Kansas State

Heartbreak#3596.1

Big 12 · Manhattan, Manhattan, Kansas

RivalriesSunflower Showdownvs Kansastwo-way

The Heartbreak Index6.1 · #359

The Tortured · Never won it, waiting since 1906

6.1

Heartbreak

#359

of 1,138 clubs

#14

in CBB

5.3

agony · 0.8 despair

The clocks

First CBB title since 190610.7
CBB final appearance since 19512.1

Heaviest wounds

lost the final, 1951 · playoff run died early, 2023 · playoff run died early, 2018 · fell one round short, 1964

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

1764-1274

All-time

0.581

Win %

NCAA titles

Final Fours

Tourney apps

#1 seeds

Weeks at #1

All-Americans

Greatest tournament games

Kansas State’s top NCAA tournament games of all time by Game Score.

Sort by

Kansas State 50-48 #2 Oregon State

Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California

1981 · Mar 14, 1981 · Second Round

2.04

Game Score

#1 Kansas State 75-85 #5 Cincinnati

Phog Allen Field House, Kansas City, Kansas

Elite Eight

1959 · Mar 14, 1959 · Regional Finals

1.93

Game Score

Kansas State 84-90 #1 UCLA

Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

Final Four

1964 · Mar 20, 1964 · Final Four

1.89

Game Score

#12 Kansas State 61-63 La Salle

Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

2013 · Mar 22, 2013 · First Round

1.80

Game Score

#20 Kansas State 73-70 #3 Purdue

Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan

Sweet 16

1988 · Mar 25, 1988 · Regional Semifinals

1.79

Game Score

#18 Kansas State 64-70 UC Irvine

SAP Center, San Francisco-San Jose, California

2019 · Mar 22, 2019 · First Round

1.77

Game Score

#15 Kansas State 76-79 #25 Florida Atlantic

Madison Square Garden IV, New York, New York

Elite Eight

2023 · Mar 25, 2023 · Regional Finals

1.74

Game Score

#4 Kansas State 58-68 #1 Kentucky

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota

National Title

1951 · Mar 27, 1951 · Championship Game

1.65

Game Score

#7 Kansas State 101-96 #25 Xavier (2OT)

EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City-Provo, Utah

Sweet 16

2010 · Mar 25, 2010 · Regional Semifinals

1.62

Game Score

Kansas State 65-64 #12 Arkansas

Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas

1982 · Mar 14, 1982 · Second Round

1.58

Game Score

#			Round	Match
1	Mar 14, 1981	1981	Second Round	Kansas State 50-48 #2 Oregon State Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California	2.04
2	Mar 14, 1959	1959	Regional Finals	#1 Kansas State 75-85 #5 Cincinnati Phog Allen Field House, Kansas City, Kansas Elite Eight	1.93
3	Mar 20, 1964	1964	Final Four	Kansas State 84-90 #1 UCLA Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri Final Four	1.89
4	Mar 22, 2013	2013	First Round	#12 Kansas State 61-63 La Salle Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri	1.80
5	Mar 25, 1988	1988	Regional Semifinals	#20 Kansas State 73-70 #3 Purdue Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan Sweet 16	1.79
6	Mar 22, 2019	2019	First Round	#18 Kansas State 64-70 UC Irvine SAP Center, San Francisco-San Jose, California	1.77
7	Mar 25, 2023	2023	Regional Finals	#15 Kansas State 76-79 #25 Florida Atlantic Madison Square Garden IV, New York, New York Elite Eight	1.74
8	Mar 27, 1951	1951	Championship Game	#4 Kansas State 58-68 #1 Kentucky Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota National Title	1.65
9	Mar 25, 2010	2010	Regional Semifinals	#7 Kansas State 101-96 #25 Xavier (2OT) EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City-Provo, Utah Sweet 16	1.62
10	Mar 14, 1982	1982	Second Round	Kansas State 65-64 #12 Arkansas Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas	1.58

Season by season

2027 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

0-0

Conf record

—

SRS

—

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2026 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

