Kansas State women's basketball looks forward to NCAA Tournament home court advantage
MANHATTAN — Members of the Kansas State women's basketball team sat nervously under a giant video screen in the Shamrock Zone that connects Bramlage Coliseum and Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sunday, awaiting word on their NCAA Tournament fate.
Would they be packing their bags in a few days to play on a No. 4 seed's home court, or staying put, preparing for three other teams visiting Manhattan to experience the Octagon of Doom?
The cheers from players, coaches and guests invited for the watch party said it all. The Wildcats were staying home.
"It's really cool to see our name up there with the four (seeds) because we weren't sure where we were going to be, and just waiting to see where you're going to end up," All-America center Ayoka Lee said after learning the Wildcats would serve as hosts for the first two rounds of the second Albany regional. "So, it was really exciting.
"There's nothing like playing in Bramlage in front of the home crowd, so to get to do that in the tournament I think is going to be exciting."
Related: Why Kansas State women can, can't reach Final Four in 2024 March Madness predictions
Indeed, the Wildcats (25-7) will open the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed against No. 13 Portland (21-12) at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Bramlage, where they have lost once in 16 games. The other first-round matchup pits No. 5 seed Colorado (22-9) against No. 12 Drake (29-5).
Super-senior guard Gabby Gregory didn't try to contain her excitement as she cradled Gap Goat, or Gappy, the team's mascot for defensive excellence, in her arms. K-State averaged nearly 5,000 fans for its 16 home games, but she was hoping to see a crowd closer to the arena's 11,010 capacity on Friday.
"I've said it before, I think we have one of the best home court advantages in this country, so I think to be able to take advantage of that will be just absolutely awesome," Gregory said. "I'm hoping that we can sell Bramlage out.
"Obviously, we haven't done that yet this season for the women's team, so I think this is the time to do it. So, I would love to see a sold-out Bramlage. That would just be electric."
K-State's biggest crowd was 9,602 for a Jan. 20 game against Kansas.
Related: Kansas State women's basketball tickets in 2024 NCAA Tournament: Prices, how to buy
For 10th-year K-State coach Jeff Mittie, staying home means more than just the crowd support. It also speaks to the Wildcats' season-long success, including a school-record 13 victories in the Big 12 as well as a No. 16 national ranking (No. 15 by the Associated Press) that has reached as high as No. 2. "It's a huge thing for your program to be one of the top 16, and not just be one of the top 16 in some AP poll or coaches' poll.
"But to go through the entire season and have people say you've earned the top 16 is a big deal."
Not that he is downplaying the obvious on-court advantage.
"Our fans have been great all year, they really have," he said. "And that continued on to the Big 12 Tournament. That was a fantastic following in Kansas City.
"So, I think our fans have been excited all year. I think our team has really had a great relationship with the community and the fans, so I'm excited for our fans, too. Yes, as players and coaches we're excited to be here, but we're excited that our fans got rewarded as well."
Lee, the Wildcats' leading scorer with 20.1 points per game and all-time leading rebounder, summed it up.
"My thought process was like seeds don't really matter, and it would be great to host, but we can go someplace too and be just as successful," she said. "I think (playing at home) makes it even more worth it.
"It would have been worth it regardless, just to compete in March Madness, but to get to host (is special)."
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 women's basketball excited for NCAA Tournament home court
