Preview // K-State Visits Colorado Wednesday Night

Wednesday, February 25

Boulder, Colo.

8 p.m. CT

Kansas State University

Colorado

K-State Men's Basketball, 72 at #13 Texas Tech, 100 - United Supermarket Arena - Lubbock, TX - Saturday, February 21, 2026

Feb 24, 2026 | Men's Basketball

K-State Notes (.pdf)Colorado Notes (.pdf)Watch [FS1]Listen Live [K-State Sports Network]Live Stats

The Wildcats and Buffaloes will meet for the first time in Boulder since 2011.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State (11-16, 2-12 Big 12) plays its second consecutive road game on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats make their first visit to Boulder, Colo. since 2011 with a matchup vs. Colorado (15-12, 5-9 Big 12) at the CU Events Center. Tip is set for 8:07 p.m., CT and will air on FS1 with Jordan Kent and former coach Tom Crean on the call. The Buffaloes are 12-4 at home with 3 straight wins.

K-State made a coaching change on Feb. 15, parting ways with fourth-year coach Jerome Tang, who compiled a 71-57 record. Associate head coach Matthew Driscoll was named the interim head coach for the reminder of the season. Driscoll, who is in his first season at K-State, has extensive head coaching experience with 275 wins in 20 seasons as a head coach (LaRoche College and North Florida), including a school-record 248 in 16 years (2009-25) with Ospreys.

In snapping K-State's 6-game skid in the 90-74 win over Baylor on Feb. 17, Driscoll became just the second interim head coach in school history to win his debut and the first in nearly 20 years when Jimmy Elgas led the Wildcats to a 66-63 win over Iowa State on Feb. 8, 2006. In addition, Driscoll defeated his close friend and former boss Scott Drew in their first matchup.

The road has not been kind to K-State, as the Wildcats have dropped 7 straight away from home and sit at just 1-8 overall on the season. Before double-digit losses at No. 3/3 Houston and No. 13/13 Texas Tech, the team had been competitive on the road in Big 12 play with single digit setbacks at Arizona State (84-87), Oklahoma State (83-84), West Virginia (54-59) and TCU (82-84).

Colorado has been a different team of late, having split its last 6 games with 3 straight home wins after a 6-game skid from Jan. 10-29. The Buffaloes are averaging just over 80 points per game on 47 percent shooting with just 10 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. Four players are averaging in double figures, including 16.3 points per game from freshman Isaiah Johnson.

The series dates to 1933 and several versions of the current Big 12. The 97 wins by the Wildcats are the fifth-most vs. one opponent. However, the Buffaloes have had the upper hand of late with wins of 4 of the last 5 meetings, including the last matchup in Boulder on Feb. 12, 2011.

GAME 28
KANSAS STATE (11-16, 2-12 Big 12) at COLORADO (15-12, 5-9 Big 12)
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 8:07 p.m. CT | CU Events Center (11,064) | Boulder, Colo.

TICKETS
Single-game tickets are available for $17.

There are a variety of mini-plan and group ticket packages available. These can be purchased online at kstatesports.com/tickets, by calling (800) 221.CATS or by visiting the Bramlage Coliseum Ticket Office, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.

TELEVISION
FS1 (online link)

Jordan Kent (play-by-play)
Tom Crean (analyst)
Doug Marino (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: Ch. 389
Online: Varsity Network [free] / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (lead analyst)

LIVE STATS
kstate.statbroadcast.com

COACHES
K-State: Matthew Driscoll [Slippery Rock '92]
Record at K-State: 1-1/1st Year
Career Record: 275-342/21st Year
vs. Colorado: 0-0 (0-0 on the road)

Colorado: Tad Boyle [Kansas '85)
Record at Colorado: 327-216/16th year
Career Record: 383-282/20th Year
vs. K-State: 4-1 (1-0 at home)

LAST GAME STARTERS:
K-State (11-16, 2-12 Big 12)
G: #4 P.J. Haggerty
G: #10 David Castillo
G: #34 Nate Johnson
W: #15 Taj Manning
W: #21 Khamari McGriff

Colorado (15-12, 5-9 Big 12)
G: #24 Barrington Hargress
G: #2 Isaiah Johnson
G: #5 Josiah Sanders
F: #7 Sebastian Rancik
F: #8 Bangot Dak

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: K-State leads 97-48
Big 12 era: Tied 18-18 (K-State leads 17-16 in regular season)
In Boulder: Colorado leads 33-32
At CU Events Center: Colorado leads 17-15
Active Streak: K-State, 1
Last Meeting: K-State won 65-56 (3/2/2025)
Matthew Driscoll vs. Tad Boyle: 0-0

A K-STATE WIN WOULD…

Snap a 7-game road losing streak.
Be the first at CU since 2010.
Even the all-time series in Boulder at 33 wins apiece.
Make the Wildcats 229-291 all-time in Big 12 play.
Give the Wildcats a 1768-1272 all-time record.

