Oklahoma City ? Speaking in hushed tones, in almost a whisper, Bob Huggins entertained questions from a handful of reporters at Big 12 Media Day on Thursday morning in Cox Convention Center.

“What I like the most about coach Huggins is how laid back he is. That’s how he is,” Kansas State senior standout Cartier Martin said, straining his neck to try to hear what his soft-spoken basketball coach – decked out in a black suit, purple striped shirt and dark purple tie – was saying. “At practice you need to listen. You better listen,” Martin added.

The coach’s lack of volume – “Just tired,” he said – was octaves higher during his pep talk to K-State’s fans at the Wildcats’ season-opening “Madness in Manhattan” last Friday.

That’s the night he thrilled the Wildcat faithful by saying, “Remember Feb. 19 is when we beat ‘The Streak.’ Then we will have a rivalry.”

The first-year ‘Cat coach was guaranteeing a victory over Kansas in Bramlage Coliseum, a place the Jayhawks have won 18 games without a loss in a city where KU has won 23 straight ballgames.

KSU senior Martin heard his coach’s boast in front of the Wildcat fans, but when asked to repeat the sentiment at Media Day, wouldn’t jump into the fire.

“I’m not going to guarantee it (a victory),” Martin said. “I will tell you this, it’s going to be an exciting night for K-State. It’s all I can say about that. It’s gonna be a good day.”

KU coach Bill Self just smiled when asked about the KSU boasts.

Kansas State coach Bob Huggins holds court with reporters at Big 12 Media Day. Huggins was a popular man during Thursday's event in the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Juniors Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun, who also represented KU at Media Day, gave their opinions on the matter.

“For real?” Robinson said, informed of the coach’s vow. “I think him being a new coach, it’s only right to say that, tell the fans what they want to hear. He made it a little harder on us. Their fans will be more into the game.”

On the other hand … “The game will be hyped regardless, but if the opposing coach does that it definitely gets you ready for the game,” Robinson noted.

Kaun said he wasn’t offended by Huggins’ victory cry.

“I will not get upset at that. It’s his way of motivating himself and his players,” he said. “If you ask will I use that for more motivation … I will do that.”

Robinson said there was a time in his life he guaranteed a victory.

“The last time was in high school. In college you don’t guarantee anything unless you are Michael Jordan,” the junior guard grinned.

Of course, it all could be much ado about nothing.

KSU, which snapped KU’s 31-game overall win streak in the series last year in Allen Fieldhouse, plays the first game of the two-game season series between the rivals on Feb. 7 in Lawrence.

“Bulletin-board material … I don’t think anybody ever won because of that or lost because of that,” Huggins said. “It’s that desiring to win or detesting losing. I think if you read about Vince Lombardi and you read about Bear Bryant and all that, they detested losing. So it motivated them to win. I don’t fear losing, but you work like heck to win.”

Huggins insists until one of his teams actually beats KU, the upper hand is in Lawrence.

“To me it’s comical sometimes. I’ve said that Kansas still isn’t a rivalry. It’s not. When they win every game, it’s not a rivalry. We have to win and we have to stop that as well.”

K-State fast facts: The Wildcats return their top four scorers and three of their top four rebounders. Martin, who is back with the team after a suspension – “that’s all in the past,” he said – is one of the league’s top players after averaging 18.0 ppg last season. The top newcomer is Jason Bennett, 7-foot-3, from Jacksonville, Fla., the tallest Wildcat in history.

“He’s big,” Martin said. “He’s changed some of my shots already.”