I am really, really jazzed about the local basketball scene this year. You've got the Kansas Jayhawks, who are the best in the area and generally one of the top teams in the country.
This year, like last year, the Kansas State Wildcats are expected to crash the party. At least according to Jacon Pullen.
"The sky is the limit for this team,” said Pullen, a senior guard. “We’re going to start the season as a top-five team, and as the season goes on I think we will be the No. 1-ranked team in the nation.”
The first issue I would see is the loss of Denis Clemente, who along with Pullen, was a leader on that team. Even though they're returning players, you can't underestimate the importance of a team leader. Per coach Frank Martin, Pullen and others should mirgrate into that role.
"Jacob did that last year whenever Denis wasn’t in the game,” Martin said. “But now he’s going to have to spearhead it without Denis at his side. Which one of those freshman guards is going to embrace that and grow like Jacob did two years ago? I want to know how different people are going to accept different roles.”
Preseason top five? Man. This is going to be a fun year.