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Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin didn’t seem thrilled that his team was being shipped across the country to open the NCAA Tournament, but Kansas State traveled an even tougher road to their first-round South Regional game Friday at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.
Cronin offered a subdued response after the tournament bracket was unveiled Sunday. The sixth-seeded Bearcats (29-5) were sent to Sacramento to await the winner of a First Four game between No. 11 seeds Kansas State (21-13) and Wake Forest, a game the Wildcats won 95-88.
Cincinnati is appearing in its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament and opening on the West Coast for the third time in four years. The team’s website noted that the driving distance from Cincinnati’s home arena to the Golden 1 Center is 2,299.4 miles. Cronin declined to comment on his team’s seeding and the selection committee’s decision to send the Bearcats to California.
“I’m just gonna focus on basketball,” Cronin said. “We’ve had a great year and I’m gonna focus on coaching my team — try to go out there and win two games in our third trip to the West Coast in the last four years in the NCAA Tournament.”
Cronin elaborated a little, saying he feels bad for parents who’ve had to travel long distances to see their sons play in the tournament.
“Here’s the downside, and this is not just for us,” Cronin said. “Troy Caupain, three of four years, he and Kevin Johnson and Zack Tobler go to the NCAA Tournament. They’re in Spokane twice and Sacramento once. It’s really not easy for their families. Other than that, and that’s a big thing, we don’t believe in excuses. That won’t be talked about at all on our end.”
Jacob Evans leads Cincinnati in scoring at 13.7 points per game. Kyle Washington averages 13.1 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Kansas State won four of its last five games with a win over Baylor and a one-point loss to West Virginia. Senior forward Wesley Iwundu leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Barry Brown, sophomore guard Kamau Stokes and senior forward D.J. Johnson all average just over 11 points per game.
The Wildcats had to travel 700 miles east to beat Wake Forest in a First Four game Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio. They now have to travel 2,300 miles west to Sacramento.
“Obviously it’s been a hectic 24 hours after seeing our name pop up on the TV,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “But we’re just really excited to be here to be part of it.”
Iwundu had 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds against Wake Forest. Stokes scored 22. Johnson had 18 points and six rebounds.
“I really do believe we belong in the tournament,” Weber said. “I think we’ve shown that we can compete with anybody in the country. We’ve beaten some of the top teams, and we’re just excited to be part of it. I think our guys will be ready to play.”
Showing posts with label Kansas State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas State. Show all posts
Friday, March 17, 2017
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Balanced K-State beats Wake Forest 95-88 in First Four
By JOE KAY
Associated Press
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — After finally making it into the NCAA Tournament with its offensive balance, Kansas State showcased its array of scorers in the First Four.
Kamau Stokes scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half of a wide-open game on Tuesday night, and the Wildcats' versatility was the difference as they pulled away to a 95-88 victory over Wake Forest.
Eleventh-seeded K-State (21-13) got its first NCAA Tournament win in five years and a trip to play No. 6 Cincinnati on Friday in Sacramento as part of the South Regional. The Bearcats are known for their tight defense.
"It's a good matchup for us," said Wesley Iwundu , who had 24 points. "You know they're a tough team, but we're down for any challenge. We're the underdogs now but we like being the underdogs."
In a matchup of two versatile offenses, the Wildcats had the most options and hot shooters. Four players finished in double figures — their season norm — as the Wildcats shot a season-high 66 percent from the field against a team they had never faced.
"Now you're playing somebody new and maybe you can get some of the little looks that you haven't gotten in probably like the last six weeks," coach Bruce Weber said.
Stokes missed three of his four shots in the first half, but found his touch right away after the break, hitting a pair of quick 3s.
"I think he just needed to shake off his jitters in the first NCAA Tournament game," Iwundu said. "But in the second half, he got back to doing what he does best, hitting some big shots."
Wake Forest (19-14 ) couldn't keep up during its first NCAA Tournament game in seven years. The Demon Deacons scored 90 points nine times during the season, but couldn't match the Wildcats.
"We came close and then we let them build another lead," said John Collins, who had 26 points and nine rebounds. "So I think it was kind of a trend."
It was a breakthrough season for the Demon Deacons in coach Danny Manning's third season. He led Kansas to the 1988 national championship — Danny and The Miracles, as they're known — by beating K-State along the way. And now he had the Demon Deacons back in the tournament for the first time in seven years.
