For the first time in school history, the Kansas State women’s basketball team arrived at Big 12 Media Day at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Tuesday as the conference preseason favorite.
The Wildcats return four starters and 10 letterwinners from a 2023-24 team that went 26-8, finished third in the Big 12 at 13-5, and was a host for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. But a second-round loss to Colorado also served as motivation heading into the upcoming season.
Coach Jeff Mittie, who is starting his 11th season at K-State, was joined by graduate center Ayoka Lee, the Big 12 preseason player of the year, along with All-Big 12 senior point guard Serena Sundell and sophomore guard Zyanna Walker for media day.
Lee is on track to become the school’s all-time scoring leader this year and Sundell already is the only player in program history with 1,000-plus career points, 500-plus assists and at least 50 blocked shots. Walker, a Wichita Heights High School product and transfer from Louisville, was a key reserve last season as a freshman.
Here are five things Mittie and the players had to say:
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Related: By returning, Ayoka Lee turns Kansas State women’s basketball NCAA loss into a win
Kansas State women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie on high expectations
We had expectations well before the preseason poll came out. This group, they understand the high expectations in every area of our program, whether there that be to excel in the classroom, whether that be to represent K-State well, represent the community well.
So, those things weren’t unique. I think this: we were excited to be No. 1, probably a little surprised. We know the league is extremely talented. We expected to be picked somewhere near the top, but I think honestly the minute that poll came out, I don’t know how they feel. We talked about it and then it’s pretty much been in the rear view mirror.
K-State coach Jeff Mittie on using last year’s NCAA Tournament as motivation
It was disappointing to lose, so I don’t think there’s any way that you don’t come off a year and say we want to do better than the year before. Especially when you have a veteran group back.
There’s no question that you go into the offseason saying, ‘OK, we need to work hard. We need to do the things necessary so that we can advance further in the tournament.’
But I think at the end of the day, the driving force for this group has always been let’s just get better. Let’s reach our potential, let’s just get better, let’s put the work in. Let’s do the things, not just as an individual, but as a team, to put ourselves in position to be better every day.
K-State center Ayoka Lee on her decision to return for a final season
Absolutely unfinished business. We had a great season last year, but there are some things like the Big 12 title and not making it to the second round (regional semifinals) of the tournament that really, I think, stuck with all of us.
There are those, and then another big factor in that was I’ve just had such a great experience here at K-State. There’s not, I don’t think, a lot of college athletes that can be in my position. That’s just the reality of the athletics world we live in is, there’s a transfer portal, and just to be wanted back at K-State and having the experience I’ve had, it was just a great option.
K-State point guard Serena Sundell on what Mittie asked of her during the offseason
One thing that stuck out to me from coach Mittie this year is just to make the right play. Just understand my reads and make the right play and be decisive while I’m going through that process.
I think last year I was indecisive and then figuring out how to score with Yokie (Lee) and without Yokie on the court, because she just has so much attention on her. Just being able to find my own shot.
And then I think secondly, just kind of that mid-range game. I found a lot of ways to finish at the rim, but I think if I can be a threat in the mid-range it is going to open up a lot of things for not just me, but my teammates, too.
Zyanna Walker on what she learned about the Big 12 last year
I learned this league is very tough. It’s very versatile, too. I think that you can get a lot of different things, playing different teams. Everybody’s a little bit different, but the physicality, I would say, really stuck out to me in this league.
It’s very physical, no matter who you’re playing, and then each and every night, it’s going to be a dog fight. It doesn’t matter who the team is, middle of the conference, bottom, it’s going to be a fight until the end for sure.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
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This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State women’s basketball highly motivated for 2024-25 season
