Kansas State basketball seniors hold out hope for NCAA bid ahead of final home game

MANHATTAN — When Kansas State basketball guard Tylor Perry steps on the Bramlage Coliseum court for senior day, the last thing on his mind is the end of his college career.

For one thing, he refuses to believe that Saturday's 1 p.m. regular-season finale against Iowa State is anything less than a springboard to the rest of the season.

"I hate thinking about it right now because of what's at stake, and I still truly believe in this team so much and believe in what we can do," Perry said. "Not only me, but I know this team is going to fight until the end."

Back-to-back losses at Cincinnati and Kansas in the last week delivered serious blows to their goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament, especially after they had climbed back onto the bubble. At 17-13 with a 7-10 Big 12 record, it is going to take a minor miracle to get back in the conversation.

The fact that Iowa State (24-6, 13-4) is ranked No. 6 nationally and playing for a possible share of the Big 12 regular-season title doesn't make the task at hand any easier. But the Wildcats are playing for their very postseason life, plus if they beat the Cyclones, they claim the No. 10 seed and a first-round bye next week in the conference tournament.

Related: Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang calls out Wildcats' effort in blowout loss to KU

"I know everything is tacked against us, but when you believe something and you've got a group of guys that believe it, there's nothing that can't be done," Perry said. "(This is the) biggest game of the year. I think the biggest game of my life right now.

"Not to put crazy pressure on anybody, but at the end of the day it essentially is the biggest game of my college career."

Perry has won a national junior college championship at Coffeyville, and last year he helped lead North Texas to the NIT championship. But in his five years, he has never played in the NCAA Tournament.

Three other seniors — center Will McNair, forward David N'Guessan and former walk-on guard Taymont Lindsey — will be honored as well. N'Guessan, the former Virginia Tech transfer who helped K-State reach the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight last year, is eligible to return for another season, but like Perry refuses to think that far ahead.

"As of right now, all my focus is on this season," N'Guessan said when asked if he will take advantage of the extra year granted by the NCAA for players who were active during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Trying to make it to the tournament and try to make another run.

Related: Kansas State basketball not shrinking from challenge of facing KU in Allen Fieldhouse

"After that's finished, I'll start thinking about what's next."

McNair's career ends whenever K-State's season is over. But he's not ready for that just yet either.

"I think it's very possible for us to (go to the NCAA Tournament)," he said. "It happens every year. It's going to happen this year. Coach (Jerome Tang) always mentions it. It's going to happen for K-State."

K-State lost its first meeting with Iowa State, 78-67, in Ames, but that game was close until the Cyclones pulled away down the stretch. Perry, who leads the Wildcats in scoring with 15.5 points per game and assists with 4.5, only sees the Cyclones as standing between them and their ultimate goal.

"You beat them and get to eight (league) wins and another Quad 1 win and then go get two or three in the tournament next week and it puts the voters, and it puts the committee in a tough position to leave us out," he said. "It's the biggest game on the schedule right now, and all we're thinking about is going 1-0 in that game."

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball to honor four seniors in Iowa State game