite programs.

Suddenly, it makes sense for a recruit to list KU and K-State as his top two choices, and that is the Huggy difference.