MANHATTAN, Kan. – One of the greatest quarterbacks to ever don a Kansas State uniform, Collin Klein has been hired as the Wildcats’ new quarterbacks coach, head coach Bill Snyder announced Tuesday. Klein replaces Del Miller, who announced his retirement on Monday following a 45-year coaching career with 20 years of service at K-State.

A 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who guided the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship, Klein returns to Manhattan after serving one year as the quarterbacks coach on Mark Farley’s staff at Northern Iowa.

“Shalin and I are very excited to come back home,” said Klein. “I’m very grateful to Coach Farley and UNI for the experience and opportunity they provided me this past year. Looking ahead, I am eager to get to work with and develop the great young talent at K-State. I am thankful to Coach Snyder for the opportunity to return to a place that I love while learning and growing under his leadership. I also want to express my thanks to Coach Miller, who helped be grow as both a quarterback and a person, and I want to build upon the success he has enjoyed coaching quarterbacks at K-State. We are thrilled to be back as a part of the Manhattan community and Wildcat Family.”

Klein was an assistant director of recruiting operations and quality control coach under Snyder in 2014 before taking over as an offensive graduate assistant the following year.

“Following Del will not be the easiest thing for one to do, but Collin – having been tutored under Del’s guidance – will do well,” Snyder said. “Fortunately, Del will remain with us through the spring to continue to mentor Collin during the out-of-season program and in spring practices. Collin will serve as the quarterback coach and Andre Coleman will coordinate the passing game along with Dana Dimel.

“Collin is a great person: caring, loyal, hard working, responsible and disciplined,” Snyder continued. “He will be received well by his peers, players and support staff, as will his lovely wife Shalin. Collin has a love and passion, not only for football, but even more so for guiding youth toward successful lives. Our program has always been centered around achieving success in five different areas of a young man’s life: becoming the best they possibly can with their faith, their family, as a person, a student and a football athlete. Collin represents those priorities as well as any player we have ever had.”

“I feel very fortunate and thankful that this position is going to a young man that I mentored in Collin Klein,” Miller added. “He holds the same values that I do and I appreciate. He’s a good person. He will be a good teacher, motivator and recruiter. I think our players will be in good hands.”

During his lone season in Cedar Falls, Klein tutored a pair of quarterbacks that split reps in Eli Dunne and Aaron Bailey. Dunne finished the year throwing for 1,175 yards and seven touchdowns, which was highlighted by a 418-yard, two-touchdown outing against Missouri State en route to FCS National Performer of the Week honors. Bailey totaled 882 yards and six touchdowns through the air, while he rushed for six scores.

During his previous two seasons on staff at K-State, Klein helped guide Jake Waters to a school-record 3,501 passing yards in 2014 and assisted Joe Hubener and Kody Cook in leading the Wildcats to a bowl in 2015 by splitting time at quarterback.

The 2012 Johnny Unitas Award winner, Klein finished his Wildcat career ranking in the school’s top 10 in 34 different game, season and career record categories. He was the first quarterback from a Power 5 school since 1998 to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for 10 scores in consecutive seasons after doing so in 2011 and 2012. Klein led the Wildcats to a combined 21-5 record as the starting quarterback in 2011 and 2012, which culminated with a No. 1 national ranking, Big 12 Championship and Fiesta Bowl berth in 2012.

— K-State Sports —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP and POST) — Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder has been diagnosed with throat cancer, though treatments are going well and he says in a statement that he expects to be on the field for spring practice in March.

The 77-year-old Snyder addressed his health in a statement Monday, after rumors began circling that he was seeking treatment for an undisclosed illness.  Snyder was born in St. Joseph in 1939 and was a graduate of Lafayette High School.

Snyder said he has been receiving outpatient treatment at University of Kansas Medical Center with consultation from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for about three weeks. Snyder added that both sets of doctors have “projected a positive outcome.”