12-20

Conf record

3-15

—

SRS

#86

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2025 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

16-17

Conf record

9-11

—

SRS

#63

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2024 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

19-15

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#61

Seed

—

Tournament

NIT

2023 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

26-10

Conf record

11-7

#15

SRS

#20

Seed

Tournament

Elite Eight

2022 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

14-17

Conf record

6-12

—

SRS

#56

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2021 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

9-20

Conf record

4-14

—

SRS

#143

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2020 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

11-21

Conf record

3-15

—

SRS

#77

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2019 · Kansas State

Big 12 ★

Record

25-9

Conf record

14-4

#18

SRS

#26

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2018 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

25-12

Conf record

10-8

—

SRS

#44

Seed

Tournament

Elite Eight

2017 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

21-14

Conf record

8-10

—

SRS

#31

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2016 · Kansas State

Big 12

Record

17-16

Conf record

5-13

—

SRS

#46

Seed

—

Tournament

—

Year	School	Record	Conference	Conf	AP	SRS	Seed	Tournament
2027	Kansas State	0-0	Big 12
2026	Kansas State	12-20	Big 12	3-15		#86
2025	Kansas State	16-17	Big 12	9-11		#63
2024	Kansas State	19-15	Big 12	8-10		#61		NIT
2023	Kansas State	26-10	Big 12	11-7	#15	#20	3	Elite Eight
2022	Kansas State	14-17	Big 12	6-12		#56
2021	Kansas State	9-20	Big 12	4-14		#143
2020	Kansas State	11-21	Big 12	3-15		#77
2019	Kansas State	25-9	Big 12 ★	14-4	#18	#26	4	NCAA tournament
2018	Kansas State	25-12	Big 12	10-8		#44	9	Elite Eight
2017	Kansas State	21-14	Big 12	8-10		#31	11	NCAA tournament
2016	Kansas State	17-16	Big 12	5-13		#46
2015	Kansas State	15-17	Big 12	8-10		#64
2014	Kansas State	20-13	Big 12	10-8		#41	9	NCAA tournament
2013	Kansas State	27-8	Big 12 ★	14-4	#12	#36	4	NCAA tournament
2012	Kansas State	22-11	Big 12	10-8		#22	8	NCAA tournament
2011	Kansas State	23-11	Big 12	10-6	#21	#29	5	NCAA tournament
2010	Kansas State	29-8	Big 12	11-5	#7	#5	2	Elite Eight
2009	Kansas State	22-12	Big 12	9-7		#38		NIT
2008	Kansas State	21-12	Big 12	10-6		#20	11	NCAA tournament
2007	Kansas State	23-12	Big 12	10-6		#60		NIT
2006	Kansas State	15-13	Big 12	6-10		#62
2005	Kansas State	17-12	Big 12	6-10		#52
2004	Kansas State	14-14	Big 12	6-10		#66
2003	Kansas State	13-17	Big 12	4-12		#50
2002	Kansas State	13-16	Big 12	6-10		#106
2001	Kansas State	11-18	Big 12	4-12		#107
2000	Kansas State	9-19	Big 12	2-14		#146
1999	Kansas State	20-13	Big 12	7-9		#52		NIT
1998	Kansas State	17-12	Big 12	7-9		#55		NIT
1997	Kansas State	10-17	Big 12	3-13		#135
1996	Kansas State	17-12	Big Eight	7-7		#68	10	NCAA tournament
1995	Kansas State	12-15	Big Eight	3-11		#107
1994	Kansas State	20-14	Big Eight	4-10		#67		NIT
1993	Kansas State	19-11	Big Eight	7-7		#54	6	NCAA tournament
1992	Kansas State	16-14	Big Eight	5-9		#76		NIT
1991	Kansas State	13-15	Big Eight	3-11		#39
1990	Kansas State	17-15	Big Eight	7-7		#35	11	NCAA tournament
1989	Kansas State	19-11	Big Eight	8-6		#30	6	NCAA tournament
1988	Kansas State	25-9	Big Eight	11-3	#20	#18	4	Elite Eight
