Kansas State’s interim coach Matthew Driscoll is set to implement small strategic changes as the Wildcats prepare to face Colorado in a Big 12 matchup on Wednesday in Boulder, Colorado. The Wildcats, currently holding a record of 11-16 and 2-12 in Big 12 play, have shown some signs of improvement since the dismissal of former coach Jerome Tang on February 15. Driscoll, who took over the team’s coaching responsibilities, led the Wildcats to a much-needed 90-74 victory over Baylor following a rough patch that included a six-game losing streak.
“We’re not going to change,” Driscoll asserted. “But we will be different.”
This shift in approach comes after the Wildcats suffered a heavy defeat against No. 13 Texas Tech, losing 100-72. A key player for Kansas State, P.J. Haggerty, who is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 3 scorer with an impressive average of 23.5 points per game, had a less-than-stellar performance against Texas Tech, where he managed to score only 17 points. Driscoll humorously commented on Haggerty’s performance, emphasizing that even the top scorers have off days: “Today you found out that when P.J. Haggerty gets cut, he bleeds, too… He had a very tough day.”
On the other side of the court, Colorado comes in with a record of 15-12 and a 5-9 standing in conference play. The Buffaloes, who are looking to solidify their position in the national rankings, are ranked No. 69 in the NET rankings and No. 76 in the Wins Above Bubble metric. Colorado recently garnered a strong win against Oklahoma State, with Bangot Dak leading the team with 17 points, while Barrington Hargress contributed 16 points. Hargress highlighted the importance of their home games, stating, “We feel the energy at home and love playing in front of our fans. We’ll take it, we want to protect home-court advantage.”
As both teams gear up for this crucial matchup, Kansas State looks to build on their victory against Baylor, while Colorado aims to continue their momentum at home. This game represents a pivotal moment for each program in the midst of a challenging season.