“I have been diagnosed with throat cancer and have been receiving outpatient treatment at the KU Medical Center for about three weeks and am getting along very well. The doctors and staffs at both KU Med and M.D. Anderson (in Houston, Texas) have been great; working so very well together to finalize the overall treatment plan which is being conducted in Kansas City. Both ‘teams’ have projected a positive outcome and have worked out a schedule that allows me to be in Kansas City for my regular treatments and still be back in the office on a regular basis through the first week of March.

Kansas State begins spring practice March 29. The spring game is April 22.

— Associated Press —

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Jevon Carter was pretty excited to exact revenge against Kansas State.

“Revenge was a factor,” he said. “That’s what the Big 12’s all about. You get to play everybody twice. If you lose, you get a chance at redemption.”

His 19 points and nine rebounds led No. 13 West Virginia in a foul-plagued 85-66 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday.

West Virginia (20-5, 8-4) struggled at the start making two of its first eight shots over the first 4 minutes. James “Beetle” Bolden then led the Mountaineers on a 12-1 scoring run to take the lead.

Kansas State rallied to tie the game at 34 at halftime.

After a 3-pointer by Xavier Sneed early in the second half, the Wildcats (16-9, 5-7) went on a cold snap from the field that lasted over 6 minutes. West Virginia capitalized and held a 13-point lead midway through the second half.

Kansas State never recovered.

Fouls dominated the game, as 54 were called throughout the game although no player fouled out.

“The reason officials don’t come in and do a press conference like the coaches do is because they are independent contractors,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “I think it would be a great move on the NCAA’s part to bring them in house.”

Nathan Adrian added 11 points for West Virginia and Bolden finished with nine.

Wesley Iwundu led five Wildcats in double figures with 14 points.

“We didn’t always make the right pass,” Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber said. “We didn’t always make the right play, and we missed open shots. The way they play, you have to jump up and make open shots. We had open shots and just didn’t make them.”

DJ Johnson did not play for Kansas State due to an ankle injury suffered late in their loss to No. 3 Kansas on Monday.

BIG PICTURE

The NCAA Tournament selection committee announced that West Virginia was the 14th overall seed in their bracket preview. The Mountaineers would be a 4 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament if the season ended today. The SAP Center in San Jose, California is hosting the West Region on March 23 and 25.

BURSTING THE BUBBLE

Kansas State does not have any more games against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 remaining on their schedule. With tough games against Iowa State, Oklahoma State and TCU looming, it is unlikely the Wildcats can escape the bubble before the Big 12 Tournament in March.

“It’s disappointing,” Weber said, “but you have to get ready for the next one.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Along with their lackluster win at Oklahoma on Wednesday, expect West Virginia to possibly enter the top 10 when the AP Poll is released Monday.

UP NEXT

Kansas State hosts Iowa State on Wednesday night.

West Virginia travels to take on No. 3 Kansas on Monday night.

— Associated Press —

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — JD Miller scored 18 points, Vladimir Brodziansky had 17 and Kenrich Williams hit two 3-pointers in overtime as TCU defeated Kansas State 86-80 on Wednesday night.

Williams opened the overtime scoring with a 3-pointer and his big shot with 1:48 to play after a trey by KSU’s Xavier Sneed made it 83-77 with 1:48 to play.

The Wildcats closed it to 3 with 25 seconds to go after Wesley Iwundu had a dunk and made 1 of 2 free throws on the next possession but Alex Robinson made two free throws at 15 seconds and after a KSU missed, Jaylen Fisher made a free throw with six seconds left.

Robinson and Fisher had 12 points each for the Horned Frogs (15-7, 4-5 Big 12) and Williams had 11 and 10 rebounds.

Kamau Stokes had 21 points and Sneed 19 for the Wildcats (15-7, 4-5).

Brodziansky’s jumper with 25 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 73 and then he blocked a shot but Stokes, who got the ball back but couldn’t get a last shot to fall.

BIG PICTURE

TCU: The win by TCU breaks a four game losing streak for the Horned Frogs.

