Six points. That's how close Kansas State was, on average, to escaping defeat in 13 of its 17 losses last season. Just when the Wildcats seemed on the verge of breaking through, they broke hearts when it mattered most, including a last-second folly in the Big 12 Tournament to top off the list of "what-ifs."

How topsy-turvy was K-State? The Wildcats received votes in The Associated Press poll for the first time in four years then promptly dropped 13 of 16 games. Single-digit differences decided all but four of those contests.

Jim Wooldridge will begin his fourth campaign with a cast of highly regarded recruits, which is welcome news for a squad that has stayed home in March for the last four years. Still, Kansas State is probably a year away from ascending into the middle-of-the-pack of the brutal Big 12 Conference.

"It's all a long-term process we're going through," Wooldridge says. "We hope the guys coming in can cast us in a positive direction in this process. The excitement and anticipation is great. The flip side is you have to give these kids a chance to get their feet on the ground and sometimes it takes time to do that. It's all a part of the process."

FRONTCOURT

The departures of big men Pervis Pasco and Matt Siebrandt leave a gaping hole in the paint, but Wooldridge says, "We have other players that are going to have the opportunity to do as well or better."

There's plenty of pressure on 6-foot-7 forward Marques Hayden, the only returning inside player who played a significant role on last year's club. Hayden lost 30 pounds during the offseason, which should help him to improve his scoring (7.0), rebounding (4.5) and blocks (14).

"We lost the two guys who played the most minutes," Wooldridge says. "[Hayden] is a staple in rebuilding the frontcourt. He had success. Let's see if he can go to the next level. We need him to."

Travis Canby, who averaged 4.2 minutes per game, is the only other big man who returns, although help is on the way. Jeremiah Massey and Dramane Diarra are both athletic and should help immediately on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, 6-10 250-pound walk-on Justin Williams arrives from junior college and will be counted on to bang with the Big 12 big boys.

Freshman Cartier Martin is a slasher who should solidify the small forward spot. The fourth-team Parade All-American is arguably the top prep newcomer at K-State in 20 years.

Wooldridge says Martin can "do it all." He'll have an opportunity to prove it early on.

BACKCOURT

Frank Richards is the only player back who started every game last season. He holds the No. 5 spot on K-State's single-season assist list with 146, and the coaching staff expects him to make a larger dent in the record book this time around.

"The number of minutes and starts along with his ability is going to cast him into another echelon of play," Wooldridge says. "He's one player who can really step forward and be one of the better point guards in this league."

The senior leader will get some help. With lightning-quick Dez Willingham and Schyler Thomas joining Richards, Wooldridge has three legitimate point guards for the first time. Willingham is a solid 3-point shooter who creates space in the lane and is an outstanding passer.

"We have to keep [teams] honest by being a threat out there," Richards says.

The most immediate concern in the backcourt is replacing swingman Gilson DeJesus, the team's leading scorer, 3-point shooter, and second-leading rebounder last season. That need could be partially fulfilled by Martin. However, Tim Ellis (15 starts) and Jarrett Hart (14 starts) will be counted on to step up their games.

FINAL ANALYSIS

DeJesus, Siebrandt and Pasco will be difficult for Wooldridge to replace, but the Wildcats seem to be reloading with capable weapons. Relying on fresh faces, however, is never a wise move in the Big 12, where K-State hasn't won on the road in two seasons.

Wooldridge expects to find answers as the season progresses. "I've seen some players that were recruited and you say, 'That kid is going to be average,' and he turns out to be great, and vice versa," he says. "With young kids there's always ebb and flow. You can't expect every one of these kids to light up the board from game one. But this is going to be good for K-State."

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