1987	Kansas State	20-11	Big Eight	8-6		#40	9	NCAA tournament
1986	Kansas State	16-14	Big Eight	4-10		#40
1985	Kansas State	14-14	Big Eight	5-9		#83
1984	Kansas State	14-15	Big Eight	5-9		#77
1983	Kansas State	12-16	Big Eight	4-10		#97
1982	Kansas State	23-8	Big Eight	10-4		#13	5	Sweet 16
1981	Kansas State	24-9	Big Eight	9-5		#22	8	Elite Eight
1980	Kansas State	22-9	Big Eight ◆	8-6		#38	7	NCAA tournament
1979	Kansas State	16-12	Big Eight	8-6		#73
1978	Kansas State	18-11	Big Eight	7-7		#30
1977	Kansas State	23-8	Big Eight ★ ◆	11-3	#16	#19		Sweet 16
1976	Kansas State	20-8	Big Eight	11-3		#36		NIT
1975	Kansas State	20-9	Big Eight	10-4	#15	#52		Elite Eight
1974	Kansas State	19-8	Big Eight	11-3		#22
1973	Kansas State	23-5	Big Eight ★	12-2	#9	#23		Elite Eight
1972	Kansas State	19-9	Big Eight ★	12-2		#14		Elite Eight
1971	Kansas State	11-15	Big Eight	6-8		#98
1970	Kansas State	20-8	Big Eight ★	10-4		#40		Sweet 16
1969	Kansas State	14-12	Big Eight	9-5		#45
1968	Kansas State	19-9	Big Eight ★	11-3		#57		Sweet 16
1967	Kansas State	17-8	Big Eight	9-5		#24
1966	Kansas State	14-11	Big Eight	9-5		#32
1965	Kansas State	12-13	Big Eight	5-9		#42
1964	Kansas State	22-7	Big Eight ★	12-2		#10		Final Four
1963	Kansas State	16-9	Big Eight ★	11-3		#13
1962	Kansas State	22-3	Big Eight	12-2	#6	#6
1961	Kansas State	22-5	Big Eight ★	12-2	#4	#5		Elite Eight
1960	Kansas State	16-10	Big Eight ★	10-4		#23
1959	Kansas State	25-2	Big Eight ★	14-0	#1	#3		Elite Eight
1958	Kansas State	22-5	Big Seven ★	10-2	#3	#5		Final Four
1957	Kansas State	15-8	Big Seven	8-4		#3
1956	Kansas State	17-8	Big Seven ★	9-3		#15		Sweet 16
1955	Kansas State	11-10	Big Seven	6-6		#35
1954	Kansas State	11-10	Big Seven	5-7		#42
1953	Kansas State	17-4	Big Seven	9-3	#12	#3
1952	Kansas State	19-5	Big Seven	10-2	#3	#5
1951	Kansas State	25-4	Big Seven ★	11-1	#4	#1		Final Four
1950	Kansas State	17-7	Big Seven ★	8-4	#14	#1
1949	Kansas State	13-11	Big Seven	8-4
1948	Kansas State	22-6	Big Seven ★	9-3				Final Four
1947	Kansas State	14-10	Big Six	3-7
1946	Kansas State	4-20	Big Six	2-8
1945	Kansas State	10-13	Big Six	4-6
1944	Kansas State	7-15	Big Six	1-9
1943	Kansas State	6-14	Big Six	1-9
1942	Kansas State	8-10	Big Six	3-7
1941	Kansas State	6-12	Big Six	3-7
1940	Kansas State	6-12	Big Six	2-8
1939	Kansas State	5-13	Big Six	2-8
1938	Kansas State	7-11	Big Six	3-7
1937	Kansas State	9-9	Big Six	5-5
1936	Kansas State	9-9	Big Six	3-7
1935	Kansas State	5-15	Big Six	4-12
1934	Kansas State	3-15	Big Six	2-8
1933	Kansas State	9-9	Big Six	4-6
1932	Kansas State	7-8	Big Six	5-5
1931	Kansas State	11-6	Big Six	5-5
1930	Kansas State	9-7	Big Six	4-6
1929	Kansas State	6-10	Big Six	2-8
1928	Kansas State	8-10	Missouri Valley	8-10
1927	Kansas State	10-8	Missouri Valley	6-6
1926	Kansas State	11-7	Missouri Valley	9-3
1925	Kansas State	10-8	Missouri Valley	10-6
1924	Kansas State	8-8	Missouri Valley	8-8
1923	Kansas State	2-14	Missouri Valley	2-14
1922	Kansas State	3-14	Missouri Valley	3-13
1921	Kansas State	14-5	Missouri Valley	11-4
1920	Kansas State	10-8	Missouri Valley	8-8
1919	Kansas State	17-2	Missouri Valley ★	10-2
1918	Kansas State	12-5	Missouri Valley	10-5
1917	Kansas State	15-2	Missouri Valley ★	10-2
1916	Kansas State	13-3	Missouri Valley	9-3
1915	Kansas State	6-12	Missouri Valley	4-10
1914	Kansas State	10-7	Missouri Valley	7-5
1913	Kansas State	14-4	Independent
1912	Kansas State	10-5	Independent
1911	Kansas State	5-3	Independent
1910	Kansas State	11-3	Independent
1909	Kansas State	6-3	Independent
1908	Kansas State	1-12	Independent
1907	Kansas State	5-6	Independent
1906	Kansas State	6-9	Independent