"For us, it's been a long, eventful season," Manning said.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas State: The Wildcats repeatedly made clutch shots to hold onto the lead down the stretch. After falling behind by 10 points, Wake Forest got the lead within three points 11 times, but K-State always matched it. The Demon Deacons overcame double-digit deficits to win their last three regular-season games, but couldn't do it in the tournament.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons shot only 36 percent from the field in the first half and had more turnovers (nine) than field goals (eight), forcing them to play from behind.
WHERE'S THE DEFENSE?
Both teams went through long stretches without missing a shot in the second half. Kansas State made its first five shots and six of seven, while Wake Forest made seven in a row over one stretch. Many of the shots were wide-open.
GETTING TO THE LINE
The teams combined for 51 fouls and 68 free throws, with things working out almost evenly. Kansas State went 27 of 36 from the line, while Wake Forest was 29 of 32. K-State's 27 points off free throws were a season high.
UP NEXT
Kansas State: The Wildcats will try to win two NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 2010, when they lost to Butler in a regional final.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons return the bulk of one of the youngest teams in the tournament, including three sophomore starters and one junior.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Ertz accounts for 3 TDs, K-State tops Texas A&M 33-28
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Kansas State was unbeatable against teams from Texas in the regular season, and that didn't change on Wednesday night in the Texas Bowl.
Jesse Ertz threw for 195 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores in Kansas State's 33-28 victory over Texas A&M. He had 67 yards rushing to give him 1,012 this season.
The victory improved the Wildcats to 5-0 against teams from the Lone Star State this season after they downed Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU earlier this year.
"I think that's a really cool thing to accomplish," said Ertz, who was named MVP. "It gives the fans some bragging rights."
Ertz had a 79-yard touchdown pass and scoring runs of 1 and 5 yards to help give Kansas State its fourth straight win and first bowl victory since the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
"They're a good defensive football team and we didn't do anything we hadn't done all year, but we may have done some things a little better," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said.
The Wildcats (9-4) led 33-21 after Ertz bulled into the end zone on a 1-yard run with nine minutes left. Ertz set up the score with a 20-yard run two plays earlier.
"It was a case tonight where either we stopped (Ertz) or gave up the home run," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Consistency level was an issue. We gave up the three big plays in the first half and couldn't get enough stops."
The Aggies (8-5) cut it to 33-28 on Josh Reynolds' 15-yard TD reception about a minute later.
Texas A&M attempted to convert a fourth-and-8 with about two minutes left, but Trevor Knight's pass was short, to give Kansas State the ball back and allow the Wildcats to run out the clock.
Reynolds had a Texas A&M bowl-record 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns and Knight threw for 310 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as A&M dropped its second straight bowl game.
"He's a heck of a player," Sumlin said. "Last year at this time he decided to come back, and I think it was worth it for him. I think he's improved as a route runner, he's got great hands. I think it was worth it coming back. He's increased his value."
Texas A&M got to 23-21 when Reynolds made a 4-yard touchdown catch with about seven minutes left in the third quarter. A 25-yard field goal by Ian Patterson extended Kansas State's lead to 26-21 with about three minutes remaining in the quarter. A highlight of that drive came on a 36-yard run John Silmon.
The Aggies took a 7-0 lead when Keith Ford scored on a 7-yard run on their first possession.
Kansas State tied it when Ertz connected with Byron Pringle and he dashed down the field for a 79-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter.
The Wildcats took the lead when Ertz stiff-armed Justin Evans on a 5-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. But Myles Garrett blocked the extra point to make it 13-7.
A 3-yard reception by Ricky Seals-Jones put A&M back on top 14-13 soon after that. But Kansas State regained the lead with a 40-yard field goal before pushing the lead to 23-14 on a 52-yard run by Dominique Heath just before halftime.
THAT'S A NO NO: Kansas State's cornerback Donnie Starks received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the first half when he threw Reynolds to the ground and then squatted over him and pressed his crotch to the receiver's chest. Reynolds then punched at the crotch of Starks, but he was not penalized. The penalty was enforced on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Reynolds got a bit of revenge for the play when he caught his touchdown pass in the third quarter over Starks and stared him down after making the grab.
HANDLING GARRETT: Kansas State did a good job of neutralizing Texas A&M star defensive end Myles Garrett . The junior, who is expected to declare for the draft and many believe could be the top overall pick in April, blocked an extra point in the second quarter. But he was unable to do much else while facing near-constant double teams and finished with one tackle.
