Bruce Weber kept a positive tone with Kansas State basketball players following their first Big 12 loss in more than a month.
Yes, their nine-game winning streak in conference play is over. But the Wildcats are still in first place. Sure, Iowa State got hot from three-point range and won 78-64 on Saturday. But the Wildcats have been terrific on defense in most of their other games. One more thing: sometimes a loss can become a positive.
Weber learned that much when he was coaching at Illinois in 2005 and his team started 29-0. That group badly wanted to go undefeated, but when they lost 65-64 at Ohio State in the final game of the regular season it helped Illinois reset and reach the national championship game.