Struggling Kansas State Wildcats look to define season, selves.

Bill Walker is an amazing talent. Find me one person who says otherwise and I'll call him a liar.

Find me one person who says Bill Walker plays hard for forty minutes, is a good sport, and keeps a cool head when he needs to and I'll call him a liar, too.

During the Wildcats' current three game losing streak, Walker has played well enough (strike the Texas game), but has done so in the fashion of a pre-teen pouter. In fact, three Wildcats have let their emotions get the best of them as of late. Bill Walker, Michael Beasley, and Blake Young all have received a technical foul in one of the last three losses. While the Wildcats were 'T'-free against Texas, Walker continued to plead with the referees for fouls and walk back on defense. I'm not much on blaming referees, an while I do think the 'Cats deserved more than they got against Texas, that doesn't mean someone who wants to play in the NBA should be crying about it. You're not a freshman anymore Bill, grow up!

One person I'd thought had grown up is Blake Young. Blake always plays hard and is personally my favorite defender. Yes, he can get a little out of hand and make mistakes, but he plays with emotion (good or bad) and boy is he fast! Yet, his fake-out punch at Texas Tech was so ridiculously immature, I actually laughed. The question on every Wildcat fans' mind is: "Why can't this team take their frustration, deserved or not, and turn it into fundamentally sound, physical, controlled basketball?"

Beasley always plays solid defense and will get his double-double, but even B-easy hasn't been playing as his easy going, laid-back self. Far be it for me to criticize Frank Martin considering what he's done this year, but he needs to somehow communicate to his players that it is his job to hassle the referees and get technicals when his team needs a kick in the pants, not theirs. 

The Big Monday loss to Texas was the first home conference loss of the season, and the third straight for the 'Cats. With a huge road game at rival Kansas March 1, Martin's boys have a lot of soul searching to do. The way they finish their conference schedule and perform in the Big 12 Tournament will determine how they are seeded in the tournament that matters, assuming they make it, that is.

Talent alone doesn't win games, just ask Bill Walker and Michael Beasley. Mix in a little maturity and some pride with all that talent and you've got a recipe for magic. The entire Wildcat Nation is hoping that Frank Martin still has that recipe card and that his boys can find the ingredients.