After getting off to a dismal start to the season, K-State (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) is suddenly on a roll. It played Texas Tech, Kansas and Baylor tougher than most expected. Then the team broke through with a pair of convincing home victories against West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

Kansas State is having its best two-game stretch in conference play this season. Wildcats coach Jerome Tang attributes the dominating performances to the strong scoring defense. Since its Baylor loss,

Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang got an assist from an old friend after the Wildcats' loss Wednesday at Baylor.

K-State relied heavily on freshman point guard David Castillo and junior-college transfer Mobi Ikegwuruka during a narrow loss against Texas Tech earlier this week. Tang sent a message in the process: He is ready to build for the future with young players who display maximum effort when they are on the court.

There was one glaring stat that showed why the Kansas State basketball team ended a six-game losing streak Saturday against West Virginia. A quick glance of th