Kansas State and UCF Face Off with Tournament Hopes on the Line

ORLANDO, Florida — Kansas State and the University of Central Florida (UCF) will clash Wednesday evening, as both teams hope to salvage their seasons and secure a path to the NCAA Tournament through the Big 12 Championship. Each team faces significant hurdles, needing to win five games in six days to achieve their goal. A more likely outcome may direct them toward the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

K-State enters the matchup with a record of 13-14 overall and 7-9 in the Big 12, having lost three consecutive games following a six-game winning streak that temporarily revived discussions of an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, UCF holds a record of 14-13 and 5-11 in the conference after snapping a seven-game losing streak with a recent victory against Utah.

During their winning streak, K-State managed to defeat four ranked teams, signaling potential for an NCAA bid. However, their recent losses to unranked teams have raised concerns about their trajectory. Head coach Jerome Tang acknowledged his role in the team’s struggles, especially after a disappointing 66-54 home loss to Arizona State. The Wildcats played without leading scorer Coleman Hawkins, whose availability for Wednesday’s game remains uncertain.

“I’m so thankful for our guys and their effort,” Tang said. “I wish I had given them a better game plan today. This loss is on me, not them, and I’ll do better moving forward.” He also expressed respect for the Arizona State coaching staff, praising their game plan despite their missing key players.

On the flip side, UCF’s recent game saw them narrowly topple Utah, thanks to a last-second layup by Darius Johnson, who helped break a 72-72 tie with just 2.8 seconds remaining. UCF fought hard for that win, leading by as many as 11 points with less than six minutes left before the game tightened. “It’s been a tough stretch for us,” UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins commented after the victory. “I thought our guys came out with a winning effort. Today we got rewarded; we won the game against a good Utah team.”

K-State’s current form indicates a need for a quick turnaround, whereas UCF will look to build momentum off their recent success. With both teams striving to improve their postseason outlook, the stakes in Orlando will be high.