MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Members of the Kansas State University men's basketball team were upset when they learned Sunday night they had been left out of the NCAA tournament. Bob Huggins admits it.
But the Wildcats' first-year coach asked each of his players whether or not they wanted to play in the National Invitation Tournament.
"I asked them if they want to play in this deal. They all said they did," said Huggins, whose team faces Vermont tonight. "If they wouldn't have wanted to play I would have refused to play in the tournament."
The Wildcats' have a legitimate gripe with the NCAA selection committee. They carved out a 22-11 record and finished 10-6 in the rugged Big 12.
"Obviously, we feel like we should have been selected into the tournament, but life goes on and we can't pout," K-State senior forward Cartier Martin said. "We can't come into this game pouting and still thinking about the NCAA tournament because it's over now. We are fortunate enough that we have the opportunity to play in the postseason. Lots of teams aren't playing right now so we have to make the most out of the situation."
Vermont is one of the teams still playing, and the Catamounts (25-7) are an upset tonight away from setting a school record for victories.
That isn't lost on Martin or the Wildcats.
"Any team that wins 20 or more games in a season obviously is going to be a good team, whether they are a mid-major or not. They know how to win," Martin said about the Catamounts. "They are a good team. We can't handle these guys like they are a team that can't play. We have to handle them like a team that should have been in the NCAA tournament."
But the Wildcats' first-year coach asked each of his players whether or not they wanted to play in the National Invitation Tournament.
"I asked them if they want to play in this deal. They all said they did," said Huggins, whose team faces Vermont tonight. "If they wouldn't have wanted to play I would have refused to play in the tournament."
The Wildcats' have a legitimate gripe with the NCAA selection committee. They carved out a 22-11 record and finished 10-6 in the rugged Big 12.
"Obviously, we feel like we should have been selected into the tournament, but life goes on and we can't pout," K-State senior forward Cartier Martin said. "We can't come into this game pouting and still thinking about the NCAA tournament because it's over now. We are fortunate enough that we have the opportunity to play in the postseason. Lots of teams aren't playing right now so we have to make the most out of the situation."
Vermont is one of the teams still playing, and the Catamounts (25-7) are an upset tonight away from setting a school record for victories.
That isn't lost on Martin or the Wildcats.
"Any team that wins 20 or more games in a season obviously is going to be a good team, whether they are a mid-major or not. They know how to win," Martin said about the Catamounts. "They are a good team. We can't handle these guys like they are a team that can't play. We have to handle them like a team that should have been in the NCAA tournament."
