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K-State Basketball Season Ends with Loss to Cincinnati

By Leigh Oleszczak

K-State basketball players huddle prior to the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
K-State basketball players huddle prior to the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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K-State basketball’s 2016-2017 season has come to a close, as they fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 75-61 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats. What will become of the Kansas State program now?

Well, this was an interesting season, that’s for sure.

From going 12-1 to start the season to losing on “walk-off” fashion to the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse to getting shredded by the terrible Oklahoma Sooners, the Kansas State Wildcats had their ups and downs during the regular season.

They picked it up at the end of the year, winning their last few games and winning their first game in the Big 12 Tournament. Their late season efforts were enough to get them into one of the “First Four Games” in the NCAA Tournament, where they faced Wake Forest in Dayton, Ohio.

K-State defeated Wake Forest and were stoked about appearing in their first March Madness dance since 2014, but that journey stopped after the first round.

The Wildcats put up 95 points the other night in Dayton and their offense wasn’t able to match that performance. Wesley Iwundu put up 19 points in his final collegiate game, which led the team. No other Wildcat had double digit points on the night.

Cincinnati was all about the offense, seeing three of their starters put up double digit totals: Troy Caupain with 23, Kyle Washington with 16, and Gary Clark with 15.

The biggest question heading into the offseason now is what will happen with Bruce Weber? Will he be staying in Manhattan as the head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats or is it time for the university and Weber to part ways?

I could see it either way.

On the one hand, Weber got the Cats to the big dance this year, even if it wasn’t far into it. They won a Big 12 game and have several sophomore starters, paving the way to a bright future for K-State basketball.

On the other hand, however, Weber had a few rough months this season, and the fans haven’t shown support for him. When I was at the Big 12 game against Baylor in Kansas City, Weber was booed when announced. Not exactly a sign of support from your own fanbase.

K-State is without an acting Athletic Director at the moment though, so Weber might luck into another season at the helm in Manhattan, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on this offseason.

At the end of the day, this would have to be considered a successful season, right? K-State made it to the tournament for the first time in three seasons, which is an accomplishment.

What do you think, Wildcat fans? Was this season a success or not?

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