Game 34: AP Ranked #16 Wisconsin Badgers (24-8 overall, 13-5 Conference record) vs. AP Ranked #21 Kansas State Wildcats (23-10 overall, 10-6 Conference record)
The Kansas State Wildcats will go into the round of 32 of this year's NCAA Tournament in hopes of reaching the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. K-State, who's the #5 seed in the Southeast Region, will take on the Wisconsin Badgers, who is the #4 seed in the Southeast Region while in the AP Poll, they're ranked #16 in the nation. While the Cats have Jacob Pullen, Rodney McGruger and Curtis Kelly, Wisconsin has a few very good players as well. The Badgers include such players as John Lewer who averages 19 points and 7 rebounds a game and also Jordan Taylor who averages 18 points, five assists and four rebounds per game. This is the second time the Badgers and Wildcats will square off in the NCAA Tournament to decide who one of the teams will be in the Sweet 16. K-State is looking to get revenge on their loss three years ago against Wisconsin, especially after what happened in their last match-up.
K-State vs. Wisconsin, Second Round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament
During the '08 NCAA Tournament, K-State was the #11 seed and one of the last teams to make it in. However, K-State had a lot of momentum going into their second round game against Wisconsin due to upsetting the #6 seed in the region, USC, 80-57. But when the Cats ran into Wisconsin, who was a #3 seed in the region that year, they ran into two things: Trevon Hughes and a streaking Wisconsin team. Trevon Hughes matched his career high that day with 25 points, leading Wisconsin to their 25th victory in their last 27 games and also 12 straight wins at the time. Not even having Michael Beasley was enough that day, scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in his last game as a Wildcat before declaring for the NBA Draft. This time around, the Cats hope they can change the outcome, and in their last game, the Cats meant business.
Southwest Region: #5 K-State vs. #12 Utah State
Going into this game, there were a lot of experts who was thinking that Utah State would pull the upset against Kansas State. I thought the same thing, especially since Utah State had a lot of players with size that may have wound up effecting K-State's interior depth since the Cats only have Curits Kelly, Jamar Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts. At the end of the day, this wasn't too big of a factor as the Cats ended up winning 73-68 to move on to the round of 32. A big factor of why K-State won was because of their free-throw shooting. During the season they were a 64% free-throw shooting team but in this game they shot 24 of 28 from the foul line, good for 86%. Utah State was kept at bay during most of the game, with the Cats maintaining a double-digit lead for most of it. The closest Utah State got to K-State was 56-50 in the second half, but shooting 11-14 from the free throw line iced the game. Jacob Pullen led all scorers with 22 points and also had five assists while Curtis Kelly scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. For Utah State, Tai Wesley had 18 points and six rebounds, Brockeith Pane scored 17 poinds and Pooh Williams scored 16 points. Wisconsin only scored 33 points in their Big-10 Tournament loss to Penn State, but they took care of business in their second round game vs. Belmont.
Southwest Region: #13Belmont vs. #4 Wisconsin
In their game before the NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin's total output of points was a typical output for K-State.....in the first half. They only scored 16 points in the first half, and 17 in the second to only total 33. Penn State on the other hand, only scored 36 so they weren't that much better. Two reasons this could have happened was because Wisconsin shot that bad from the field, or, Penn State's defense was that good. Either way, Wisconsin wanted to prove their low point output was a fluke, and they easily did that. Wisconsin hit 12 out of 22 three point shots, shot 65% from the field and made 20 out of 25 free throws on their way to a 72-58 win over Belmont. Jon Leuer scored 22 points for Wisconsin, with 17 of those coming in the second half. Also, Jordan Taylor scored 21 with 14 of those coming in the first half. Mike Hedgepeth scored 17 and Kerron Johnson had 13 for Belmont. Here are the keys to victory for both teams.
K-State
Pace! Wisconsin beat K-State three years ago by controlling the tempo of the game to their style, which is a slow, methodical Big 10 type of game. K-State needs the tempo in their pace, which is a much faster and up and down kind of game. This way it tires out the Wisconsin players and makes K-State's attack that much harder to stop.
Curtis Kelly. Kelly has continued to be a force in the paint and needs to keep this up if the Cats want to make a return trip to the sweet 16. His length and quickness has been key in getting rebounds, getting put-backs and causing mismatches, and will certainly still be a key in this game.
Perimeter defense. Wisconsin's big 12 for 22 day from the three point line can't go unnoticed. The Cats need to slow their three-point shooting weapons and play tight defense so the Cats won't fall into an early hole they might not be able to climb out of.
Wisconsin
Keep up the hot shooting! The Badgers can't afford to go ice-cold like they did against Penn State again. Instead, they need to be as efficient or even more efficient with their shooting as a whole (field goals made, three-point shots made, free throws made). Otherwise, if the Cats catch any kind of fire, Wisconsin's going to be routed out of the gym.
NCAA Tournament Experience vs. K-State in the past. With Wisconsin's win in 2008 to advance to the sweet 16, the Badgers played suffocating defense and took Michael Beasley, one of the greatest players to ever play college basketball, out of the game in the second half. They just need to take the experience gained from there and apply it to this game and see what happens.
Make other players beat you instead of Jacob Pullen and/or Curtis Kelly. It'll be important for Wisconsin to take one of two players out of the game, rather that's Jacob Pullen or Curtis Kelly. That way, Curtis Kelly or Jacob Pullen has to feel like they have to carry the team by themselves, thus, wearing them out and giving Wisconsin a better chance to win.
Prediction: K-State wins, 68-62.
-Paul Payton, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
NCAA Tournament Game #1: (12) Utah State (30-3) vs. (5) Kansas State (22-10)
It's finally NCAA Tournament time again, and for the third time in the past four seasons the Kansas State Wildcats will be participants in the Big Dance. The 2010-11 season has been marked by tumult and defections. The Cats started out ranked 3rd in the preseason polls. After a long January, K-State found itself out of the polls and in the cellar of the Big 12 standings at 2-5. But an unprecedented resurgence has brought K-State back into the college basketball forefront. The Wildcats won eight of their final nine games including six straight to close out the regular season. Out of those six wins, three were against ranked teams including KU, Texas and Missouri, all of which made the NCAA tournament. Though an early exit in the Big 12 tournament set the Wildcats back to 22-10, Frank Martin's squad still earned a 5-seed in the Southeast Region. One of the top mid-major teams in the nation over the past decade will be waiting for K-State in the second round in Tucson, the 12-seed Utah State Aggies. The Aggies won the Western Athletic Conference and finished with a 30-win season for the second time in the past three years. The Aggies finished 30-3, with their three losses coming away from the friendly confines of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum: at BYU, at Georgetown, and at Idaho. This marks the eighth time in 12 seasons that the Aggies have earned a bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Last Time Out...
