Fact or Fiction: Kansas State has improved the roster
Kansas State brought in 10 new players to surround Taj Manning, David N’Guessan and Macaleab Rich. Was it enough to improve upon last year’s team that was one and done in the NIT? Jerome Tang and the staff in Manhattan certainly think so, but what is the real answer?
Reason for fact
10 new faces are set to show up on the K-State roster this season. Many are already on campus – with the lone exceptions being N’Guessan (competing internationally) and Achor Achor (who will be soon after completing some additional coursework.
But we can start there. Achor is one of the reasons. He is someone with a lot of versatility, is long, can really defend, shoots well for his 6-foot-9 size and is a bit of what the Wildcats were missing last year without Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Not to mention he thumped Kansas in the NCAA Tournament in March.
Achor is one of the four Tier 1 adds for Kansas State. The other three were point guard Dug McDaniel from Michigan, big man Ugonna Onyenso that was nabbed from Kentucky and all-around playmaker Coleman Hawkins who is a transfer from Illinois.
No offense to anyone on the roster last year or is around now, but K-State didn’t have four players as good as Achor, Onyenso, McDaniel and Hawkins last year and I’m not sure it’s close.
We thought they would with Tomlin, Tylor Perry and Arthur Kaluma but it didn’t come to be.
Off-the-court events kept Tomlin from playing for the Wildcats and he transferred to Memphis mid-season. Perry was asked to do too much and step out of his comfort zone, and Kaluma wasn’t a fit with his teammates or the style of play.
Not only should Kansas State be more talented, they should be deeper. Those four already mentioned aren’t the only expected contributors. The Wildcats added CJ Jones, Max Jones, Brendan Hausen and still have N’Guessan. David Castillo has had an impressive first month.
Again, there wasn’t nine players on last year’s team of that caliber.
Where they are also different is three elements.
K-State has the ability to play multiple styles, multiple ways and can deliver multiple lineups that can be successful. Versatility should be easy to find. The size and length of this year’s club is probably tops in college basketball, and the shooting should improve greatly.
Reason for fiction
Prohibitive factors do still exist. Tang mentioned it himself during a recent press conference that was conducted virtually, but he knows he has two potential starts in McDaniel and Hawkins. He also knows their performances have been volatile. Some of have been outstanding. Some of have been underwhelming.
Will McDaniel and Hawkins be consistent enough for Kansas State to reach their potential? That’s a question mark that will need answered.
Health is also an element. N’Guessan battled the injury bug for most of last year, though he was still one of the best players on the team. The health of Hawkins in Champaign last season also hampered his defense. It is an element that comes into play for every squad. A good luck injury year would go a long way.
Fit hurt K-State last year. Are there scenarios where it is a harbinger to success this season? Maybe not. But some will want to know how a lineup consisting of all three of Achor, Onyenso and Hawkins will work before blindly believing in it.
Final choice: Fact
I’ll put it this way – it was a lot easier to find answers for fact than it was fiction.
It is just hard not to see a better team with the infusion of talent that was added by Kansas State, the star power potential that exists, the defensive upside and the explosive offense that can be created and designed with the pieces in place and the balance and versatility the roster provides.
If the hype on Castillo is real and sustains through the offseason, he and CJ Jones can be that alternative ball-handler that folks were concerned about behind McDaniel. Additionally, they have more ways to play small when needed as well. Playing big will come easy. Both of those bases are covered.
The defensive weapons are astounding. I agree with Tang that they can be effective as a zone team or when in man-to-man. I’ll also never really be concerned about the defense in Manhattan with this coaching staff in place. They were even top 25 last season when they missed the Big Dance.
When healthy, Hawkins and N’Guessan give the Wildcats two of the most versatile defenders in the country. Onyenso is an elite rim protector. I probably need to be convinced a bit on the perimeter defense, but CJ Jones could be the answer in the department.
I’m very excited about K-State. They’re floor has the ability to bottom out a little bit, I won’t lie, but their ceiling is a Big 12 title contender that can go on a magical run in March.
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