MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP)?On the eve of game No. 272 between Kansas and Kansas State, fans of both bitter rivals were of one mind. Everybody wanted the Jayhawks to move up Monday afternoon from No. 2 to No. 1.
Prestige, bragging rights and an exciting sense that this year?s team is headed for big things were at stake for the Jayhawks (24-1, 9-1 Big 12).
For the troubled Wildcats (16-9, 4-6), a No. 1 ranking for Kansas when the two tip off at 8:05 p.m. Monday night in Bramlage Coliseum would provide a delicious ambush opportunity. Maybe they could do to the Jayhawks what they did to Texas almost exactly a year ago.
In January 2010, the Longhorns had just been declared No. 1 when they ventured into Manhattan on a chilly Monday night and got beat 71-62.
It was the third time in school history Kansas State had beaten a No. 1 team. They would love a chance on Monday night to make it four.
?We have to go in there and prepare like we always do,? said Kansas State coach Frank Martin. ?Prepare for the next game and not worry about the last one.?
Not worrying about ?the last one? has become commonplace for K-State fans throughout this spirited rivalry. The Jayhawks have won 181 of the 271 games, including 42 of the last 44.
Almost any Wildcats fan would agree their biggest regular-season win in Martin?s four seasons as head coach was not the upset of No. 1 Texas last year. It was the 84-75 victory over Kansas in 2008 that snapped a 24-game home losing streak to the hated Jayhawks and touched off a mob scene when students stormed center court.
But since then, the Jayhawks are 7-0 against their frustrated rivals. In their last 27 games in Manhattan, they?ve gone 26-1.
In addition, the Wildcats have lost two forwards since Kansas beat them 90-66 in Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 29. Junior Freddy Asprilla and sophomore Wally Judge both left the program, leaving Kansas State perilously thin at the post, where Kansas is especially strong with twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris.
?They have lost pieces. But they?re still going to give it their best shot,? said Marcus Morris. ?They play hard just like we play hard. Their fans are going to be juiced. We?re going to be No. 1 going in there. It?s going to be a tough environment. Basically, it?s going to be a man?s game.?
The Jayhawks are not at full strength, either. Guard Josh Selby is out a fourth straight game with a foot injury and 6-9 sophomore Thomas Robinson, who had been playing extremely well, is out two weeks with an injury to his right knee. But Kansas has strength on the bench with 7-footer Jeff Withey and 6-6 Mario Little.
?It gives them one less 6-9, 240-pound guy that plays,? said Martin. ?They have a guy named Jeff Withey on the bench. Now he gets an opportunity. It puts Mario Little out there a little bit more. I think Mario is real good player.?
The Jayhawks will know their ranking several hours ahead of tipoff. They spent most of last season at No. 1 but stumbled in the postseason and failed to get as far as Kansas State, which went to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
If it were up to Martin, the Jayhawks would be No. 1 when they tip off Monday night, even though they lost to No. 3 Texas, whose own fans think they have a good argument for ascending to the top.
?(Kansas is) the No. 1 team in the country after today. And they?re the No. 1 team in our league,? Martin said. ?I understand Texas is in first place. But no one has beaten (Kansas) for a conference title in my years in this league. So they?re the best team in our league, so until someone does so, they will stay that way.?
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