Kansas State: The Wildcats are now on a season high-three game losing streak after Wednesday’s loss.

UP NEXT

TCU will host Texas on Saturday

Kansas State travels to Baylor on Saturday

— Associated Press —

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s young roster is starting to come of age.

Grant Williams scored 17 points Saturday as Tennessee defeated Kansas State 70-58 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the Volunteers’ third consecutive victory.

Rather than letting down in their first game after an 82-80 stunner over No. 4 Kentucky, the Vols built on their momentum. That represents a major achievement for a team that had struggled to establish consistency much of the season.

“Throughout the season, we would have a good game and then we’d take a step back,” said Williams, one of Tennessee’s three freshman starters. “We just preached to each other we’ve got to play hard and play our game. We did a good job of that.”

Tennessee also showed it has different formulas for success.

Robert Hubbs III carried Tennessee in the Kentucky game by collecting 25 points, but he wasn’t quite as productive against Kansas State. Hubbs was scoreless in the game’s first 16 minutes and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Vols instead relied on their ability to dominate the boards Saturday as they led by as many as 19 and never trailed all day.

Tennessee outrebounded Kansas State 43-29 and outscored the Wildcats 23-6 in second-chance points.

“We didn’t compete as hard as we needed to,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “They competed and played hard, and we didn’t match it.”

Jordan Bowden had 13 points for Tennessee. Kansas State’s Barry Brown scored 17 points, including 15 in the second half. Wesley Iwundu had 14 and Kamau Stokes added 11 for the Wildcats (15-6), who lost their second straight.

Tennessee built a 39-22 halftime lead by capitalizing on Kansas State’s cold shooting. Kansas State shot just 8 of 22 and missed all six of its 3-point attempts in the first half, which ended with Tennessee on a 9-0 run

The Wildcats made five of their first six 3-point attempts in the second half, but they never got the deficit below nine.

“What we’ve done really the last two games for certain and really (the last) three is when teams have made a push back at us, we’ve been able to handle it,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: The Wildcats need starting forwards D.J. Johnson and Dean Wade to get healthy. Weber said that nagging injuries have kept them from practicing and limited their effectiveness Saturday. Kansas State’s rebounding struggles resulted in part from the fact Johnson and Wade weren’t at full strength.

Tennessee: The Vols got a big contribution from Kyle Alexander, who had played just three minutes against Kentucky. His eight points represented his second-highest total of the season, and his nine rebounds were a season high. The 6-foot-10 sophomore was particularly effective in the opening minutes to help Tennessee take control for good.

“I’m really happy (for) and proud of Kyle Alexander,” Barnes said. “I thought he was just terrific to start the game. He was just going after rebounds. I thought he was terrific. I thought he was a guy who set a great tone for us on both ends really in terms of what he was trying to get done.”

KEY SEQUENCE

Tennessee’s ability to dominate the boards was most evident in what amounted to a six-point possession during the first half.

The Vols led 18-11 midway through the first half when Alexander was fouled after getting an offensive rebound. Alexander made his first free throw and missed the second, but Tennessee got the ball back when Hubbs won the rebound. On the ensuing possession, Jordan Bone scored and was fouled.

Bone missed the free throw but got a rebound that led to a Bowden 3-pointer that made it 24-11.

QUOTABLE

“I was kind of hoping they’d have a letdown a little bit after the two wins (over Mississippi State and Kentucky),” Weber said. “Obviously they didn’t. They took it to us right from the start.”

UP NEXT

Kansas State hosts TCU on Wednesday.

Tennessee is at Auburn on Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Alexis Prince got Baylor going and the No. 2 Lady Bears never looked back.

Prince scored a career-high 25 points to help Baylor rout 25th-ranked Kansas State 91-49 on Wednesday night.

“I got off to a good start,” Prince said. “I hit my first couple of shots and then from there I just kept hitting.”

Prince had 17 of her points in the first half, outscoring the Wildcats by three in the opening 20 minutes.

