Kansas State women's basketball margin for error shrinks in pursuit of NCAA home games
The Kansas State women's basketball team started last week clinging to a top-four seed in one NCAA Tournament projection with a little more breathing room in others.
Now, with just four more regular-season games remaining and the health of All-America center Ayoka Lee a bit murky, the Wildcats' margin for error is even slimmer. Remember, the top 16 teams or top four in each regional — two in Albany and two in Portland — serve as hosts for the first two rounds.
Lee returned from a six-game absence with an ankle injury last week in a double-overtime loss at Iowa State, only to tweak sprain the other ankle and miss Saturday's 60-58 home victory against Central Florida. She is listed as day-to-day.
The Wildcats (22-4, 11-3 Big 12), who are ranked No. 9 by the coaches and No. 10 by the Associated Press this week, also checked in at No. 13 last week in the NCAA selection committee's first official top 16 seeding reveal. But they face a key game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when No. 22 West Virginia (22-3, 11-3) visits Bramlage Coliseum.
Without further ado, here are the latest NCAA bracketology projections for the Wildcat women.
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Related: Kansas State women's basketball All-American Ayoka Lee sidelined with ankle injury
ESPN: 4 seed (Albany)
Projection date: Feb. 20
Charlie Creme's still has K-State as a No. 4 seed, only this time in a bracket that headed by No. 3 overall seed Ohio State. As was the case last week, he has the Wildcats opening against No. 13 seed Ball State at Bramlage, only this time the winner will be matched against either No. 5 Louisville or No. 12 Richmond. It should be noted that Wildcat redshirt freshmen Zyanna Walker and Imani Lester both are Louisville transfers.
CBS Sports: 4 seed
Projection date: Feb. 16
Connor Groel's projections, based on the top 16 reveal, came out last Friday before the UCF game and had the Wildcats dropping from the No. 2 seed line to No. 4, though still good enough for a first-round home game. Groel does not project where the seeds will land in the bracket, but potential first-round opponents for K-State are No. 13 seeds Belmont, South Dakota State, Fairfield and Chattanooga.
Herhoopstats: 4 seed (Albany)
Projection date: Feb. 16
Megan Gauer's picks also came out the day after the selection committee's reveal. She has the Wildcats in with No. 4 overall seed Colorado in Albany after slotting them as a No. 3 in Portland last week. She has the Wildcats taking on No. 13 seed Stony Brook in the opening round, with the winner advancing to face No. 5 Syracuse or No. 12 Richmond.
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 still angling for NCAA home game
