No. 11 Kansas State aims to continue ascent under Tang

The positive factors have come rapidly for Kansas State beneath new coach Jerome Tang.

The Eleventh-ranked Wildcats haven’t misplaced in additional than a month and turned two street wins towards ranked Huge 12 groups final week into Monday’s headline-grabbing debut within the nationwide rankings. They play Tuesday towards Oklahoma State after which go to No. 17 TCU on Saturday as a part of the nationwide AP Prime 25 schedule with their first rating for the reason that 2018-19 season.

“I’m very comfortable for our followers and for our gamers and for our workers,” Tang mentioned at a information convention Monday. “Our aim wasn’t to be a ranked staff, however it’s fairly cool that lengthy the journey it occurred.”

Tang had spent 19 seasons at Baylor earlier than taking up at Kansas State, a program picked to complete final within the 10-team Huge 12. However the Wildcats (14-1) dropped 116 factors in a win at now-No. 10 Texas and claimed a high-scoring extra time win at Baylor final week, matching this system’s greatest begin for the reason that 1958-59 season.

Whereas groups have gone from unranked to the highest 10 earlier than, NCAA director of media coordination and statistics David Worlock mentioned Kansas State is the primary to go from unranked to as excessive as No. 11 after the flip of a brand new 12 months.

Keyontae Johnson averages a team-high 18.8 factors, whereas No. 2 scorer Markquis Nowell posted two large performances (36 factors towards Texas, 32 towards Baylor) in final week’s wins. Kansas State enters the week with eight straight wins and its first 3-0 begin in Huge 12 play for the reason that 2012-13 season, and has already matched final season’s win complete in Bruce Weber’s last 12 months.

BIG 12

The Huge 12 is tied with the Southeastern Convention for probably the most ranked groups with 5 every, and Kansas State isn’t the one a type of assembly Prime 25 opponents. The Longhorns host TCU on Wednesday, whereas No. 2 Kansas hosts No. 14 Iowa State on Saturday.

SEC

Fourth-ranked Alabama has moved to the highest of the SEC’s ranked groups, simply forward of Tennessee within the Volunteers’ first look this season inside the highest 5. The Crimson Tide go to No. 15 Arkansas on Wednesday for the week’s high matchup, although the Volunteers have a noteworthy Saturday go to from unranked Kentucky.

BIG EAST

No. 25 Marquette joined No. 19 Windfall because the Huge East’s two additions to Monday’s newest ballot. The Golden Eagles gained’t have a simple week again within the AP Prime 25 schedule with Wednesday’s go to from sixth-ranked Connecticut and Sunday’s journey to No. 12 Xavier.

AT THE TOP

Houston, which is again at No. 1 for the second time this season, has a lightweight week. The Cougars host South Florida on Wednesday, then don’t play once more till visiting Tulane on Jan. 17.

WATCH LIST

Clemson is the surprising chief of the Atlantic Coast Convention and sitting simply outdoors the AP Prime 25. The Tigers (13-3, 5-0 ACC) host two-win Louisville on Wednesday earlier than getting a marquee matchup with No. 24 Duke on Saturday, and a win towards the Blue Devils could possibly be sufficient to push the Tigers into the ballot for the primary time in two years.

There’s additionally Florida Atlantic (14-1, 4-0 Convention USA), which enters the week with the nation’s second-longest successful streak at 13 video games. Dusty Might’s Owls go to Florida Worldwide on Wednesday then host North Texas on Saturday as they chase this system’s first-ever look within the AP Prime 25 ballot.

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Observe Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25