Colorado 87 (19/23) Kansas State 75 (Big XII Quarterfinals | Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO | 3/10/11)
The third meeting between K-State and Colorado had the same ending as the previous contests. A Colorado victory. The Cats were in control at the beginning of the game, making their first four shots in the opening minutes including three from Curtis Kelly. At one point, the Cats were 23-16, 23-20, and then 25-23 before the Cats made the lead 29-25. Once Colorado took a 35-31 lead with 3:43 left in the first half. However, K-State was up 39-37 at the half although Colorado still had the momentum going into halftime. The Cats were up 55-50 with 12 minutes left in the game, but Colorado went on an 11-2 run to take the lead 61-57. Colorado never let the lead go after that, holding onto it until the finish with the final score being 87-75. Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly each scored 18 points a piece for the cats while Colorado had two guys score at least 20 points. Cory Higgins scored 28 points while Alec Burks score 24 points and grabbed six rebounds. While K-State lost their first round conference tournament game, Utah State took their conference tournament title.
(23/17) Utah State 77 Boise State 69 (WAC Championship | Orleans Arena - Las Vegas, NV | 3/12/11)
Utah State played against Boise State in the WAC Championship and won 77-69. Although Boise State made it close at times, Utah State had complete control of the game. In the beginning of the second half, Utah State went on a 12-0 run which put them up 47-33 and did all but secure the game and the tournament for them. Boise State tried to chip away at the lead, making it all the way back to within two points under five minutes left. But Utah State was able to withstand their run and ice the game away. Utah State played perimeter defense at a very high level—only allowing Boise State to shoot 6 for 26 from the arc. La'Shard Anderson led Boise State with 18 points while Tai Wesley and Brokeith Pane scored 19 points to lead Utah State in scoring. Here are the keys to victory for both teams to make it to the round of 32.
Keys to the Game
K-State
Perimeter offense: K-State needs to be able to shoot from the outside, and shoot well. Jacob Pullen, Rodney McGruger, and Will Spradling needs to hit shots so Utah State can't pack their defense in and only worry about Curtis Kelly or Jamar Samuels.
Rebounding: Utah State has size, especially with Leland Miller being 7'1, and weighing 230 pounds. To control the ball, thus control the game, Kelly, Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts need to box out and win the rebounding battle.
Curtis Kelly: Speaking of Kelly, he needs to continue to be the presence he's been on the inside in the last few games. If the Cats can get a double-double from Kelly and he stays out of foul trouble, with Pullen playing like an All-America, they could be too much for Utah State to handle.
Utah State
Get K-State's bigs in foul trouble: Utah State has plenty of height to go around, with Miller being 7'1, Nate Bendall's 6'9, Morgan Grim and Matt Formisano are 6'8, and Brady Jardine and Tai Wesley being 6'7. Utah State has a big advantage of depth, so it will be key to get Kelly, Samuels, and Henriquez-Roberts in foul trouble. If they do, K-State will have an early exit in this year's tournament.
Perimeter Defense: At times, K-State gets their offense going from penetrating and dishing to three-point shooters off the pass. Utah State needs to continue their outstanding perimeter defense like they had against Boise State to make the Cats' offense one dimensional.
Knock down shots: Utah State is #29 in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting at a 47% clip. This means they almost make one out of every two shots. If they can get their guys going early, especially Wesley and WAC Tournament MVP Brokeith Pane, K-State's defense may not be able to keep up.
Prediction: Utah State wins, 65-59.
--Paul Payton, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
The Last Time Out...
Colorado 87 (19/23) Kansas State 75 (Big XII Quarterfinals | Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO | 3/10/11)
The third meeting between K-State and Colorado had the same ending as the previous contests. A Colorado victory. The Cats were in control at the beginning of the game, making their first four shots in the opening minutes including three from Curtis Kelly. At one point, the Cats were 23-16, 23-20, and then 25-23 before the Cats made the lead 29-25. Once Colorado took a 35-31 lead with 3:43 left in the first half. However, K-State was up 39-37 at the half although Colorado still had the momentum going into halftime. The Cats were up 55-50 with 12 minutes left in the game, but Colorado went on an 11-2 run to take the lead 61-57. Colorado never let the lead go after that, holding onto it until the finish with the final score being 87-75. Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly each scored 18 points a piece for the cats while Colorado had two guys score at least 20 points. Cory Higgins scored 28 points while Alec Burks score 24 points and grabbed six rebounds. While K-State lost their first round conference tournament game, Utah State took their conference tournament title.
(23/17) Utah State 77 Boise State 69 (WAC Championship | Orleans Arena - Las Vegas, NV | 3/12/11)
Utah State played against Boise State in the WAC Championship and won 77-69. Although Boise State made it close at times, Utah State had complete control of the game. In the beginning of the second half, Utah State went on a 12-0 run which put them up 47-33 and did all but secure the game and the tournament for them. Boise State tried to chip away at the lead, making it all the way back to within two points under five minutes left. But Utah State was able to withstand their run and ice the game away. Utah State played perimeter defense at a very high level—only allowing Boise State to shoot 6 for 26 from the arc. La'Shard Anderson led Boise State with 18 points while Tai Wesley and Brokeith Pane scored 19 points to lead Utah State in scoring. Here are the keys to victory for both teams to make it to the round of 32.
Keys to the Game
K-State
Perimeter offense: K-State needs to be able to shoot from the outside, and shoot well. Jacob Pullen, Rodney McGruger, and Will Spradling needs to hit shots so Utah State can't pack their defense in and only worry about Curtis Kelly or Jamar Samuels.
Rebounding: Utah State has size, especially with Leland Miller being 7'1, and weighing 230 pounds. To control the ball, thus control the game, Kelly, Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts need to box out and win the rebounding battle.
Curtis Kelly: Speaking of Kelly, he needs to continue to be the presence he's been on the inside in the last few games. If the Cats can get a double-double from Kelly and he stays out of foul trouble, with Pullen playing like an All-America, they could be too much for Utah State to handle.
Utah State
Get K-State's bigs in foul trouble: Utah State has plenty of height to go around, with Miller being 7'1, Nate Bendall's 6'9, Morgan Grim and Matt Formisano are 6'8, and Brady Jardine and Tai Wesley being 6'7. Utah State has a big advantage of depth, so it will be key to get Kelly, Samuels, and Henriquez-Roberts in foul trouble. If they do, K-State will have an early exit in this year's tournament.
