the last time oscar's k-state team was #25 or better in kenpom's ratings in league play was...never. literally never. k-state has started as high as #15 (this year) and #19 (oscar's first, frank's players), and they've started as low as 109th (2015). but whether they improve or get worse or stay roughly the same, k-state is never a top-25 level team once conference play begins and they don't rise to that level by the time the season ends. never, ever. not once in seven years, including this year.
largely, k-state has been about a mid-40s level program. they've been better, and they've been worse. but mostly, they've been in the range of their seven-season average of #46.
here are the top 25 finishes in kenpom the last six years by Big 12 teams since oscar took the k-state job:
Kansas (6)*
Oklahoma St (3)
Iowa St (4)*
West Virginia (4)
Baylor (3)
Oklahoma (2)
Texas Tech (1)*
TCU (1)*
Texas (1)
Kansas St (0)
*currently a top-25 level team.
two of the three teams above that have just one top-25 finish are likely to have a second this year, and should be on solid footing going forward. and all the teams that finished with just one or two top 25s (including texas) have at least spent some time at that rating mid-season. but again, not k-state. not even for a day. oscar has never coached a top-25 level team at any point after january his entire tenure. he didn't do it his last year at illinois either.
i think a very reasonable argument can be made that k-state is the worst program in the conference.
credit to last year's team, they got hot at the right time. but they were never a top-25 level team, even at their very best, and if not for winning the ncaa tourney lottery (UMBC instead of UVa) and 3-pt variancing kentucky to death, last year was on the verge of being very forgettable just as this year will soon be.
the ncaa tourney makes rock stars out of ordinary teams. k-state was ordinary last year and they are ordinary this year. and they will be ordinary forever. because this team, this coach, these players, this athletic dept, this university, this town, is ordinary. and the more oscar coaches, the further they will fall, from an avg rating of #46 to #56 to #66. and when that happens, Phillips 66 will call and say, "hey, we're looking to do an ad deal and we'd love to sponsor the 66th best team in the land! could be good for branding!" and by the time gene inks the deal, k-state will already have fallen to #75, then to #100, and the offer will be off the table. and then k-state will lose to tulsa again.
