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Kansas State, Texas A&M agree to two-year series

Bruce Weber

Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber celebrates a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against TCU in Manhattan, Kan., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. Kansas State defeated TCU 65-53. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

AP

Both Kansas State and Texas A&M took another step towards completing their respective non-conference slates on Friday, as it was announced that the former conference foes have agreed to a two-year series. This won’t be your standard home-and-home series either, as the first game in the deal will be played in Kansas City on December 20, 2014.

While that will surely be a pro-Kansas State environment, playing at the Sprint Center isn’t the same as attempting to leave the “Octagon of Doom” in Manhattan with a victory. The return game will be played in College Station in December 2015.

Kansas State reached the NCAA tournament in Bruce Weber’s first season at the helm, falling to eventually national finalist Kentucky in the round of 64. Kansas State lost two key contributors in guards Shane Southwell and Will Spradling, but they return some solid pieces led by dynamic guard Marcus Foster. Add in a Top 100 prospect in forward Malek Harris, and Kansas State should be in contention for a return to the NCAA tournament.

As for Texas A&M the 2014-15 season shapes up as an important one for Billy Kennedy, who has just one postseason appearance to his credit in three seasons at the helm (2014 CBI). Guards Alex Caruso and Jordan Green return, and the addition of highly regarded freshman point guard Alex Robinson will be critical for the Aggies.

Games like this one, and an appearance in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (which includes national champion UConn), have the potential to help Texas A&M as they look to make a move up the pecking order in the SEC.

“They’re an NCAA Tournament team that will have some key guys back and are coached by Bruce Weber, who is one of the better coaches in the country,” Kennedy said of Kansas State in the Texas A&M release. “Playing this game will help prepare us for the rest of our schedule, especially when we begin facing tough SEC competition.”

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