Perimeter Defense: At times, K-State gets their offense going from penetrating and dishing to three-point shooters off the pass. Utah State needs to continue their outstanding perimeter defense like they had against Boise State to make the Cats' offense one dimensional.
Knock down shots: Utah State is #29 in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting at a 47% clip. This means they almost make one out of every two shots. If they can get their guys going early, especially Wesley and WAC Tournament MVP Brokeith Pane, K-State's defense may not be able to keep up.
Prediction: Utah State wins, 65-59.
--Paul Payton, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Friday, March 11, 2011
Women's Game #31: (4) Kansas State (21-9 | 10-6 Big 12) vs (1) Baylor (29-2 | 15-1) in the Big 12 Semi-Finals
Kansas State takes on 2011 Big 12 regular season champion and No. 1 seeded Baylor in the semifinals of the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. This will be the first appearance K-State has made in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament since the 2004-05 season. The Wildcats have solid momentum coming into the game off of a three-game winning streak, including a big victory at home over No. 5 Texas A&M on March 2. Top-ranked Baylor is having a stellar season, earning 15 Big 12 wins for the first time in school history after defeating the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday in Boulder. The Lady Bears have won nine straight against K-State making for a 14-9 series lead. K-State’s last win over Baylor came in 2004. This will be the second time the two teams will meet up this season.
Last Time They Met
Baylor 75 K-State 48 (February 23, 2011- Ferrell Center in Waco, TX.)
Baylor gave a solid performance in their 75-48 win over K-State on Feb. 23, as they shot 54-percent from the field and out-rebounded K-State 38-21. Baylor held a firm lead throughout the contest, putting the game away early in the second half after a 15-3 run. Jalana Childs led K-State with 22 points, but Brittney Griner propelled the Lady Bears with 26 points. Brittney Chambers became the first sophomore since the 2002-03 season to score 400 or more points this game, adding 15 points to go along with Childs’ 22.
Last Game Out
K-State 56 Iowa State 53 (March 9, 2011- Quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament)
After losing twice to Iowa State during the regular season, K-State defeated fifth-seeded Iowa State 56-53 in quarterfinal action of the Phillips 66 Women’s Basketball Championship. The game came down to the final seconds; with K-State securing the win after two Iowa State 3-point attempts came up short. In a recent article Coach Deb Patterson, who earned her 300th win as head coach with the victory, described it as a “classic, gritty, possession-by-possession Big 12 basketball game,” making this a great win for the Cats. First Team All-Big 12 player Brittany Chambers scored a game-high 20 points while teammate and all-conference pick Jalana Childs added 14. Iowa State’s Hallie Christofferson had a team-high of 18 points, while Kelsey Bolte added 10.
Baylor 86 Kansas 51 (March 9, 2011-Quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament)
Blowing up the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, Baylor’s Melissa Jones gave an all-around performance that helped Baylor to a 86-51 victory over Kansas at the Big 12 tournament. Kansas had a 7-5 lead early on, but it was all Baylor the rest of the game, shutting down the Jayhawks’ All-Big 12 player Carolyn Davis to six points on 2-of-8 shooting. Baylor’s Destiny Williams scored a career-high 21 points and Brittney Griner added 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Monica Engleman led the Jayhawks with 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Limit turnovers: In the two team’s latest contest, K-State committed 18 turnovers. Baylor’s tenacious defense and quick hands are hard to come by, but K-State needs to make a conscious effort to take care of the ball.
Defensive rebounding: If Baylor doesn’t score on their first attempt, chances are they will on their second. It is key for K-State to find a body and block out.
Take away Jones: Melissa Jones seems to be the glue that holds Baylor together. Running a box and one or somehow limiting Jones’s ball touches will make it harder on Baylor to execute.
Baylor
Work the high-low: With a 6-foot-8 presence inside, guards need to look into the Brittney Griner to score easy bunnies.
Defensive close-outs: the Cats’ versatility on offense tend to hurt opponents. They can hit the three’s and score off the dribble drive, so Baylor has to close out to shooters and make it so its hard to both shoot and drive.
Play up-tempo: If K-State utilizes its quickness to its full potential, Baylor will have to make an effort to keep up with that pace. Running a quick offense will also work in their favor.
--Kylee Nacarrato, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Last Time They Met
Baylor 75 K-State 48 (February 23, 2011- Ferrell Center in Waco, TX.)
Baylor gave a solid performance in their 75-48 win over K-State on Feb. 23, as they shot 54-percent from the field and out-rebounded K-State 38-21. Baylor held a firm lead throughout the contest, putting the game away early in the second half after a 15-3 run. Jalana Childs led K-State with 22 points, but Brittney Griner propelled the Lady Bears with 26 points. Brittney Chambers became the first sophomore since the 2002-03 season to score 400 or more points this game, adding 15 points to go along with Childs’ 22.
Last Game Out
K-State 56 Iowa State 53 (March 9, 2011- Quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament)
After losing twice to Iowa State during the regular season, K-State defeated fifth-seeded Iowa State 56-53 in quarterfinal action of the Phillips 66 Women’s Basketball Championship. The game came down to the final seconds; with K-State securing the win after two Iowa State 3-point attempts came up short. In a recent article Coach Deb Patterson, who earned her 300th win as head coach with the victory, described it as a “classic, gritty, possession-by-possession Big 12 basketball game,” making this a great win for the Cats. First Team All-Big 12 player Brittany Chambers scored a game-high 20 points while teammate and all-conference pick Jalana Childs added 14. Iowa State’s Hallie Christofferson had a team-high of 18 points, while Kelsey Bolte added 10.
Baylor 86 Kansas 51 (March 9, 2011-Quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament)
Blowing up the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, Baylor’s Melissa Jones gave an all-around performance that helped Baylor to a 86-51 victory over Kansas at the Big 12 tournament. Kansas had a 7-5 lead early on, but it was all Baylor the rest of the game, shutting down the Jayhawks’ All-Big 12 player Carolyn Davis to six points on 2-of-8 shooting. Baylor’s Destiny Williams scored a career-high 21 points and Brittney Griner added 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Monica Engleman led the Jayhawks with 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Limit turnovers: In the two team’s latest contest, K-State committed 18 turnovers. Baylor’s tenacious defense and quick hands are hard to come by, but K-State needs to make a conscious effort to take care of the ball.
Defensive rebounding: If Baylor doesn’t score on their first attempt, chances are they will on their second. It is key for K-State to find a body and block out.
Take away Jones: Melissa Jones seems to be the glue that holds Baylor together. Running a box and one or somehow limiting Jones’s ball touches will make it harder on Baylor to execute.
