K-State Comeuppance

Midwesterners normally have an inferiority complex concerning the East. But even among Kansas college graduates, a significant inferiority complex exists. Kansas State, an agricultural, more rural school, is the smaller, poorer cousin to the University of Kansas, its wealthier, occasionally haughty neighbor to the east. The disparity between the schools’ basketball teams has been stark. The Jayhawks rarely miss an appearance in March Madness, whereas K-State has not appeared in the NCAA tournament in 15 years. In years past, the Jayhawks have dominated the Wildcats on the court; K-State’s home-court victory this winter was its first in the two decades that the team has played in Bramlage Coliseum. Despite the loss in Manhattan, the Jayhawks are heavily favored in today’s game at Allen Fieldhouse against the Wildcats. Don’t bother with tickets — students claimed so many tickets to this K-State-KU match-up that they never even went on sale. So find yourself a bar stool and make your choice between ugly stepchild or highfalutin cousin.

Sat., March 1, 2008