By GREG ECHLIN
FOXSportsKansasCity.com
Feb. 14, 2011
MANHATTAN, Kan. � Kansas State senior guard Jacob Pullen played like an All-American just when the Wildcats needed him most.
Coming off a disappointing result over the weekend at Colorado, when a last-second 3-pointer by Rodney McGruder was disallowed at the final buzzer, the Wildcats were in danger of falling to 4-7 in Big 12 play heading into their Monday night game against the nation's new No. 1-ranked team, the Kansas Jayhawks.
The ink hardly had dried on the new rankings when the Wildcats stunned the Jayhawks 84-68 behind a career-high 38 points from Pullen at Bramlage Coliseum.
Pullen's remarkable effort came just one game after his worst performance of the Big 12 season. Against the Buffaloes on Saturday, he made just 4 of 12 shots from the field and scored 12 points, his lowest total since a Dec. 3 victory at Washington State.
Even so, Pullen had a different feeling coming into Monday night's game against the Wildcats' in-state rivals, especially as K-State wasn't that far removed from a 90-66 loss to Kansas on Jan. 29 in Lawrence.
"I just felt like we went there to get blown out and get out of there," Pullen said, reflecting on that lopsided loss. "I feel like we didn't bring any energy.
As much as the Wildcats looked ready to have their NCAA tournament hopes buried on Saturday, they're not ready to have those coffin nails pounded in yet.
K-State coach Frank Martin certainly wasn't ready to hear any team eulogy, despite the departures of forwards Freddy Asprilla and Wally Judge and the season's continuing drama over Wildcats senior forward Curtis Kelly. Before Monday night's game, the Wildcats were ranked No. 40 in the RPI.
"People are talking about us like we've got a 97 RPI," Martin said. "Our strength of schedule after tonight is going to be top 12. We've lined up to play games and we've lost some games. I understand that. But if the (Big 12) tournament ended yesterday, we should be an NCAA team. After today, we're definitely an NCAA team. Unfortunately, they're not passing out bids tomorrow."
The Wildcats have three victories over teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this season, tied for second in the Big 12. Only Texas has more wins over ranked teams with six.
Jayhawks coach Bill Self is convinced the Wildcats will be in the field of 68 in March.
"I don't care what anybody says. They're a tournament team," Self said. "They're going to get into the NCAA tournament in my opinion."
The Wildcats (17-9, 5-6 Big 12) have three of their five remaining games at home and must travel to Austin, Texas, on Feb. 28 to face the Longhorns. Fresh on Pullen's mind after Monday night's upset was the home loss last year to Oklahoma State after the Wildcats knocked Texas from the No. 1 spot in the rankings.
"We've got Oklahoma coming in (Saturday). Last year we beat the No. 1 and we relaxed and we lost at home the next game. We want to try to avoid that this year," he said.
Though Martin and Self feel the Wildcats have built enough of a creditable resum� for the NCAA tournament, Pullen said he doesn't want to take anything for granted.
"I don't work with bracketologists. I don't know what they're going to say in the meeting. They might think that this was a fluke. You never know."
The Wildcats want to prove it wasn't a fluke.