Baylor
Work the high-low: With a 6-foot-8 presence inside, guards need to look into the Brittney Griner to score easy bunnies.
Defensive close-outs: the Cats’ versatility on offense tend to hurt opponents. They can hit the three’s and score off the dribble drive, so Baylor has to close out to shooters and make it so its hard to both shoot and drive.
Play up-tempo: If K-State utilizes its quickness to its full potential, Baylor will have to make an effort to keep up with that pace. Running a quick offense will also work in their favor.
--Kylee Nacarrato, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Game #31 - Big 12 Quarterfinals: (5) Colorado (20-12 | 8-8) vs. (4) Kansas State (22-9 | 10-6)
The Kansas State Wildcats begin their postseason run when they collide with the Colorado Buffaloes for the third time, except this time it's in the Big 12 Tournament. Both teams have had solid seasons, and it looks as if both will easily make the NCAA Tournament. K-State is coming in playing their best basketball all season, winning six games in a row and seven out of eight games. Colorado on the other hand, is playing solid basketball as well, winning their last five out of seven. During the first Colorado/K-State tilt, the Buffaloes won in Manhattan, 74-66 back on January 12th. The second time K-State and Colorado played in Boulder, the Cats were a split second away from having a seven-game winning streak instead of the six-game winning streak they're currently enjoying.
The Last Time Out...
Colorado 58 K-State 56 (February 12, 2011 - Coors Events Center in Boulder, CO)
This game came down to the last seconds as Rodney McGruger hit a three point shot to give K-State the lead and the win. However, after the referees reviewed the play through replay and the basket was waved off due to McGruger still having the ball in his hand a tenth of a second after the buzzer went off. This allowed Colorado to win the game 58-56 in thrilling fasion. This was he first time Colorado swept K-State since the 03-04 season. At the time, many people, K-State fans included, had written off the season for the Cats and expecting them to land in the NIT Tournament. Instead of letting this effectively end the season, this was when the Cats started on their magical run not just back into the polls, but more importantly, the NCAA Tournament. This was also before Jacob Pullen went on his run of scoring 20+ points the next five games. In a way, this game wound up being the final wake-up call the Cats needed to get their season in gear. Jamar Samuels led the Cats in scoring with 13 while Jacob Pullen contributed with 12 points of his own. Cory Higgins led Colorado in scoring with 17 points while Levi Knutson scored 16. Here is what happened during K-State and Colorado's most recent games.
K-State 67 Iowa State 55 (March 5, 2011 - Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS)
On Senior Day last year, Iowa State came into Manhattan and defeated the Cats, ruining the end of a great regular season. The Cats kept this in mind this year when Iowa State came to Manhattan, seeking revenge and making sure that wouldn't happen again. Although Iowa State played a good game, the Cats proved to be too much at the end. K-State won 67-55 which capped off a up and down season for the Cats. Jacob Pullen led the team with 17 points and added four assists, with Curtis Kelly scoring 13 rebounds and grabbing eight rebounds. At one point in the second half, Iowa State was was up 39-38 with 15:19 left to play, but an 8-0 run squarely put the momentum and the control of the game back with the Cats. During this game, K-State shot 47% from the field while Iowa State was held to just 37% shooting. Diante Garrett led the Cyclones with 18 points and five assists. Now, let's see how Colorado fared in their last game.
Colorado 77 Iowa State 75 (March 9, 2011 - First Round of the Big 12 Tournament)
The series was tied at one with Colorado winning big in Boulder, 95-69 on February 1st and then, Iowa State got their revenge in Ames when they won 95-90 on March 2nd. The third time around was during the first round of the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. It started out slow, with a halftime score of just 28-26, a much slower pace than the last game was. However, both teams easily picked up the pace, with both teams scoring nearly 50 points a piece in the second half. At the end of the game, Colorado took the game 77-75. Alec Burks led the Buffaloes with 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Cory Higgins scored 16 points and had two assists. Jake Anderson led all scorers with a career-high 33 points while Diante Garrett scored 19 points and had six assists. Colorado won the rebounding battle 48-36, a key reason why the Buffaloes were able to win. Speaking of keys, here are the keys of victory for the Cats and the Buffaloes, starting with K-State.
Keys to Victory:
K-State
Rebounding: If the Cats want to finally win a game against Colorado, they need to win the rebounding battle. It's proven that Colorado can rebound—they had 48 against Iowa State—so keeping the Buffaloes, especially Alec Burks off the boards will be crucial for the Cats to advance to the semis.
Rodney McGruder: The focus of the Buffaloes' defense will be on Jacob Pullen, and rightfully so because he's a pre-season All American and was just nominated to the All-Big 12 First team. This will allow McGruger to have open looks to knock down shots, which he needs to hit to take some of the pressure off of Pullen.
Free-throw shooting: During tournament-time, free throw shooting is crucial. It can keep teams in games if losing, and give teams extra cushion near the end of the game when they want to ice it away and secure victory. K-State needs to hit a lot of their free throws, starting with this game to do all they can to get victories. In turn, the more victories, the better possible seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Colorado
Alec Burks: He needs to have a big game against Jacob Pullen for the Buffaloes to beat the Cats. If Burks is having a big game, this will also open up opportunities for other players, like Levi Knutson to knock down three point shots and spread the Cats' defense.
Levi Knuston: Knutson is a lights-out three point shooter, shooting at a 49% clip. If he gets going from beyond the arc, it'll make life easier on Alec Burks to do his thing, and will make life very difficult on the Cats' perimeter defense to guard him.
Foul trouble: Colorado needs to do their best to stay out of foul trouble, especially their post-men against the likes of Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts. They don't have a whole lot of size besides Shane Harris-Tunks and Ben Mills, making the game very difficult for the Buffaloes to win without some kind of an inside game.
Prediction: K-State wins in a close one, 64-60.
--Paul Payton, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
The Last Time Out...
Colorado 58 K-State 56 (February 12, 2011 - Coors Events Center in Boulder, CO)
This game came down to the last seconds as Rodney McGruger hit a three point shot to give K-State the lead and the win. However, after the referees reviewed the play through replay and the basket was waved off due to McGruger still having the ball in his hand a tenth of a second after the buzzer went off. This allowed Colorado to win the game 58-56 in thrilling fasion. This was he first time Colorado swept K-State since the 03-04 season. At the time, many people, K-State fans included, had written off the season for the Cats and expecting them to land in the NIT Tournament. Instead of letting this effectively end the season, this was when the Cats started on their magical run not just back into the polls, but more importantly, the NCAA Tournament. This was also before Jacob Pullen went on his run of scoring 20+ points the next five games. In a way, this game wound up being the final wake-up call the Cats needed to get their season in gear. Jamar Samuels led the Cats in scoring with 13 while Jacob Pullen contributed with 12 points of his own. Cory Higgins led Colorado in scoring with 17 points while Levi Knutson scored 16. Here is what happened during K-State and Colorado's most recent games.
