Looking for Sweet 16: Kansas State looks to extend run in Sunflower Showdown | National

No. 16 Kansas State will seek its 16th straight win over rival Kansas when the teams meet in a Big 12 game Saturday night in Manhattan, Kansas. While Wildcats fans will brag about the longest winning streak in Sunflower Showdown history, Kansas fans will point out that the Jayhawks still won more than they lost in the all-time streak. For the coaches, these are just numbers from the past. The only thing that counts is Saturday. “Because it's KU vs. K-State, we won't have that problem this week,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said Monday, when it was pointed out that his team was lacking energy early in last Saturday's game against West Virginia was missing. “Just because of the respect both programs have for each other.” That was Klieman's way of saying the records don't matter. The two programs don't like each other. The Jayhawks (2-5, 1-3) ended a five-game losing streak with a 42-14 win over Houston last Saturday. It was a relief for Kansas coach Lance Leipold. “We were able to put pressure on the quarterback,” Leipold said of the difference between Saturday’s contest and the five games prior. “We were able to get some turnovers and get some momentum. “Offensively, we were able to make some shots and move the ball down the field. “This team was very vulnerable for a while because we were so close. We've been waiting for a win of this magnitude.” Kansas defensive end Cobee Bryant set a school record with three interceptions against Houston. Bryant was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, which also included three tackles and a tackle-for-loss. The Jayhawks must now shift their focus from celebration to preparation. “I think the players handled it very well,” Leipold said on Monday. “They came into the game today with a good attitude, obviously happy with the good result on Saturday, but also understanding that it's just one game and we still have a lot to improve on.” “We're up against a very good opponent us, and that's what we have to do.” Travel to Manhattan to play a good football team.” The Wildcats (6-1, 3-1) also won last Saturday, defeating West Virginia 45-18 in their comfortable best game of the season. Avery Johnson completed 19 of 29 passes As the Mountaineers won the running game and held DJ Giddens to a season-low 57 yards, the Wildcats went to town. ” Klieman said, “Two plays cemented us or gave us a chance to be successful.” One of them was the fourth stop we had at the end of the first half (which allowed K-State to take a 17-10 lead into the changing room). “The other thing was when we had a fourth-and-six or a fourth-and-seven on the first drive of the second half and we decided to go for it. Avery did a great job missing a rusher, and Ty (Bowman) made a big catch and got a first down and played really good football in the second half. But that too is in the past. “(Kansas) has a lot of really good players on both sides of the ball,” Klieman said. “We have to come up with a really good plan.” –Field-level media