by Harold Bechard, The Hutchinson News, Kan. , The Hutchinson News

After hammering the likes of Idaho State, Chicago State, Gardner-Webb, Centenary and Wagner for the past 3 1/2 weeks, the Wildcats will meet fourth-ranked Oklahoma and All-American forward Blake Griffin today at Bramlage Coliseum.

Kansas State (11-3) has won six straight, but will face an Oklahoma team that is 14-1 and a strong candidate for a spot in the Final Four in March.

The Wildcats are looking forward to their biggest challenge of the season in what is expected an electric sold-out arena.

Three days from now, K-State will travel to face the Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse.

"The big games are rolling around, that's for sure," senior forward Darren Kent said. "But I think we're peaking at the right time. We're playing together as a team."

The Wildcats will face one of the nation's best players in Blake Griffin, who leads the Big 12 in scoring (22.1 ppg) and rebounding (14.0 rpg).

Not only was Griffin tabbed as the Big 12 preseason player of the year, but Kansas coach Bill Self called him the best player in the country before the season started.

You won't get an argument from the Wildcats.

"Now I know what everybody's pain was last year when they were trying to guard Michael Beasley," Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. "(Griffin) is a great player, but they have surrounded him with guys who can really shoot the ball."

Despite some criticism about his team's recent schedule, Martin said it has prepared the Wildcats for what lies ahead. It has given a young team the confidence it needs.

"But we're ready to play Big 12 basketball," Martin said. "It's not like we haven't played hard against those guys, but it's time. I'm not into making predictions on how the future will hold, but we've lined up and win the games we were supposed to and played the right way. No one in the country is more disappointed than us with our losses against Kentucky and Iowa, but we didn't pout, call mom and ask to come home."

The Wildcats will have to be at the top of their game today. In addition to Griffin, who is shooting better than 66 percent from the field, the Sooners also feature 6-4 freshman guard Willie Warren, who is scoring 16.2 points per game.

Tony Crocker, a 6-6 junior, is averaging 10.7 points a game and Griffin's brother, Taylor, is averaging 9.1 points.

The Wildcats aren't about the shy away from the challenge.

"We're ready to prove to everyone that we belong with the best teams in the conference," said sophomore guard Fred Brown, who lit up Chicago State for a career-high 26 points off the bench Monday night in a 99-68 victory.

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