K-State 67 Iowa State 55 (March 5, 2011 - Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS)
On Senior Day last year, Iowa State came into Manhattan and defeated the Cats, ruining the end of a great regular season. The Cats kept this in mind this year when Iowa State came to Manhattan, seeking revenge and making sure that wouldn't happen again. Although Iowa State played a good game, the Cats proved to be too much at the end. K-State won 67-55 which capped off a up and down season for the Cats. Jacob Pullen led the team with 17 points and added four assists, with Curtis Kelly scoring 13 rebounds and grabbing eight rebounds. At one point in the second half, Iowa State was was up 39-38 with 15:19 left to play, but an 8-0 run squarely put the momentum and the control of the game back with the Cats. During this game, K-State shot 47% from the field while Iowa State was held to just 37% shooting. Diante Garrett led the Cyclones with 18 points and five assists. Now, let's see how Colorado fared in their last game.
Colorado 77 Iowa State 75 (March 9, 2011 - First Round of the Big 12 Tournament)
The series was tied at one with Colorado winning big in Boulder, 95-69 on February 1st and then, Iowa State got their revenge in Ames when they won 95-90 on March 2nd. The third time around was during the first round of the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. It started out slow, with a halftime score of just 28-26, a much slower pace than the last game was. However, both teams easily picked up the pace, with both teams scoring nearly 50 points a piece in the second half. At the end of the game, Colorado took the game 77-75. Alec Burks led the Buffaloes with 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Cory Higgins scored 16 points and had two assists. Jake Anderson led all scorers with a career-high 33 points while Diante Garrett scored 19 points and had six assists. Colorado won the rebounding battle 48-36, a key reason why the Buffaloes were able to win. Speaking of keys, here are the keys of victory for the Cats and the Buffaloes, starting with K-State.
Keys to Victory:
K-State
Rebounding: If the Cats want to finally win a game against Colorado, they need to win the rebounding battle. It's proven that Colorado can rebound—they had 48 against Iowa State—so keeping the Buffaloes, especially Alec Burks off the boards will be crucial for the Cats to advance to the semis.
Rodney McGruder: The focus of the Buffaloes' defense will be on Jacob Pullen, and rightfully so because he's a pre-season All American and was just nominated to the All-Big 12 First team. This will allow McGruger to have open looks to knock down shots, which he needs to hit to take some of the pressure off of Pullen.
Free-throw shooting: During tournament-time, free throw shooting is crucial. It can keep teams in games if losing, and give teams extra cushion near the end of the game when they want to ice it away and secure victory. K-State needs to hit a lot of their free throws, starting with this game to do all they can to get victories. In turn, the more victories, the better possible seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Colorado
Alec Burks: He needs to have a big game against Jacob Pullen for the Buffaloes to beat the Cats. If Burks is having a big game, this will also open up opportunities for other players, like Levi Knutson to knock down three point shots and spread the Cats' defense.
Levi Knuston: Knutson is a lights-out three point shooter, shooting at a 49% clip. If he gets going from beyond the arc, it'll make life easier on Alec Burks to do his thing, and will make life very difficult on the Cats' perimeter defense to guard him.
Foul trouble: Colorado needs to do their best to stay out of foul trouble, especially their post-men against the likes of Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts. They don't have a whole lot of size besides Shane Harris-Tunks and Ben Mills, making the game very difficult for the Buffaloes to win without some kind of an inside game.
Prediction: K-State wins in a close one, 64-60.
--Paul Payton, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Women's Game #30: (5) Iowa State vs (4) Kansas State in the Big 12 Quarterfinals
Fourth-seeded Kansas State look to face fifth-seeded Iowa State as they meet up in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinal round in the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on Wednesday. This will be the third time the two teams meet up this season, with the Lady Cyclones snagging both victories in conference play. Iowa State comes off of a first-round tournament win over Nebraska on Tuesday, earning its trip to the quarterfinal round for the eight-consecutive year. The Lady Cats earned a first-round bye in the conference tournament this week after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday night in the finale game of the regular season.
The Last Time They Met…
Iowa State @ Kansas State on February 26, 2011 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS
Not even two weeks ago the two familiar teams met up, with Iowa State snatching a regular season sweep with a 58-51 win against the Wildcats. Iowa State gave the Cats one out of their only two losses at home in Bramlage of the season. Iowa State’s Kelsey Bolte, who was just recently a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first team, propelled the Cyclones to victory with the game-high 19 points, while teammate Lauren Mansfield added 14. The Cats struggled beyond the arc in the teams’ last meeting, just shooting 3-of-16. K-State was led by the efforts of Jalana Childs, who was named All-Big 12 second team by the league office on Monday, scoring 19 points in the match-up. Brittany Chambers, also a unanimous selection by the league’s coaches to the All-Big 12 first team, added 12 for the game.
Last Game Out…
Kansas State 56 Kansas 51 (Allen Fieldhouse – Lawrence, KS. 3/5/2011)
The Wildcats knocked off rival Kansas in a fight to the end Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, 56-51 in the regular season finale for the two teams. Both teams came out fierce, not letting the other take control as the score was tied mid-way through the first half. K-State held on late as KU scored five straight with under minutes to go getting within three points, before Kansas State’s Taelor Karr sank in two free throws to seal the win down the stretch. Jalana Childs led a group of three Wildcats in double figures with 16 points, while Mariah White pitched in 14 and Taelor Karr added 12 points and eight rebounds. Carolyn Davis led Kansas with 15 points and 14 rebounds. She was recently picked for All-Big 12 first team.
Iowa State 69 Nebraska 61 (Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO. 3/8/2011)
Fifth-seeded Iowa State earned a 69-61 win over 12th-seeded Nebraska Tuesday. The Cyclones were led by the efforts of Lauren Mansfield who had a career-high 23 points and dished out five assists. Iowa State was hot beyond the arc, connecting on 13 3-point shots. The 13 3-pointers were just one shy of the all-time Big 12 Championship record. Iowa State’s rebounding dominated the game with a 46-32 edge and 16 offensive rebounds to Nebraska’s five. Iowa State’s Chelsea Poppens scored eight-straight down the stretch, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for the game. Kelsey Bolte added 15 points, which were all 3-point baskets.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Rebounding: Rebounding on both the defensive and offensive side will be crucial for the Cats. The Cyclone’s have a knack for snatching rebounds, which has helped them win several games, including its first-round tournament win over Nebraska. If the Cats can out-rebound Iowa State, it’ll create a better opportunity for them to score inside.