"(Left tackle) Scott Frantz we had lined up against him," Snyder said. "He's a newcomer for us, and that probably gave him a great deal of confidence. He played well against him. He probably played as well as anyone who played against him this year."
NO GATORADE FOR SNYDER: Snyder got a bucket of confetti dumped on his head near the end of the game. The 79-year-old coach said that was a nice way to celebrate and that his players knew better than to douse him with Gatorade. "I think they realized that we could go back to the hotel and celebrate or we can go back to the hotel and run (laps) around the hotel all night," he joked.
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Kansas State was unbeatable against teams from Texas in the regular season, and that didn't change on Wednesday night in the Texas Bowl.
Jesse Ertz threw for 195 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores in Kansas State's 33-28 victory over Texas A&M. He had 67 yards rushing to give him 1,012 this season.
The victory improved the Wildcats to 5-0 against teams from the Lone Star State this season after they downed Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU earlier this year.
"I think that's a really cool thing to accomplish," said Ertz, who was named MVP. "It gives the fans some bragging rights."
Ertz had a 79-yard touchdown pass and scoring runs of 1 and 5 yards to help give Kansas State its fourth straight win and first bowl victory since the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
"They're a good defensive football team and we didn't do anything we hadn't done all year, but we may have done some things a little better," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said.
The Wildcats (9-4) led 33-21 after Ertz bulled into the end zone on a 1-yard run with nine minutes left. Ertz set up the score with a 20-yard run two plays earlier.
"It was a case tonight where either we stopped (Ertz) or gave up the home run," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Consistency level was an issue. We gave up the three big plays in the first half and couldn't get enough stops."
The Aggies (8-5) cut it to 33-28 on Josh Reynolds' 15-yard TD reception about a minute later.
Texas A&M attempted to convert a fourth-and-8 with about two minutes left, but Trevor Knight's pass was short, to give Kansas State the ball back and allow the Wildcats to run out the clock.
Reynolds had a Texas A&M bowl-record 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns and Knight threw for 310 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as A&M dropped its second straight bowl game.
"He's a heck of a player," Sumlin said. "Last year at this time he decided to come back, and I think it was worth it for him. I think he's improved as a route runner, he's got great hands. I think it was worth it coming back. He's increased his value."
Texas A&M got to 23-21 when Reynolds made a 4-yard touchdown catch with about seven minutes left in the third quarter. A 25-yard field goal by Ian Patterson extended Kansas State's lead to 26-21 with about three minutes remaining in the quarter. A highlight of that drive came on a 36-yard run John Silmon.
The Aggies took a 7-0 lead when Keith Ford scored on a 7-yard run on their first possession.
Kansas State tied it when Ertz connected with Byron Pringle and he dashed down the field for a 79-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter.
The Wildcats took the lead when Ertz stiff-armed Justin Evans on a 5-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. But Myles Garrett blocked the extra point to make it 13-7.
A 3-yard reception by Ricky Seals-Jones put A&M back on top 14-13 soon after that. But Kansas State regained the lead with a 40-yard field goal before pushing the lead to 23-14 on a 52-yard run by Dominique Heath just before halftime.
THAT'S A NO NO: Kansas State's cornerback Donnie Starks received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the first half when he threw Reynolds to the ground and then squatted over him and pressed his crotch to the receiver's chest. Reynolds then punched at the crotch of Starks, but he was not penalized. The penalty was enforced on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Reynolds got a bit of revenge for the play when he caught his touchdown pass in the third quarter over Starks and stared him down after making the grab.
HANDLING GARRETT: Kansas State did a good job of neutralizing Texas A&M star defensive end Myles Garrett . The junior, who is expected to declare for the draft and many believe could be the top overall pick in April, blocked an extra point in the second quarter. But he was unable to do much else while facing near-constant double teams and finished with one tackle.
"(Left tackle) Scott Frantz we had lined up against him," Snyder said. "He's a newcomer for us, and that probably gave him a great deal of confidence. He played well against him. He probably played as well as anyone who played against him this year."
NO GATORADE FOR SNYDER: Snyder got a bucket of confetti dumped on his head near the end of the game. The 79-year-old coach said that was a nice way to celebrate and that his players knew better than to douse him with Gatorade. "I think they realized that we could go back to the hotel and celebrate or we can go back to the hotel and run (laps) around the hotel all night," he joked.
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