Kansas State Basketball: Keys to Wildcats' 2012 NCAA Tournament Run

Kansas State may not be one of the sexier teams entering the tournament, but the Wildcats are well-equipped to make a run.

That's because the Wildcats boast enormous depth—nine players giving them at least 10 minutes a game this season—and excellent balance, play solid defense and crash the boards hard.

So no, you won't be hearing people talk about how excited they are to watch Kansas State play, but don't take the Wildcats lightly—they are capable of hanging with any team in the nation.

Numbers never lie, and McGruder—an All-Big 12 second-team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection—has put up very good numbers indeed for Kansas State.

KStateSports.com has the rundown (regular-season statistics):

One of only five players in the Big 12 to rank in the Big 12’s Top 15 in both overall scoring (15.5 ppg., 7th) and rebounding (5.4 rpg., 14th), McGruder paces the Wildcats in 10 categories, including games played (30), starts (30), scoring, double-digit games (25), 20-point games (nine), field goals (167) and 3-point field goals (48) and minutes played (32.5).  He also ranks among the Top 15 in six other Big 12 categories, including eighth in field goal percentage (45.9), ninth in free throw percentage (80.4) and minutes played, 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.3), 11th in offensive rebounds (2.3) and 14th in 3-point field goals made (1.6).

K-State may win with defense and balance in general, but it'll need McGruder to be clutch if it hopes to advance deep into this tournament.

The freshman has shown his potential on the block this season, compiling three double-doubles and averaging 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game this year.

On an already deep squad, Gipson's ability to bang in the paint and the double-double threat he provides off the bench should make him a vital player for K-State in the tournament.

K-State doesn't have an elite offense and isn't well-served in fast-paced shootouts.

In that regard, K-State's offense is made more effective because it maximizes possessions by limiting turnovers and rebounding well.

The Wildcats are plus-1.7 in turnover differential and plus-5.2 in rebounding differential, meaning they give themselves extra possessions to score.

Doing so in the tournament will be vital for their success.

Because of its depth, Kansas State can send wave after wave of energized defenders after opponents, meaning it needs to keep pressure on the ball and not take any possessions off on the defensive end.

Having two Big 12 All-Defensive Team selections—McGruder and Jordan Henriquez—certainly helps the Wildcats' cause, but it will be the effort of the rest of the squad that will need to show up in a big way.

Of course, if they beat Southern Miss, their biggest hurdle becomes Syracuse. And if they beat Syracuse, it becomes Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Harvard or Montana.

What I'm trying to say is that Kansas State has a really tough draw right out of the gate. If the Wildcats don't come to play against Southern Miss, they'll have a very short—and very disappointing—tournament.

I believe Kansas State will squeak by Southern Miss. I also believe the Wildcats will play Syracuse tough in the third round, but I don't think they have the firepower to beat Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone.

Look for them to fall to the Orange in a tight matchup.

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