Kansas State staying positive amid rut with TCU next up

Kansas State coach Jerome Tang may not be happy about the way his team is playing, but he could not be more pleased with his team in general.

The Wildcats (10-12, 1-8 Big 12) are on a three-game losing streak after a 95-61 shellacking at the hands of then-No. 8 Iowa State on Sunday.

They will try to get back on track Saturday when they travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU (13-9, 3-6) in a Big 12 matchup.

Tang is under pressure as the Wildcats face a third straight season of not making the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas State won 26 games and reached the Elite Eight in Tang's first season four years ago, but have only won 45 games since.

Sunday was the latest painful game for Wildcats fans as the Cyclones went on runs of 22-4 and 13-0 in the first half to build a 29-point halftime lead.

The Wildcats, who played a fourth straight game with three starters out because of injury, cut the lead to 54-31 with 16:30 left, but Iowa State kicked the door open again with an 11-2 spurt.

Still, Tang could do nothing but praise his team.

"I'm not disappointed at all," he said. "I'm with these dudes every single day and I know everything they are going through and y'all don't. So I was proud of our guys, especially in the second half."

P.J. Haggerty continues to lead the Wildcats with 23 points per game, and Abdi Bashir Jr. has 13.2.

The Horned Frogs are struggling as well, having lost two straight after an 87-61 defeat to Colorado on Sunday.

TCU failed to score for 7:23 in the first half and the Buffaloes went on a 12-0 run to lead 34-21. The Horned Frogs were behind by double digits the rest of the way.

"I have to look at myself and figure out how I can bring us out more early," coach Jamie Dixon said. "There is not a lot positive we can take out of this game. We were a step slow on everything we did."

David Punch leads the Horned Frogs with 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Xavier Edmonds is scoring 12 points a game and pulling down 5.6 rebounds.