Passion has been a buzzword when we have spoken to Kansas State players and head coach Bruce Weber after the last two basketball games. Coincidentally, both have been victories for the Wildcats.

They defeated Oklahoma State at home and responded with a 75-63 win over TCU in Fort Worth.

Weber has been challenging his team to play with more passion and wanted them to sustain it. It has worked two times in a row.

They jumped out to a fast start versus the Horned Frogs because of that passion and energy, according to Mark Smith. It's a product of buying into what the coaches are preaching to them on a daily basis and what Weber and his staff have commanded.

If they were to play fast, passionate and with energy, it'd improve their rebounding production. That showed itself to be true versus one of the best rebounding clubs in the Big 12 on Saturday evening.

In a season encapsulated by struggle after struggle from the frontcourt, Carlton Linguard has provided a small boost, and especially for K-State against TCU when Kaosi Ezeagu was ineffective and Davion Bradford dealt with a bit of foul trouble.

Though he did not necessarily have a great game statistically, it felt like the Wildcats played better when he was on the floor.

Smith expressed his utmost confidence in Linguard after the game and revealed that the two had been having regular conversations to prepare him for significant moments that would arrive for the rest of the season.

Linguard provides a different look than the other Kansas State bigs. He has quicker feet, more spring in his step, is a bit bouncier and more mobile.

Weber mentioned that Linguard was dinged up with a knee injury on Friday and wasn't even sure if he would play on Saturday. Instead, he did and contributed one of the best efforts of the season.

Screening is beginning to be a hot topic, and Linguard was praised for his ability in that department by teammate Nijel Pack. He alluded to a play where Linguard's screen opened up a key shot for the Wildcats in the final stretches that helped lead to the win.

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One thing that has stood out all season long is how much the Kansas State players like playing for each other and with each other. They have had a lot of rough patches where it would probably be easy to fold up and call it a season, but they've continued to be resilient and relentless.

Nobody can say they aren't tough.

Smith even shared that it has felt like he has been in Manhattan all four years because of how connected and how much of a family they are. The tight-knit group has had each other's backs through thick and thin.

They're having a lot of fun in Weber's system.

The message not to quit after losses to Baylor and Ole Miss resonated, and they've shown a lot of fight and determination ever since, which included the victories over the Cowboys and Horned Frogs.

They want to be a blue collar team who plays hard, has good energy every night and that recipe has led to success the last two contests.

The gauntlet continues. It doesn't get any easier for K-State. They host Baylor on Wednesday night. The Bears might be reeling after having lost two of their last three and being hit with the injury bug.

Adam Flagler didn't play against West Virginia on Monday, but he did return in the loss versus Kansas on Saturday. LJ Cryer missed both contests.

Pack wants the Wildcats to have the same mindset that they had Saturday against TCU for the matchup with the Bears in a few days. Baylor got what they wanted in the first meeting in Waco. They'll need the same fight, passion and energy in the rematch in Bramlage Coliseum.