Shooting: Based off their last match-up with the Cyclones, one of K-State’s main problems was its shooting. For a team that relies a lot on their outside shooting, it’ll be imperative that they shoot with better accuracy this go around.
Wear them out: K-State already has an advantage given that they have fresh legs compared to Iowa State, who just came off a tough win against Nebraska. Applying intense pressure or a full-court press could help wear the Cyclones down.
Iowa State
Shut down K-State’s shooters: It’ll make it easier on the Cyclones if they don’t let shooters like Brittany Chambers and Taelor Karr go off. Last game, the Cats were cold beyond the arc and will be looking for redemption so Iowa State needs to be on their toes.
Continue to out-rebound: The ability to out rebound opponents is obviously working well for the Cyclones, and their rebounding mentality needs to continue to cap this game off.
Depth: Several times this season, K-State has had at least three players in double figures. Iowa State needs to match up and rely on several of their players to step up.
The Last Time They Met…
Iowa State @ Kansas State on February 26, 2011 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS
Not even two weeks ago the two familiar teams met up, with Iowa State snatching a regular season sweep with a 58-51 win against the Wildcats. Iowa State gave the Cats one out of their only two losses at home in Bramlage of the season. Iowa State’s Kelsey Bolte, who was just recently a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first team, propelled the Cyclones to victory with the game-high 19 points, while teammate Lauren Mansfield added 14. The Cats struggled beyond the arc in the teams’ last meeting, just shooting 3-of-16. K-State was led by the efforts of Jalana Childs, who was named All-Big 12 second team by the league office on Monday, scoring 19 points in the match-up. Brittany Chambers, also a unanimous selection by the league’s coaches to the All-Big 12 first team, added 12 for the game.
Last Game Out…
Kansas State 56 Kansas 51 (Allen Fieldhouse – Lawrence, KS. 3/5/2011)
The Wildcats knocked off rival Kansas in a fight to the end Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, 56-51 in the regular season finale for the two teams. Both teams came out fierce, not letting the other take control as the score was tied mid-way through the first half. K-State held on late as KU scored five straight with under minutes to go getting within three points, before Kansas State’s Taelor Karr sank in two free throws to seal the win down the stretch. Jalana Childs led a group of three Wildcats in double figures with 16 points, while Mariah White pitched in 14 and Taelor Karr added 12 points and eight rebounds. Carolyn Davis led Kansas with 15 points and 14 rebounds. She was recently picked for All-Big 12 first team.
Iowa State 69 Nebraska 61 (Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO. 3/8/2011)
Fifth-seeded Iowa State earned a 69-61 win over 12th-seeded Nebraska Tuesday. The Cyclones were led by the efforts of Lauren Mansfield who had a career-high 23 points and dished out five assists. Iowa State was hot beyond the arc, connecting on 13 3-point shots. The 13 3-pointers were just one shy of the all-time Big 12 Championship record. Iowa State’s rebounding dominated the game with a 46-32 edge and 16 offensive rebounds to Nebraska’s five. Iowa State’s Chelsea Poppens scored eight-straight down the stretch, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for the game. Kelsey Bolte added 15 points, which were all 3-point baskets.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Rebounding: Rebounding on both the defensive and offensive side will be crucial for the Cats. The Cyclone’s have a knack for snatching rebounds, which has helped them win several games, including its first-round tournament win over Nebraska. If the Cats can out-rebound Iowa State, it’ll create a better opportunity for them to score inside.
Shooting: Based off their last match-up with the Cyclones, one of K-State’s main problems was its shooting. For a team that relies a lot on their outside shooting, it’ll be imperative that they shoot with better accuracy this go around.
Wear them out: K-State already has an advantage given that they have fresh legs compared to Iowa State, who just came off a tough win against Nebraska. Applying intense pressure or a full-court press could help wear the Cyclones down.
Iowa State
Shut down K-State’s shooters: It’ll make it easier on the Cyclones if they don’t let shooters like Brittany Chambers and Taelor Karr go off. Last game, the Cats were cold beyond the arc and will be looking for redemption so Iowa State needs to be on their toes.
Continue to out-rebound: The ability to out rebound opponents is obviously working well for the Cyclones, and their rebounding mentality needs to continue to cap this game off.
Depth: Several times this season, K-State has had at least three players in double figures. Iowa State needs to match up and rely on several of their players to step up.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Women’s game #28: Texas A/M (24-3, 12-2 Big 12) at Kansas State (18-9, 8-6 Big 12)
The Kansas State Wildcats host No. 5 Texas A&M for the last scheduled home game of the 2010-11 season, which will be televised of Fox Sports Kansas City. The two teams meet up for the first time this season. Before the game, K-State will celebrate “Senior Night” by recognizing its only two seniors, Kelsey Hill and Shalin Spani. K-State looks to cap a win after two straight losses, including just their second home loss to Iowa State last Saturday night. The Aggies come into the contest as winners of three straight and six of their last seven outings. Texas A&M have proven to be strong conference contenders with at least a secured second-place finish in the big 12. The Aggies currently own a three-game winning streak against the Wildcats, with their last victory of 69-63 on Feb. 13, 2010.
Last Game Out...
(25) Iowa State 58 K-State 51 (Bramlage Coliseum-Manhattan, KS. 2/26/2011)
Iowa State prevailed against the Wildcats for the second time this season with a 58-51 win, handing Kansas State just its second loss at home of the season at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats had three players in double figures and led by the effort of Jalana Childs with scored 18 points. Taelor Karr and Brittany Chambers added 12 and 10 points respectively, with Karr dishing out a career-high of seven assists. Iowa State’s Kelsey Bolte made several key shots down the stretch and snagged 19 points for a game-high, while Lauren Mansfield added 14. The Wildcats were cold from beyond the arc for most of the game just shooting 3-of-16, but with just under a minute left in the game, a Chambers three pointer followed by a Kelsey Hill three cut Iowa State’s lead to 53-49, but the Cyclones sealed the win with five free throws down the stretch.
