Rapid recap: Kansas State close to full strength
Kansas State health update
Kansas State was without Max Jones in the 70-56 win over Fort Hays State in the exhibition game. According to Jerome Tang, everyone is healthy and a full go for the season opener versus New Orleans Tuesday. Jones is a bigger guard who can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court. His presence makes it so Coleman Hawkins can play the ‘4’ position for K-State.
There is one player who may not play for the Wildcats Tuesday night, though. Achor Achor had to go home for a family emergency over the weekend and it is not determined if he will play.
What Tang wants to learn
After the exhibition game, there are a few things Tang wants to see from his team versus New Orleans. He wants to find out how many minutes his team can play with the focus and intensity he wants them to. It can take a little bit to be able to play the way you want a team to due to conditioning and focus. It can also be a product of basketball now and replacing so many players and having new faces on the court. The Kansas State coach did also state he wants his team playing its best basketball later on in the season and for him, it is about getting a little bit better every day.
Top 10
- 1Hot
Updated SEC title game scenarios
The path to the championship game is clear
- 2Breaking
Kevin Wilson
Tulsa expected to fire head coach
- 3
SEC refs under fire
'Incorrect call' wipes Bama TD away
- 4
'Fire Kelly' chants at LSU
Death Valley disapproval of Brian Kelly
- 5
Chipper Jones
Braves legend fiercely defends SEC
A preview of New Orleans
Tang knows Privateers head coach Stacy Hollowell well and the system he runs. New Orleans will look to press often and get after you defensively. They are also an aggressive team on the glass and want to speed teams up. New Orleans ranked No. 21 in possessions per game last season with 71.6 possessions per game.
Kansas State cannot settle for early threes or force shots Tuesday that New Orleans wants them to take. K-State will need to keep working the ball and their own offense because the Privateers will force teams in the half-court to take tough shots.