Baylor (20-1, 9-0 Big 12) led 7-5 before scoring the next 21 straight points to blow the game open early in the first quarter. Prince got the run started with a 3-pointer and Lauren Cox capped it.

“The last time they played us, they just pounded us on the glass.” Kansas State head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We tried to make them make jumpers early so we could be in better position to rebound. (Alexis) Prince was obviously hot early, our offensive attack was not good.

“We felt like we could’ve been in a 5-6 point game but we couldn’t score and they shot what-66 percent in the first quarter. They cooled off in the second quarter but we just never-I didn’t like the way we competed tonight.”

By the end of the opening half, the Lady Bears led 44-14 as the Wildcats made just five baskets in the first 20 minutes.

Karyla Middlebrook led Kansas State (15-6, 5-4) with 17 points on the night, with 11 of those coming in the 3rd quarter.

BIG PICTURE

Baylor: The victory against Kansas State marks the 16th straight season Baylor has won 20 or more games under head coach Kim Mulkey.

Kansas State: The loss by Kansas State pushes the Wildcats record to 5-3 as a ranked team in 2016-17.

STAT OF THE NIGHT: Baylor complied a season high 15 steals against Kansas State on Wednesday night.

UP NEXT

Baylor hosts No. 20 Oklahoma on Sunday.

Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

AMES, Iowa (AP) — It seemed for months like Iowa State was as unlucky as any team in the country.

The Cyclones finally caught some breaks Tuesday — at the expense of the equally unfortunate Kansas State Wildcats.

Senior Matt Thomas scored a career-high 25 points and Iowa State held off a furious Kansas State rally to win 70-65, its fourth victory in six games.

Naz Mitrou-Long had 13 and Monte Morris scored 12 for the Cyclones (13-6, 5-3 Big 12), who blew a 46-26 lead but survived after Mitrou-Long’s steal and free throws with 21 seconds left.

“It’s hard to win in this league,” said a beaming Iowa State coach Steve Prohm when asked why he was so upbeat despite his team’s poor second half. “Man, I’m as happy as I’ve ever been right now…we’re 5-3 in the best league in the country.”

Thomas, who entered averaging 11 points per outing, scored 20 points in a blistering first half as Iowa State jumped ahead 43-26. Thomas opened the second half with a 3-pointer to make it a 20-point game.

“He had an out of body experience. It opens up things for everybody,” Mitrou-Long said of Thomas. “Matt is a heck of a shooter.”

It seemed over — until K-State (15-5, 4-4) answered with a stunning 32-11 run that gave it a 58-57 lead with just over five minutes left.

Morris scored on back-to-back possessions to give Iowa State the lead back, and Deonte Burton’s layup with 39 seconds to go gave the Cyclones — who lost to Gonzaga, Baylor and Kansas by a total of eight points — a cushion that proved crucial in the closing moments.

Wesley Iwundu had 15 points for the Wildcats. Their three road losses in the Big 12 have come by a total of eight points as well.

“I’m not sure where we were in the first half,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “To their credit, they pulled it together.”

THE BIG PICTURE

Iowa State: The first half went like the Cyclones hope to play every night — forcing tough shots, crashing the glass and getting back up to the floor as quickly as possible to get its talented scorers advantageous looks. Iowa State got away from that in the second half and, quite frankly, was lucky to hold on.

Kansas State: The Wildcats couldn’t find Thomas in the first half. Thomas buried six of his first eight tries from 3-point range — from spots all over the floor — and that nearly helped bury K-State. The Wildcats again showed their mettle on the road in the second half, but the breaks didn’t go their way in the final minute.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kansas State received the most points of any unranked team in this week’s Top 25. But the Wildcats likely won’t make it in next week even with their late rally. Iowa State, fifth among other receiving votes, just might if it wins Saturday at Vanderbilt.

HE SAID IT

“We were making too many passes instead of just going out and finishing plays. But we just weren’t tough enough defensively. But when we had to turn it up… (Burton) made winning plays down the stretch,” Prohm on Iowa State’s late struggles.