(5) Texas A&M 68 Texas 65 (Erwin Center-Austin, TX. 2/27/2011)
Texas A&M got their 10th consecutive win over the Texas Longhorns on Sunday with a 68-65 victory. As noted in an article by Associated Press, it was the first time since 2008 that the Longhorns had stayed within 10 points of the Aggies. However, the Longhorns were held to their second-lowest first-half total in Texas history at just 17 points, but rallied back in the second, shooting 59 percent and scoring 48 points. Despite the rally, Texas A&M were able to hang on to their lead throughout the game. The Aggies were led by the effort of Danielle Adams who scored 26 points, with Tyra White adding 14.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Containment: K-State needs to limit the amount of runs on offense for the Aggies and not let them go off. If they get in a too big of a hole, there’s no crawling out.
Intense Perimeter Defense: It’s all about the defense for K-State. The Wildcats need to put intense pressure on the Aggies guards to make it difficult to feed into the post. Texas A&M’s 6-1 senior forward, Danielle Adams, leads the team and the Big 12 in scoring with 23.4 points per game and is the ultimate power house inside. The less touches she has on the offense the better for K-State.
Shooting: The Wildcats need to put the ball in the hoop, plain and simple. In the last contest against the Aggies, K-State proved that just hitting a bunch of 3-pointers, but only shooting 31 percent, won’t cut it.
Texas A&M
Guard Pressure: Texas A&M needs to limit the amount of scoring beyond the three-point line by constantly pressuring and closing out to the guards. Last game the Aggies allowed for 11 3-pointers, which could be deadly this go around if the Wildcats step up their overall shooting percentage compared to the last meeting.
Danielle Adams: Danielle just came off a huge week averaging 28 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks last week that earned her her fifth Big 12 Player of the Week award. If she can continue this type of productivity against the likes of Jalana Childs and Branshea Brown then the Aggies are in good shape.
Ball protection: The Aggies must take care of the ball and not allow for silly turn-overs. K-State is quick on the steal and will pick their pocket if they aren’t careful.
--Kylee Naccarato, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Last Game Out...
(25) Iowa State 58 K-State 51 (Bramlage Coliseum-Manhattan, KS. 2/26/2011)
Iowa State prevailed against the Wildcats for the second time this season with a 58-51 win, handing Kansas State just its second loss at home of the season at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats had three players in double figures and led by the effort of Jalana Childs with scored 18 points. Taelor Karr and Brittany Chambers added 12 and 10 points respectively, with Karr dishing out a career-high of seven assists. Iowa State’s Kelsey Bolte made several key shots down the stretch and snagged 19 points for a game-high, while Lauren Mansfield added 14. The Wildcats were cold from beyond the arc for most of the game just shooting 3-of-16, but with just under a minute left in the game, a Chambers three pointer followed by a Kelsey Hill three cut Iowa State’s lead to 53-49, but the Cyclones sealed the win with five free throws down the stretch.
(5) Texas A&M 68 Texas 65 (Erwin Center-Austin, TX. 2/27/2011)
Texas A&M got their 10th consecutive win over the Texas Longhorns on Sunday with a 68-65 victory. As noted in an article by Associated Press, it was the first time since 2008 that the Longhorns had stayed within 10 points of the Aggies. However, the Longhorns were held to their second-lowest first-half total in Texas history at just 17 points, but rallied back in the second, shooting 59 percent and scoring 48 points. Despite the rally, Texas A&M were able to hang on to their lead throughout the game. The Aggies were led by the effort of Danielle Adams who scored 26 points, with Tyra White adding 14.
Keys to Victory
K-State
Containment: K-State needs to limit the amount of runs on offense for the Aggies and not let them go off. If they get in a too big of a hole, there’s no crawling out.
Intense Perimeter Defense: It’s all about the defense for K-State. The Wildcats need to put intense pressure on the Aggies guards to make it difficult to feed into the post. Texas A&M’s 6-1 senior forward, Danielle Adams, leads the team and the Big 12 in scoring with 23.4 points per game and is the ultimate power house inside. The less touches she has on the offense the better for K-State.
Shooting: The Wildcats need to put the ball in the hoop, plain and simple. In the last contest against the Aggies, K-State proved that just hitting a bunch of 3-pointers, but only shooting 31 percent, won’t cut it.
Texas A&M
Guard Pressure: Texas A&M needs to limit the amount of scoring beyond the three-point line by constantly pressuring and closing out to the guards. Last game the Aggies allowed for 11 3-pointers, which could be deadly this go around if the Wildcats step up their overall shooting percentage compared to the last meeting.
Danielle Adams: Danielle just came off a huge week averaging 28 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks last week that earned her her fifth Big 12 Player of the Week award. If she can continue this type of productivity against the likes of Jalana Childs and Branshea Brown then the Aggies are in good shape.
Ball protection: The Aggies must take care of the ball and not allow for silly turn-overs. K-State is quick on the steal and will pick their pocket if they aren’t careful.
--Kylee Naccarato, Wildcat 91.9 Sports Staff
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Women’s game #27: (25) Iowa State (19-8) @ Kansas State (18-8)
Kansas State will turn Bramlage pink for the WBCA “Pink Zone” initiative as they host the Iowa State Cyclones. The Wildcats look to close out the month of February with a winning record and to remain in control of fourth-place in the Big 12. Kansas State achieved a milestone with a 69-64 win at Nebraska on Feb. 19, as they became the 13th program in NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball history to record 800 or more wins.
The Cyclones storm into town as winners of the three of their last four contests and will attempt to win just their third road game of the season, as they are 2-6 away from home and 1-5 in the Big 12. ISU is looking to cap its first win in Manhattan since 2007. ISU is also going for its fifth-straight 20-win season, which has only been done once before (1998-2002). Iowa State is now 19-8 overall and 7-6 in the Big 12.
Last Time They Met
K-State @ Iowa State on February 13, 2011 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA.
The Cyclones hit seven free throws in the final minute-and-a-half of the game and got 25 points from Kelsey Bolte to beat the Wildcats 61-53. Bolte scored eight of the Cyclones’ first 16 points as Iowa State took an early 16-12 lead. The Wildcats answered back and took a 19-18 lead later in the half. After an 11-2 run, the Cyclones gained a 38-27 lead at halftime. Both teams struggled to start the second half as Jalana Childs made the only field goal in the first five minutes. Childs led the Wildcats with 21 points and five rebounds. Brittany Chambers added 19 points. For the Cyclones, Anna Prins added 10 points and Hallie Christofferson had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Last Game Out
(3) Baylor 75 K-State 48(Ferrell Center - Waco, TX. 2/23/2011)
The Lady Wildcats took a hard loss from Baylor on Wednesday when they were held to 48 points to the Lady Bears’ 75. Baylor (25-2, 12-1 Big 12) came out hot scoring the game’s first seven points and led 22-6 only eight minutes in. Kansas State pulled within 10 points in the first half but never got closer. The Lady Bears were supported by a 53.8 percent shooting effort compared to K-State’s 37 percent. The Wildcats were led by Jalana Childs, who tied her career-high with 22 points on 9-16 shooting, and Brittney Chambers, who added 15 points. Baylor’s Brittney Griner had 21 first half points, finishing the game with 26 total. Melissa Jones added 11 points and nine rebounds for Baylor.
