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Where Kansas State basketball’s March Madness résumé stands for 2024 NCAA Tournament

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Where Kansas State basketball’s March Madness résumé stands for 2024 NCAA Tournament


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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There is no question in Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang’s mind that his Wildcats belong in the NCAA Tournament.

He made an impassioned case Thursday night following a lopsided 76-57 loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals for just why the Wildcats should be in the 68-team field when the bracket is revealed Sunday. Their record currently stands at 19-14.

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CBS will broadcast its Selection Show at 5 p.m.

While Tang spoke eloquently, touching on all the high points of the Wildcats’ résumé, they remain the longest of longshots to hear their names called according to most bracketology experts.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had the Wildcats at No. 5 on the top teams out as of Saturday evening, and it is unlikely that they will jump Seton Hall, Indiana State, Pittsburgh or Providence in line, much less the last four in of Oklahoma, St. John’s, Virginia and New Mexico. Jerry Palm of CBS had K-State on the bubble, but not among his first four out.

Kansas State basketball rallies, turns back Texas to advance to Big 12 quarterfinals

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If the Wildcats don’t get in, the biggest number working against them was their NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranking of 70. The only other team among Lunardi and Palm’s last four in and first four out that even dropped into the 60s was Seton Hall at 66, but the Pirates matched K-State’s five Quadrant 1 and 2 victories with a 20-12 overall record.

The fact that K-State was 7-0 in overtime games was not viewed as a positive by the NET, especially since two of them came against lowly North Alabama and Oral Roberts.

“Because we didn’t win by 30 or 40 against Quad 4 teams, that’s being held against us in the numbers and what the NET shows,” Tang said. “I was told a long time ago, just win the game, right?”

Working in the Wildcats’ favor is their five Quad 1 victories against Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor, BYU and Texas, all of which rank higher than 30 in the NET. Of the teams ahead of them in the bracketology bubble, only Providence has more with six, and K-State beat the Friars head-to-head.

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Kansas State basketball freshman Dai Dai Ames earns his stripes in big win over Texas

“We have elite Quad 1 wins,” Tang said. “We have no bad losses.”

The Wildcats went into the season with higher expectations. But that was before senior forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin, their top returning player from last year, was dismissed from the team, and Samford transfer guard Ques Glover was sidelined by a knee injury.

K-State does boast three of the Big 12’s top 15 scorers in No. 8 Tylor Perry with 15.5 points per game, Arthur Kaluma in 11th with 14.7 and Cam Carter 12th at 14.7. Kaluma also is fifth in rebounding at 7.1 and David N’Guessan seventh at 6.8.

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The Wildcats are still holding out hope that they somehow slip into the tournament tonight, but a more likely scenario is that they must wait until the NIT announces its picks at 8:30 p.m.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.



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~!@[WATCHLIVE!TV]>> NOW Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Free Streams ON Tv Channel

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~!@[WATCHLIVE!TV]>> NOW Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Free Streams ON Tv Channel


Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match

Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match: Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match look to seize control of thrilling Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match. Every team in the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match will host Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match Live mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match a single point ahead of Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match in the standings and just one behind leaders Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match.



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[WatchLive]TV!!!] Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Streams ON Tv Channel

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[WatchLive]TV!!!] Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Streams ON Tv Channel


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Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer

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Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer


With the offseason quickly ramping up, several Kansas basketball players will have a pivotal decision to make in the coming weeks. Those with remaining collegiate eligibility will have to determine whether they are returning to Lawrence or exploring other opportunities on the open market.

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The Jayhawks are no strangers to losing talent to the transfer portal, as five players departed to other schools last year (six if you include Flory Bidunga’s brief stint in the portal).

Although KU has the ability to retool its roster with transfers across the country, there are some guys whom the program would certainly like to retain. But which players will end up leaving the university for more favorable options, and how many will there be?

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Flory Bidunga: Declare for NBA Draft

Bidunga took the biggest leap of any player on the roster this offseason, seeing his scoring average nearly triple in addition to winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the most dominant rim protectors in the country and proved that by averaging 2.6 blocks per game.

