For 34 minutes, the Kansas State Wildcats put themselves in position to get back in the win column. The final 5 minutes, 50 seconds was a different story. The Wildcats went scoreless during that period in a 61-57 loss Tuesday to Texas Tech.

Shortly after Houston defeated K-State 87-57 on Saturday, Jerome Tang tipped his proverbial hat to the Cougars and said they have become what the Wildcats aspire to be.

Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was only being honest. After Saturday's 87-57 loss at home, Tang said the No. 12 Houston Cougars are just on a different level. It was the Wildcats' worst defeat of the season.

The next time K-State loses a Big 12 game by double digits, which seems likely to happen against Houston on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum, I may borrow this and simply ask “why” to Jerome Tang. This is turning into a lost season for the Wildcats.

The junior guard is by far Kansas State’s best 3-point shooter and he is capable of leading the Wildcats in scoring on any given night. Such was the case when he drained six shots from beyond the arc and he scored 27 points in a game against St. John’s. Or when he torched New Orleans for 22 points early on this season.

At least Kansas State coach Jerome Tang couldn't focus on a lack of effort from his team in Saturday's loss to the Houston Cougars. The Wildcats played hard in a 30-point loss but the opponent was just better.