(25)Iowa State 66 Texas 57 (Hilton Coliseum - Ames, IA. 2/21/2011)
Iowa State defeated Texas, 66-75, in overtime in Ames on Monday. It was a back and forth contest between the Cyclones and the Longhorns, with the lead changing 11 times and the score tied 11 times. The Cyclones were quick out of the gate at the start of overtime and three inside baskets and a pair of missed Texas’ three-point attempts followed by a Kelsey Bolte big time trey put the game out of reach for the Longhorns. Iowa State’s Chelsea Poppens scored a career-high 23 points with a game-high 13 rebounds. Anna Prins added 13 points. Texas made 10 3-point field goals but Iowa State outrebounded (44-27) and outscored Texas in the paint (34-18) that helped overcome the Longhorn’s sharp perimeter shooting.
Keys To Victory
K-State
Depth: In order to match Iowa State, Kansas State needs help from the bench. The Cyclone’s bench is outscoring its opposition by over four points per game and is contributing 17.1 points per game, or 25.8 percent of their scoring.
Sharp from the start: It is key that the Lady Wildcats come out ready to play right at tip off. The Cyclones are 17-0 this season when leading at half. That means K-State has no time to slack and little room for error, especially in the beginning.
Defense: Cyclone’s Kelsey Bolte averages 19.7 points per game and is one of the nation’s top shooters. She’ll most likely get hers, so it is in K-State’s best interest to shut down other players while limiting Bolte.
Iowa State
Execution: Iowa State will have to take advantage of every possession and execute their offense. Last game the Cyclones were 21 of 26 from the foul line to K-State’s 3 of 4. If they’re not scoring from the foul line this game, they will have to earn their points elsewhere.
Inside Presence: The Wildcat’s recent wins can be traced to its success at scoring in the paint and preventing its opponents from doing just that. K-State is scoring 26.2 points per game in the lane while holding their opponents to 23.5 points per game. Iowa State needs to buckle down and have strong presence in the paint.
Rebounding: K-State is known for having their guards attack the boards and is being lead in rebounds by guard Brittany Chambers. Iowa State will have to block out all five of K-State’s players on the court and limit their second-chance opportunities.
--Kylee Nacarrato
The Cyclones storm into town as winners of the three of their last four contests and will attempt to win just their third road game of the season, as they are 2-6 away from home and 1-5 in the Big 12. ISU is looking to cap its first win in Manhattan since 2007. ISU is also going for its fifth-straight 20-win season, which has only been done once before (1998-2002). Iowa State is now 19-8 overall and 7-6 in the Big 12.
Last Time They Met
K-State @ Iowa State on February 13, 2011 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA.
The Cyclones hit seven free throws in the final minute-and-a-half of the game and got 25 points from Kelsey Bolte to beat the Wildcats 61-53. Bolte scored eight of the Cyclones’ first 16 points as Iowa State took an early 16-12 lead. The Wildcats answered back and took a 19-18 lead later in the half. After an 11-2 run, the Cyclones gained a 38-27 lead at halftime. Both teams struggled to start the second half as Jalana Childs made the only field goal in the first five minutes. Childs led the Wildcats with 21 points and five rebounds. Brittany Chambers added 19 points. For the Cyclones, Anna Prins added 10 points and Hallie Christofferson had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Last Game Out
(3) Baylor 75 K-State 48(Ferrell Center - Waco, TX. 2/23/2011)
The Lady Wildcats took a hard loss from Baylor on Wednesday when they were held to 48 points to the Lady Bears’ 75. Baylor (25-2, 12-1 Big 12) came out hot scoring the game’s first seven points and led 22-6 only eight minutes in. Kansas State pulled within 10 points in the first half but never got closer. The Lady Bears were supported by a 53.8 percent shooting effort compared to K-State’s 37 percent. The Wildcats were led by Jalana Childs, who tied her career-high with 22 points on 9-16 shooting, and Brittney Chambers, who added 15 points. Baylor’s Brittney Griner had 21 first half points, finishing the game with 26 total. Melissa Jones added 11 points and nine rebounds for Baylor.
(25)Iowa State 66 Texas 57 (Hilton Coliseum - Ames, IA. 2/21/2011)
Iowa State defeated Texas, 66-75, in overtime in Ames on Monday. It was a back and forth contest between the Cyclones and the Longhorns, with the lead changing 11 times and the score tied 11 times. The Cyclones were quick out of the gate at the start of overtime and three inside baskets and a pair of missed Texas’ three-point attempts followed by a Kelsey Bolte big time trey put the game out of reach for the Longhorns. Iowa State’s Chelsea Poppens scored a career-high 23 points with a game-high 13 rebounds. Anna Prins added 13 points. Texas made 10 3-point field goals but Iowa State outrebounded (44-27) and outscored Texas in the paint (34-18) that helped overcome the Longhorn’s sharp perimeter shooting.
Keys To Victory
K-State
Depth: In order to match Iowa State, Kansas State needs help from the bench. The Cyclone’s bench is outscoring its opposition by over four points per game and is contributing 17.1 points per game, or 25.8 percent of their scoring.
Sharp from the start: It is key that the Lady Wildcats come out ready to play right at tip off. The Cyclones are 17-0 this season when leading at half. That means K-State has no time to slack and little room for error, especially in the beginning.
Defense: Cyclone’s Kelsey Bolte averages 19.7 points per game and is one of the nation’s top shooters. She’ll most likely get hers, so it is in K-State’s best interest to shut down other players while limiting Bolte.
Iowa State
Execution: Iowa State will have to take advantage of every possession and execute their offense. Last game the Cyclones were 21 of 26 from the foul line to K-State’s 3 of 4. If they’re not scoring from the foul line this game, they will have to earn their points elsewhere.
Inside Presence: The Wildcat’s recent wins can be traced to its success at scoring in the paint and preventing its opponents from doing just that. K-State is scoring 26.2 points per game in the lane while holding their opponents to 23.5 points per game. Iowa State needs to buckle down and have strong presence in the paint.
Rebounding: K-State is known for having their guards attack the boards and is being lead in rebounds by guard Brittany Chambers. Iowa State will have to block out all five of K-State’s players on the court and limit their second-chance opportunities.
--Kylee Nacarrato
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)