After spending two years in Lawrence, Bidunga now has another critical decision to make after he nearly left last offseason. There have even been rumors of him transferring to another school, even with the NBA Draft on the radar.

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Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) drives to the basket around TCU Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Most mock drafts place him in the early-to-mid second round range, leaving some potential for his stock to rise if he returned to college. However, as an undersized center who likely won’t develop a perimeter game anytime soon, it’s difficult to see where he could improve his draft position.

Going to the NBA feels like the smartest and most logical decision for Bidunga. He would complete his lifelong dream of playing in the pros and could develop at his own pace with a team willing to invest in him.

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Bryson Tiller: Stay at Kansas

A redshirt freshman who joined the team late last season, Tiller defied the odds and earned a spot in the starting rotation despite recovering from foot surgery. He was one of Bill Self’s most trusted options and formed a double-big pairing with Bidunga.

His final month or so of the season was quite abysmal, as he saw his averages plummet and his production take a massive hit. However, it is far too early to give up on the Overtime Elite product just yet.

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Tiller has a smooth post game and a lot of good attributes to his skill set. Bringing him back should be one of the biggest priorities for the coaching staff this offseason, and if he’s promised a starting spot at power forward next year, it is reasonable to assume he returns.

Elmarko Jackson: Transfer from Kansas

Jackson has endured a rough ride in Lawrence since committing to the Jayhawks as a McDonald’s All-American three years ago. Following an underwhelming freshman season, he missed the entire 2024-25 campaign due to a torn patellar tendon before returning this season, where he didn’t fare much better than two years ago.

Coming out of high school, Jackson was viewed as a player with immense potential. But after three years at the school with virtually no improvement, it might be best for him to spend his final two years of eligibility elsewhere.

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Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) controls the ball against St. John’s Red Storm guard Oziyah Sellers (4) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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Unfortunately, allowing the game-winning basket to St. John’s that ultimately ended the season embodied what his tenure at KU has been like. That might be the last memory fans have of Jackson in the crimson and blue.

Kohl Rosario: Transfer from Kansas

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Rosario had high expectations going into the year, starting as a member of the starting five before eventually being phased out of the rotation. The Miami native was touted as a strong 3-point shooter coming into college, but massively struggled from beyond the arc for most of the year, leading to a difficult path to playing time.

Even when Rosario wasn’t hitting his shots, though, he contributed with his athleticism and on the glass as a hustle player. Rosario is absolutely someone the coaching staff should prioritize this offseason. However, it may be best for him to leave the program to look for other opportunities.

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Mar 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Kohl Rosario (7) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

He showed flashes throughout the year yet was never trusted heavily by Coach Self. He proved he belonged in the rotation in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, where he made an immediate impact when he entered and outplayed other bench options.

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Ultimately, Rosario will already be competing with freshman wings Trent Perry and Luke Barnett for playing time next year. If the coaches are not going to give him minutes, there is little reason to believe he will stay another year at KU as such a high-potential player.

Paul Mbiya: Stay at Kansas

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After riding the pine for the majority of the regular season, Mbiya showed real promise in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a season-high eight points in the Round of 64 and playing strong minutes in place of Bidunga against St. John’s in the first half as he battled foul trouble.

With his otherworldly wingspan and frame, Mbiya feels like someone who could blossom into a star long-term. Even with his raw offensive game, he has traits that should allow him to improve once he refines his skill set.

Mbiya could technically transfer this offseason without it being a massive surprise, but that stretch at the end of the year may have been enough to earn Coach Self’s trust. At the very least, he could be playing double-digit minutes per game next year as the backup five.

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Jamari McDowell: Stay at Kansas

McDowell committed to Kansas as a member of the Class of 2023, making him and Jackson the longest-tenured players on the roster. He has been a steady bench piece who plays sparingly but offers defensive intensity and outside shooting when he enters the game.

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Unlike Jackson, McDowell didn’t have the same level of hype coming out of high school and was never viewed as much more than a role player. He is best suited to play short spurts off the bench to provide an offensive spark when needed.

Given his clear love for Kansas, his situation is far different from Jackson’s. McDowell feels like someone who is content with limited minutes and simply wearing a Jayhawk uniform with pride.



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