I know most of you will deny it, but losing to Kansas hurts you more than losing to anyone else in the country. I won't argue that beating Kansas is as important to you guys as beating Texas/Oklahoma, but it's up there. You're in denial if you can't admit that you're a little nervous about the way that the rivalry has evolved. Kansas is becoming a lot like Bill Snyder's program at Kansas State.
I will admit that when ku fan admits that losing to KSU in Basketball is important. Oh, comparing ku/Mangina to what Bill Snyder did is ridiculous. If you compare what Mangina has done this year to when Marshall was undefeated a while back I will buy that. Again refer to above as to where the ku win stands.
I think that most Kansas fans would admit that any rivalry game is important. However, in basketball, individual games aren't as important as they are in football, so it's hard to really compare. Kansas also plays its rivals (K-State and Mizzou) twice in conference play, so there's always the chance of getting redemption in the same season.
On the Synder/Mangino comparison, you've got to take a look at what both coaches had done at this point in their careers. Here are some interesting facts (found this on phog):
Both of their first seasons were awful, Snyder 1-10, Mangino 2-10, mostly because of inheriting a bad team. Both coaches’ teams struggled on the road. Through the first five and a half years of Snyder’s career, Kansas State was 5-21 away from Manhattan. Through five and a half years, Kansas is 6-21 under Mangino away from Lawrence.
The formula Bill Snyder used for making Kansas State a national power is also similar to what Mangino did to gain national recognition. Both coaches have added wins to the schedule by playing soft opponents during the nonconference part of the season. Through five and a half seasons, Snyder’s nonconference record was 18-6. Mangino, through the first five and a half season’s of his career, has gone 18-6 in nonconference play.
For a team near the cellar of college football, recruiting can be tricky, and coaches have to find players that marquis schools overlook. Players that come from a junior college or players that are undersized for their position are what Snyder capitalized on and what Mangino is also doing.
On Oct. 22, 1994, the Kansas State Wildcats were 4-2 (1-2 Big 8 ) under Bill Snyder and went on to finish the season 9-3 (5-2 Big 8 ). They finished the season ranked No. 19 in the AP poll, and No. 16 in the CNN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. They were nearly a permanent fixture in the rankings for the next ten years.
Today, Oct. 22, 2007, Kansas is ranked No. 12 in the AP poll, No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the BCS poll. Kansas is undefeated at 7-0 under Mark Mangino. Though Bill Snyder was well on his way in establishing Kansas State as a national power five years into his coaching career, it was not until 1998 when Kansas State went 7-0.
Mark Mangino was an assistant coach at Kansas State from 1991-1998 and was around to witness Bill Snyder build a football team from a laughing stock to a national power. Through five and a half years of coaching, both coaches careers look similar. It was clear that Mangino learned a thing or two under Bill Snyder. It will not be surprising to see Kansas football enjoy success similar to that which Snyder brought to Kansas State.