Consensus All-Americans

11 AP All-American selections.

Keyontae Johnson2023

Markquis Nowell2023

Jacob Pullen2011

Michael Beasley2008

Rolando Blackman1980

Mike Evans1978

Bob Boozer1959

Bob Boozer1958

Dick Knostman1953

Dick Knostman1952

Ernie Barrett1951

Year	Player
2023	Keyontae Johnson
2023	Markquis Nowell
2011	Jacob Pullen
2008	Michael Beasley
1980	Rolando Blackman
1978	Mike Evans
1959	Bob Boozer
1958	Bob Boozer
1953	Dick Knostman
1952	Dick Knostman
1951	Ernie Barrett

NBA first-round picks

23 first-round NBA draft selections from this program.

Michael Beasley2008

Last college yr: 2008

Mitch Richmond1988

Last college yr: 1988

Mitch Richmond1988

Last college yr: 1987

Rolando Blackman1981

Last college yr: 1981

Rolando Blackman1981

Last college yr: 1980

Rolando Blackman1981

Last college yr: 1979

Mike Evans1978

Last college yr: 1978

Rolando Blackman1981

Last college yr: 1978

Mike Evans1978

Last college yr: 1977

Chuckie Williams1976

Last college yr: 1976

Mike Evans1978

Last college yr: 1976

Chuckie Williams1976

Last college yr: 1975

Draft	Player	Last college yr
2008	Michael Beasley	2008
1988	Mitch Richmond	1988
1988	Mitch Richmond	1987
1981	Rolando Blackman	1981
1981	Rolando Blackman	1980
1981	Rolando Blackman	1979
1978	Mike Evans	1978
1981	Rolando Blackman	1978
1978	Mike Evans	1977
1976	Chuckie Williams	1976
1978	Mike Evans	1976
1976	Chuckie Williams	1975
1978	Mike Evans	1975
1976	Chuckie Williams	1974
1976	Chuckie Williams	1973
1959	Bob Boozer	1959
1959	Bob Boozer	1958
1959	Bob Boozer	1957
1951	Ernie Barrett	1951
1951	Ernie Barrett	1950
1951	Ernie Barrett	1949
1949	Howie Shannon	1948
1949	Howie Shannon	1943

The Heartbreak Index6.1 · #359▸

Greatest tournament games

Season by season

Consensus All-Americans

NBA first-round picks

The Heartbreak Index6.1 · #359