After dropping four of their last six games, Kansas State now has a below-.500 record in Big 12 play this season.
As a result, the Wildcats, once firmly entrenched as an NCAA Tournament team, have suddenly slipped back on to the bubble.
In the latest bracket projection from SI.com, Kansas State is still a 10 seed, but that could change in the upcoming week, as the Wildcats have two consecutive road games against No. 10 Baylor and No. 4 Missouri.
Losing both games would give the Wildcats a 6-9 conference record, meaning the Wildcats would have to win their last three conference games and make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament to ensure coach Frank Martin's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years in Manhattan:
Kansas State (17-8, 6-7; RPI: 63, SOS: 65)
Losing at Texas on Saturday and then at home to Kansas on Monday has weakened the Wildcats' profile, but they have enough solid work to stay in the bracket for now. After this coming week, we can readdress it, because serious road tests at Baylor and Missouri are on tap. Need a split here.
GW: Alabama (N), Missouri, Long Beach State (N)
BL: Swept by Oklahoma?
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