DRISCOLL NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH

Veteran head coach Matthew Driscoll was named interim head coach on Sunday night after the university parted ways with fourth-year head coach Jerome Tang. This is the first time K-State has relieved a sitting head coach with games still left in the regular season.
The winningest coach in both North Florida and Atlantic Sun Conference history during a 16-year stint (2009-25) with the Ospreys, Driscoll joined the staff on May 23. He won 248 games at North Florida, including 144 in ASUN play, while guiding the school to 3 regular-season championships and the league's tournament championship and a NCAA Tournament bid in 2015.
This is the fifth instance in school history where an interim head coach has been used to replace a sitting head coach. However, the previous four such scenarios involved health situations.
Assistant coach Darryl Winston served as interim head coach for the last 15 games of the 1984-85 season after Jack Hartman suffered a heart attack. Winston posted a 5-10 record and Hartman returned for the 1985-86 season.
Assistant coach Jimmy Elgas served as interim head coach for 2 games during the 2005-06 season after Jim Wooldridge underwent neck surgery, posting a 1-1 record. Wooldridge returned to coach the last 7 games.
Most recently, Bruce Weber missed 2 games during the 2021-22 season due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols with assistant coach Shane Southwell serving as interim head coach vs. Texas on Jan. 4, 2022 while assistant coach Jermaine Henderson served as interim coach at West Virginia on Jan. 8, 2022.

HAGGERTY ECLIPSES 2,000 CAREER POINTS

Junior P.J. Haggerty reached a person milestone at No. 3/3 Houston (2/14/26) last Saturday, as he became the fifth current Division I player to eclipse 2,000 career points, joining Gonzaga's Graham Ike, Indiana's Tucker DeVries, Oklahoma's Nijel Pack and SMU's Jaron Pierre Jr. The No. 3 scorer nationally at 23.3 points per game, who also ranks second in points (583), field goals made (214) and attempted (441), posted his 19th game of 20 or more points vs. the Cougars, which is the most by a Wildcat in a single season since Michael Beasley had 26 in 2007-08.

LAST TIME OUT

No. 13/13 Texas Tech responded to its first game without reigning Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin with a pair of 20-point performances from senior Donovan Atwell and sophomore Christian Anderson, en route to a 100-72 victory on Saturday afternoon at home.
Atwell scored 21 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, while Anderson did most of his damage in the second half with 16 of his 21 points coming after halftime. In all, all five Red Raider starters scored in double figures, including 19 from junior LeJuan Watts, 12 from sophomore Luke Bamgboye and 10 from freshman Jaylen Petty.
Texas Tech (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) broke the 100-point barrier for the first time in the 53-game series history, as the Red Raiders shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the field, including 46.8 percent (13-of-28), while making 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the free throw line.
Junior P.J. Haggerty led three Wildcats in double figures with 17 points, while senior Nate Johnson and junior Taj Manning added 15 and 10 points, respectively. Haggerty has now scored in double figures in all 27 games, while Johnson scored in double figures for the third straight game. Manning tied his career-high for points for the third time.
K-State (11-16, 2-12 Big 12) shaved a 22-point first-half deficit to 10 points twice in the second half, including to 70-60 after a jumper by Nate Johnson with 9:10 to play. However, Texas Tech responded with 12 straight points, including 10 from Anderson, to go ahead 82-60 and put the game out of reach with just under 7 minutes remaining.
K-State shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64), including 30 percent (6-of-20) from 3-point range, and made just 10 of 17 free throw attempts.
The Red Raiders built the early lead behind their potent 3-point shooting, as Atwell hit 3 from beyond the arc to key a 17-5 run that made it a 34-17 advantage with just over 8 minutes to play before halftime. The lead grew to 44-22 at the 3:50 mark before the Wildcats were able to close the gap to 49-35 at the break on the strength of a 13-5 run.

