Reality Check: The Young Cats’ Final Push
K-State Women’s Basketball Faces Tough Lessons in the Big 12 Grind
The latest episode of Run It Back on KCSN takes an honest look at a bruising week for Kansas State women’s basketball.
Host Jazsmin Halliburton breaks down the two-game skid that officially dashed hopes for a top-eight seed and a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament. After a hard-fought Sunflower Showdown loss to Kansas, the young Wildcats ran into a buzzsaw in Waco, falling 80-54 to 18th-ranked Baylor.
Jazsmin highlights the physical toll of playing four games in eight days—a grueling stretch for a roster where 70% of the team is experiencing the college game for the first time.
Despite the losses, the episode finds a silver lining in the development of freshman standout Brandie Harrod. Joining the show, Harrod discusses her “night and day” improvements at the free-throw line and the steep learning curve of transitioning from a high school small forward to a college big man.
As the regular season concludes with a nationally televised “Farmageddon” matchup against Iowa State, the focus shifts to the newly established WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament), where K-State looks to be a lock for a high seed and a chance at a deep postseason run.
Key Takeaways for the K-State Faithful
The Big 12 Gauntlet: K-State’s 10th-place standing reflects a brutal end-of-season schedule. The fatigue of a four-game-in-eight-day stretch was evident in the 26-point loss to Baylor.
Three-Point Dependency: The Wildcats shot just 26% from deep against Baylor. Jasmine notes that this team’s success is almost entirely tied to their ability to sink the long ball.
Brandie Harrod’s Rise: The freshman post player is emerging as a consistent threat, posting 10 points and a career-high four steals against the Bears while significantly improving her free-throw shooting.
Tournament Scenarios: With the NCAA Tournament likely out of reach, K-State is a strong candidate for the WBIT (a 32-team tournament for the top teams not in the Big Dance). Their top-60 NET ranking suggests they could host early rounds.
Farmageddon Finale: The regular season ends Sunday at 1:00 PM on FS1 against Iowa State. The strategy? Run the floor to tire out the Cyclones’ post players and exploit K-State’s superior depth in the frontcourt.