Topeka Capital-Journal: K-State seeks emotional turnaround at TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas — Kansas State’s basketball team didn’t handle success well, and now the task is handling adversity.

A victory over then-No. 1 Oklahoma was the marquee achievement the Wildcats had been seeking, but rather than build on that win they lost back-to-back games to Baylor and Oklahoma State.

“My fear going into the Baylor game was coming back down to earth,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference. “Everywhere they went, everywhere I went in town, people were excited from the win against Oklahoma. Dealing with that success, can you come back and focus again? Obviously, we didn’t do a good job. We weren’t ready emotionally against Baylor.

“We were a little better against Oklahoma State, but at the same time when you’re going on the road like that you’ve got to have somebody be an emotional leader and get them together and keep talking besides me. It has to come from within. About two weeks ago our big emphasis was from (coach) Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers about (players) taking ownership of the team.”

Which direction the Wildcats (14-11, 3-9 Big 12) go the remainder of the season could be determined when they play at TCU (11-14, 2-10) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. …