THE NUMBERS

Kamau Stokes had 12 points, Isaiah Maurice scored 11 and Barry Brown and D.J. Johnson each had 10 for K-State. … Burton was off on offense, but he finished with nine points, six boards, four blocks and three steals. … Iowa State was 11 of 23 on 3s.

UP NEXT

Iowa State plays Saturday at Vanderbilt in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. A win in Nashville could push the Cyclones back into the Top 25.

Kansas State travels to face Tennessee on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — After coming close on a few occasions this season, Kansas State finally picked up that elusive win over a ranked opponent.

Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown each scored 13 points to help Kansas State rally to upset No. 7 West Virginia 79-75 on Saturday night. Brown reflected on the team’s ability to finally get over the hump and defeat a ranked team this season.

“It’s great, I mean especially being on this team last year and not being able to get over the hump besides beating OU. Coach talked about playing with maturity, courage and just coming out with a win at home feels good.”

The Wildcats (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) trailed by 12 late in the first half before Stokes keyed a late burst, hitting a layup right before the halftime buzzer to cut the deficit to two at the half.

Buoyed by that run, Kansas State went on a 14-6 run to start the second half and take a 50-44 lead on a layup by Dean Wade.

The Mountaineers (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) trailed 65-55 with 7:43 left before taking a 68-67 lead on Nathan Adrian’s jumper with just under 5 minutes left.

Turnovers by the Mountaineers would eventually be their undoing. After averaging just a shade over 11 turnovers per game, the Mountaineers committed 23 in the loss.

“When you look at the amount of turnovers, and their halfcourt defense is not something to turn people over.” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said following the contest.

“We just threw it away. What kiss you is unforced turnovers. It us one that you are forced to play at a pace you cannot play, or your will have guys with the ball that do not know what to do with the ball. The unforced ones absolutely kill you.”

Wesley Iwundu and Stokes combined to score the next seven points to help Kansas State get the win.

Tarik Phillip led West Virginia with 20 points.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: The loss by West Virginia marks the first time the Mountaineers have lost back to back games this season.

Kansas State: Saturday’s victory against No. 7 marks the first time Kansas State has defeated a ranked opponent this season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS: West Virginia will surely take a tumble in next week’s rankings after losing two in a row after being ranked 7th in the nation this past week. Kansas State may receive a few more votes in the AP poll this week, the Wildcats only received one in this past week’s ranking.

STAT OF THE NIGHT: Iwundu became the first player in Kansas State history to compile over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals in his career.

HE SAID IT: Huggins on Brown’s 2nd Half Performance

“We decided to stand on the side of him and let him drive to the basket instead of staying in from him. I do not know why we do what we do. It is not what we practice. I promise you that is not what we practice.”

UP NEXT

West Virginia travels home and will host Kansas on Tuesday night.

Kansas State will travel to Iowa State on Tuesday night.

— Associated Press —

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jadda Buckley scored 21 points, Seanna Johnson totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and a career-high nine assists and Iowa State got its first victory against a ranked team in over a year with a 75-69 win over No. 22 Kansas State on Saturday.

Iowa State led 48-44 heading into the fourth quarter and stayed in front until a pair of free throws from Karyla Middlebook gave the Wildcats a 58-57 lead with 5:19 remaining. Bridget Carleton put the Cyclones up for good with her fourth 3-pointer, as Buckley and Johnson coupled to make all eight free-throw attempts in the final 30 seconds to seal it.

Buckley and Carleton combined to make 7 of 11 3-pointers for Iowa State (11-8, 2-6 Big 12). The Cyclones made 8 of 12 from the field and 9 of 9 free throws in the fourth quarter and shot 51 percent from the field (26 of 51) overall.

Kaylee Page and Breanna Lewis each had 14 points for Kansas State (15-5, 5-3).

Iowa State last defeated a ranked team on Dec. 11, 2015, with a 69-66 win over Iowa.

— Associated Press —