FAST-PACED OFFENSE

After scoring 80 or more points for the 15th time in 26 games vs. Baylor (2/17/26), which includes 8 games of 90 or more points and 2 games of 100 or more points, the Wildcats have continued their fast offensive start. The team is averaging 80.3 points on 46 percent shooting, including 36.5 percent from 3-point range. They are still on pace to post the highest field goal percentage since connecting on 48.4 percent in 1988-89. They rank among the top 55 in several categories, including 25th in assists (17.4), 27th in fastbreak points (15.0), 49th in 3-point field goals/game (9.7) and 52nd in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5).
The 2167 points are the second-most points through the first 27 games, just behind the 2187 in 2009-10 and just ahead of the 2154 in 2007-08. It marks just the third time eclipsing 2000 points through the first 25 games.

POINTS IN THE FIRST 27 GAMES
2187, 2009-10 (92, 82, 80, 74, 83, 70, 83, 86, 71, 95, 87, 90, 85, 91, 68, 88, 87, 71, 69, 76, 79, 76, 79, 68, 91, 83, 83)
2167, 2025-26 (94, 98, 99, 84, 98, 85, 69, 66, 67, 108, 83, 106, 94, 73, 76, 84, 73, 83, 81, 62, 54, 61, 82, 62, 64, 90, 72)
2154, 2007-08 (94, 76, 77, 77, 73, 82, 77, 59, 82, 87, 90, 101, 77, 85, 84, 75, 72, 82, 84, 74, 74, 82, 75, 100, 64, 86, 65)
2065, 2008-09 (96, 88, 82, 69, 83, 72, 63, 70, 74, 107, 73, 82, 83, 99, 53, 71, 51, 65, 77, 88, 85, 65, 65, 85, 74, 95, 50)
2061, 1997-98 (93, 89, 89, 71, 101, 90, 67, 76, 70, 87, 111, 64, 62, 77, 62, 76, 78, 72, 66, 69, 81, 58, 62, 61, 95, 59, 75)

'CATS BREAK 3-POINT MARK

The Wildcats have set the school single-season record for 3-point field goals with 262, connecting on 36.5 percent. The 262 makes are one more than the previous record of 261 set during the 2021-22 season. It marks the seventh time with 250 or more makes in a single season. The 718 3-point attempts are the seventh-most in a single season and just 72 from the record of 790 set in 2023-24.

'CATS SCORE 100+ POINTS TWICE

K-State has twice scored 100 or more points, including a season-high 108 vs. Mississippi Valley State (12/8/25) and 106 vs. South Dakota (12/20/25). The 2 100-point outings tie 4 other teams (1966-67, 1979-80, 1993-94 and 1997-98) for the most in a single season, while also matching the most at home.

MOST POINTS AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State's 99-96 win over Cal on Nov. 13 made history, as the 195 combined points were the most-ever in Bramlage Coliseum, surpassing the 194 scored between K-State (106) and Marshall (88) on Dec. 2, 1995.
K-State posted the highest field goal percentage of the Jerome Tang era for the second straight game, as the Wildcats hit on 64.4 percent (38-of-59) from the field. It was the highest field goal percentage since shooting 66.0 percent vs. Wake Forest on March 14, 2017.

MOST POINTS AT T-MOBILE CENTER

The 98 points scored against Mississippi State (11/20/25) in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Classic, which are the most by the Wildcats in 50 games at the T-Mobile Center topping the 87 scored in the first-ever game in the building against Florida A&M on Dec. 17, 2007.

HAGGERTY JOINS ELITE COMPANY

Junior P.J. Haggerty recorded his fifth 30-point game in the win over Baylor (2/17/26), which is the most since Michael Beasley had a school-record 13 in 2007-08. His 20 games of 20 or more points rank fifth on the single season list and are the most since Beasley's record 26 in 2007-08. He is the first Wildcat to score in double digits in the first 27 games since Jacob Pullen in 2009-10, while his 634 points are the second-most since Beasley's 708 points in 2007-08.

HAGGERTY, JOHNSON BOTH SCORE 30

Junior P.J. Haggerty (34 points) and senior Nate Johnson (33 points) became the fifth Big 12 duo and the second this season to each record a 30-point game vs. Baylor (2/17/26). They are the first Wildcat duo to go for 30 or more points since Michael Beasley (44 points) and Bill Walker (31) accomplished the feat at Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008. The 67 combined points are the fourth-most by two Wildcats and the second-most by a duo at Bramlage Coliseum.

JOHNSON FIRST TO POST STAT LINE

In addition to his 33 points vs. Baylor (2/17/26), senior Nate Johnson also produced 9 assists, 6 steals and 5 rebounds in his near 39 minutes of action. He is the first Wildcat to record a stat line of at least 30 points, 9 assists and 6 steals and just the seventh Division I player according to Basketball Reference.

