KANSAS CITY, Mo. Keiton Page scored 19 of his 24 points in a dominating first half, and Oklahoma State withstood a brief rally in the season's third Bedlam game to beat Oklahoma 81-67 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.

Before the season started, there were doubters. Kansas State was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference behind teams such as Texas and Oklahoma, who finished league play seventh and tenth respectively in the league. The Wildcats were unranked in the Top 25.

Kansas State's stay in the Big 12 Tournament has been so brief the last two seasons that the Wildcats' coach can't even remember what hotel his team stayed at.

Kansas State junior guard Jacob Pullen was rewarded for his standout season on Tuesday, as he was named a third team All-American by The Sporting News.

Every so often, there will be a game or two where Dominique Sutton marvels everyone with his talent. The Kansas State guard will slash to the basket for a score, post up and outmuscle his opponent in the paint, sky for numerous rebounds, and even occasionally knock down a few shots from the perimeter.

The press conference was over. Frank Martin had his new contract. Everything was great for Kansas State and its coach. Yet it was something following the press conference that grabbed my attention and helped me realize what this men's basketball program is about.

Frank Martin sat at the table. The Kansas State coach's hands shook slightly while John Currie, the K-State athletic director, gave an opening statement.

You know Jon Wefald, Tim Weiser and Bob Krause were smiling on Sunday.

On the same day Frank Martin nearly doubled his yearly salary, the Kansas State coach was named Big 12 Coach of the Year by both the Associated Press and by the league's coaches on Sunday.

It's a done deal — Kansas State men's basketball coach Frank Martin has a new contract.