Kansas State is heading into Saturday’s matchup with No. 8 Iowa State beat up, thin, and in trouble. The Wildcats will be without four players, and if you’ve been watching this team lately, that’s basically the nail in the coffin before the ball even tips.
The list of absences starts with Abdi Bashir, who’s out with a foot injury. Khamari McGriff is also unavailable after what’s been described as a freak injury, but no one’s really said what actually happened. Elias Rapieque? Also hurt. Details? None. And then there’s Mobi Ikegwuruka, who’s away from the team due to personal matters, though there are plenty of rumors swirling about possible legal issues. No matter how you slice it, Kansas State’s depth is wrecked.
This isn’t a great time to be missing half your roster. Iowa State is rolling into Manhattan as the No. 8 team in the country and one of the most complete rosters in the Big 12. They’ve got scoring options across the board, elite defensive pressure, and a top-tier coaching staff that knows how to put the foot on the gas when it smells blood. With K-State sitting at 1-7 in conference play, it doesn’t take much imagination to see where this is headed.
If the Wildcats do fall to 1-8 in the league, it won’t shock anybody. That’s not a knock, it’s just the reality when you’re down four guys and trying to keep up in the most unforgiving conference in the country. This is a Big 12 matchup in name only; right now, it looks like one team is bringing a high-major roster and the other is just hoping to have enough bench depth.
Tip-off is set for 1 PM CT in Manhattan, but unless something totally unexpected happens, this one’s going to be all Cyclones. It’s hard enough to beat a Top 10 team when you’re healthy. It’s damn near impossible when you’re patched together with duct tape and good intentions.