HAGGERTY HAS RARE 30-10 GAME

Junior P.J. Haggerty had 31 points and a career-tying 10 rebounds vs. Tulsa (11/17/25) to become the first Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2008 to post a rare 30-point, 10-rebound double-double. He scored 27 of his 31 points in the second half, which are the fifth-most in any half.

TRIO OF 'CATS POST 20-POINT GAMES

K-State had three players record 20-point games in the win over Cal, as junior P.J. Haggerty led the way with 23 points to go with 21 from senior Khamari McGriff and 20 from senior Nate Johnson.
The trio is the first to each have 20-point games since Dean Wade (34 points), Kamau Stokes (23 points) and Barry Brown Jr. (21 points) did it against Iowa State on Dec. 29, 2017.

McGRIFF, CASTILLO GO PERFECT

Two Wildcats - senior Khamari McGriff and sophomore David Castillo - each went perfect from the field, becoming the 24th and 25th players in school history to go perfect from the field on 5 or more field goals in the 98-71 win over Bellarmine on Nov. 8. They are the first teammates to accomplish the feat in the same game.
Castillo scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, while McGriff totaled 16 points on 8-of-8 field goals. Castillo is just the eighth Wildcat to go 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, joining his high school coach Clent Stewart who was in attendance.

NOTES ON COLORADO

Led by longtime head coach Tad Boyle, Colorado enters Wednesday's game with a 15-12 overall record, including a 5-9 mark in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes have won 3 of their last 6 games since dropping 6 in a row from Jan. 10-29. They are 12-4 at home.
Colorado is averaging 80.1 points on 47 percent shooting, including 35.3 percent from 3-point range, while allowing 78.2 points on 45.6 percent shooting, including 37 percent from 3-point range. The Buffaloes are out-rebounding their foes, 34.8 to 34.7, and turn the ball 10 times per game. They are shooting 75.2 percent from the free throw line.
Colorado is one of stingiest in turning the ball over, averaging just 10 per game, which ranks 44th nationally and second in the Big 12. The Buffaloes are also tops in the league in bench points (28.7).
Four players are averaging in double figures led by freshman Isaiah Johnson, who is averaging 16.3 points on 48.2 percent shooting, with a team-high 45 made 3-pointers and 28 steals. Junior Barrington Hargress is averaging 14.2 points on 54.3 percent shooting, including 43 made 3-pointers, with a team-high 120 assists. Sophomore Sebastian Rancik (12.3 ppg.) and junior Bangot Dak (10.8 ppg.) both average in double figures to anchor the front court, as they average 5.6 and 6.6 rebounds per game with a combined 51 blocked shots. Dak has a team-high 37 blocks.
Boyle has 383 wins in his head coaching career, which includes stints at Northern Colorado (2006-10) and Colorado (2010-present). He has led teams to 14 postseason appearances, including 6 trips to the NCAA Tournament. He is 4-1 vs. K-State, including 1-0 at home.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 146th meeting between K-State and Colorado in a series that dates to 1933. The 97 wins by the Wildcats are the fifth-most against one opponent, while the 145 meetings are the seventh-most.
Colorado has a 33-32 record at home in the series, including 17-15 at the CU Events Center. The Buffaloes have won 4 of the last 5 meetings, including 58-56 in the last matchup in the arena on Feb. 12, 2011.

LAST 5 MEETINGS [1-4]

Date	Rank	Result	Score	Location
1/12/2011	—/21	L	66-74	Manhattan
2/12/2011	—/—	L	56-58	Boulder
3/10/2011	19/—	L	75-87	Kansas City
11/27/2020	—/—	L	58-76	Manhattan
3/2/2025	—/—	W	65-56	Manhattan

LAST MEETING
K-STATE 65, COLORADO 56 (March 2, 2025)

Senior David N'Guessan paced three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 21 points, as K-State ended a 4-game losing streak with a 65-56 wire-to-wire win over Colorado in the last meeting on March 2, 2025.
K-State led for more than 38 minutes in ending a 4-game skid to Colorado and earning the first win in the series since 2010. The Wildcats led by as many as 17 points less than 6 minutes into the second half before the Buffaloes closed to within 60-52 points with less than 3 minutes to play.

UP NEXT:
K-State plays the first of back-to-back home games on Saturday night when the Wildcats play host to TCU (17-10, 7-7 Big 12). Tip is set for 5:30 p.m., CT on ESPN2. The Horned Frogs have won the last 4 games with the Wildcats, including an 84-82 come-from-behind victory on Feb. 7 at home, in which, they scored the last 7 points.