Kansas Jayhawks Cringe at Kansas State's Big Win over Texas

Did everyone else watch Kansas State snip Texas off the top of the league last night?

Did everyone else see a Wildcat team that did nothing spectacular except come up with big buckets and big stops every single time they needed them?

Did everyone else notice how motivated and mean both Kansas State and their head coach Frank Martin can look? (Dominique Sutton did.)

I guess what really surprised me the most about this infamous in-state rival and fellow top 10 occupant beating Texas is how much in common they appear to have with, well...us.

I can't deny that I loved watching the chemistry at its finest. Seeing the right guys come up big at the right times, i.e. Jamar Samuels and Curtis Kelly, simply reminds of what Marcus and Markieff Morris provide for KU.

The way the Cats came up with the right plays on the biggest possessions makes me realize that this is a motivated team with both good leadership and good coaching.

That sounds a bit like KU, too, come to think of it.

For as fun a game to watch last night's contest was, all it gave me as a Jayhawk fan was a case of the heebie-jeebies. The Hawks have to play this team twice.

I'm not unduly worried that Kansas will be embarrassed in Manhattan, or have their streak ended in the Fieldhouse by Frank Martin's crew. We may lose to the Cats once. We may lose to them twice.  

To me, it doesn't matter much as long as we play well, because what really worries me is that this team is no run-of-the-mill Cinderella story.

These Cats are quality, and look prepped for the long hall. What really worries me is that this type of two-meets-a-year-between-top-10-Kansas-teams could become the norm.

Kansas State looks scary now, but this is not North Dakota State. Martin has this team set up for the long hall, and we could be looking at a new chronic pain in the North, Big 12 Championship competitor, and super-revived rivalry.

It sounds exciting, to be honest, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for all of the headaches and heartbreaks that may come with it.

I'm looking too far ahead though. I doubt Self will make the same mistake. He's probably got the trip to the Little Apple in the back of his mind even now. Jan. 30—save the date.

Just for fun, let's have a little look ahead.

Sherron Collins and Jacob Pullen might be the matchup of the year to watch on the perimeter. Pullen gives up a few pounds and experience to the Kansas All-American, but the junior can use that as motivation.

Denis Clemente may provide problems offensively for Tyshawn Taylor, Brady Morningstar, and Tyrel Reed. Depth should be in Kansas' favor at the one and two spots, but the Hawks can't forget completely about Rodney McGruder, either.

Xavier Henry should be a handful for Dominique Sutton, but Sutton will have a big-game-experience edge.

The Morris twins and Thomas Robinson, should he continue to develop, should be an ideal matchup for Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, and Wally Judge. I can't wait to see which two or three guys really step up out of this group.

Finally, before last night, I would have said Kansas has the obvious massive edge with Cole Aldrich posting up against Luis Colon and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, but Kansas State did a good job masking their lack of quality size against Dexter Pittman last night as well. Hopefully Cole Aldrich can be aggressive offensively and avoid foul trouble as he may be the only major advantage the Jayhawks will have in this contest.

I know there are still plenty of games on the schedule in between, and Bill Self and company need to take care of business. However, after last night (kudos, Kansas State), it's hard not to look ahead to the first of the Sunflower Showdowns.