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
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