Wildcats

13th-ranked Kansas State (17-4, 6-2) travels to Lubbock on Tuesday night to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-10, 2-6).  Texas Tech's record in the Big 12 may not be impressive on paper but they were able to get a solid win over Iowa State at home this season.  Overall the Red Raidres are 8-7 at home this season.  However, Tech has lost 6 of its last 7 games since opening Big 12 play with a win over T.C.U.  It was almost exactly...

Seniors Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly, the two top scorers for No. 11 Kansas State, were ordered benched by the NCAA just before the Wildcats' game against UNLV on Tuesday night. Kansas State said Pullen - a preseason All-American and four-year starting guard - would have to miss three games and it was not yet determined how long Kelly would be out. In a statement, the school said they were being punished for receiving impermissible benefits on the purchase of clothing at a local department store.

In a league of high-powered offenses that love to air it out, Kansas State is a misfit. The No. 7 Wildcats would prefer, in the words of Kansas coach Charlie Weis, to "ram it down your throat every single play. " But an improved passing game has allowed the Wildcats to be more balanced, and that's made them even more difficult to stop than last season. They've already thrown for 758 yards through four games, an increase of nearly 50 percent over last year, and quarterback Collin Klein is completing about 70 percent of his throws.

WSU went down in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 25-18, 25-22, 25-17 to K-State. Sarah Waldorf led the Shockers with 22 digs in three games against the Wildcats. Kaitlynn Pelger led K-State with 15 kills. WSU has appeared in 6 NCAA Tournaments and holds a 4-5 record. The Shockers end the season 21-11.  

Kansas State earned its highest-ever BCS ranking Sunday night as the Wildcats checked in at No. 2 in the latest standings announced on ESPN. K-State, which was fourth in the initial poll this season, tied its previous best ranking last week by checking in at No. 3 before moving up one spot on Sunday. The Wildcats were also ranked third in the BCS standings five-straight weeks to end the 1998 season. Earlier Sunday, Kansas State was slotted No. 3 in the both the USA Today Sports Coaches' Poll and Associated Press Top 25. Kansas State is one of five unbeaten teams and one of six Big 12 members in the newest BCS Top 25 as the Wildcats were joined by Oklahoma (12th)

(AP) Martavious Irving scored 16 points and Rodney McGruder had 13 to lead No. 22 Kansas State over Texas Tech 69-47 on Wednesday night, keeping the Red Raiders winless in Big 12 play. The Wildcats trailed briefly early but pulled away when they started hitting shots. They muscled their way into the lane and outscored Texas Tech 36-20 in the paint. Kansas State (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) pressed on defense, making it difficult for Texas Tech to find passing lanes. That led to a season-high 25 turnovers for the Red Raiders - 12 were Kansas State steals - which the Wildcats converted into 27 points.

Kansas State will head to Arizona in early January to face No. 4 ranked Oregon in the 42nd annual Fiesta Bowl. Both teams finished the season 11-1. K-State finished No. 5 in the final Bowl Championship Series standings released late Sunday. The Wildcats won a share of the Big 12 Championship with Sunday's win over Texas. Oklahoma is the Big 12 co-champion but because the Wildcats beat the Sooners earlier in the season, they'll receive the Big 12's automatic BCS bid. Oregon has a Heisman Trophy contender in running back Kenjon Barner and one of the nation's most dynamic offenses.

Rodney McGruder scored 22 points and Angel Rodriguez added 20 as No. 13 Kansas State knocked off Iowa State 79-70 to take sole possession of first place in the Big 12. Korie Lucious led the Cyclones (16-7, 6-4) with 16 points and reserve Tyrus McGee had 15. The Wildcats (19-4, 8-2) held a slim 33-32 lead at the break in a game that remained close most of the way. With 9:10 remaining, Kansas State led 61-52. In response to a pair of Iowa State baskets, Gipson and Rodriguez both scored and put the Wildcats up 65-55 - the first double-digit lead of the game.

13th-ranked Kansas State (18-4, 7-2) beat Texas Tech (9-11, 2-7) 68-59 on Tuesday night giving them one of their best starts in conference play in the last 25 years. Senior guard Rodney McGruder nearly had a double-double as he scored 18 points and pulled down 9 rebounds to lead the Wildcats in their win.  This win over Texas Tech gives the 'Cats a three-game winning streak. Three other Wildcats finished in double-digits scoring:  Angel Rodriguez had 13, Thomas Gipson had 12 and Martavious Irving had 10 points.

Jacob Pullen scored 22 points and hit free throws when they mattered, helping Kansas State hold off the Utah State Aggies 73-68 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Pullen didn't show any signs of the flu-like symptoms that kept him out of practice on Wednesday. He scored 10 points in the first half as the No. 5 seed Wildcats (23-10) opened an 11-point lead at the break. A series of mistakes allowed Utah State (30-4) to mount a comeback in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Wildcats.