When reflecting on Kansas State’s four-game win streak, Coleman Hawkins and Dug McDaniel are likely the first names to come to mind, and deservingly so. But we should be talking a lot more about Wildcats guard Max Jones.

No one can blame Kansas State men’s basketball fans for dreaming big at the moment. Coach Jerome Tang has guided K-State to three consecutive impressive victories, including a resounding road win over Iowa State. And the Wildcats are the hottest team in the nation, according to one expert’s statistical model.

K-State (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) still has a losing record. But it is on a three-game winning streak and is suddenly playing like a quality team. Iowa State (17-4, 7-3 Big 12), which had won its previous four conference home games by an average of 20.5 points, fell further behind Houston and Arizona in the league championship race with the loss.