The Big 12 conference tournament, not yet in the semifinal match-ups, has already seen its fair share of excitement and unexpected outcomes. Nebraska, the 12-seed in the tournament, defeated Missouri, the 5-seed, by 15 points on the first day. Texas Tech, the 9-seed in the tournament, gave Kansas a run for their money before losing by 12 points. Nebraska gave Texas A&M all they could handle before fading late and losing to the Aggies by 6 points.
In the first round of the tournament, Oklahoma State manhandled Oklahoma in a game that looked more like a scrimmage than a conference tournament between two respectable major-conference teams. It appeared that Oklahoma State was rolling entering their rematch with the Wildcats who had lost their final two regular-season games.
Before losing to Iowa State in the season finale, the Wildcats envisioned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, even after the loss to Kansas, the Wildcats got help from Duke, allowing them to stay in the hunt for the last No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Sadly, the loss to Iowa State likely took K-State out of any discussion for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
It seems as though every time K-State plays Kansas, they follow it up with a struggle against an under-achieving opponent. The first time K-State played Kansas this season, the Wildcats barely edged the upset-minded Nebraska Cornhuskers. Following the second Kansas game, the Wildcats lost at home to Iowa State.
Frank Martin already knew his team had to get it together. After losing to Iowa State, the notion of obtaining a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament was gone. The Wildcats could return to focusing on improving with each game. If anything the loss to Iowa State was a slap in the face, the realization that the Wildcats can be really, really bad if they don’t play to their ability.
After Oklahoma State beat both Kansas and Kansas State in the regular season, many suspected this to be a tight game. That, however, was not the case. Not even close. Kansas State pounded Oklahoma State and led by 25 points at halftime, sparked by Jamar Samuels’ 21 first-half points.
The Wildcats smothered the Cowboys all night long with stifling defense. The Wildcats held the Big 12 Player of the Year, James Anderson, to 8-of-21 shooting from the field and 4-of-14 from beyond the arc. He accumulated points, but most of them came after the game was well out of hand for the Cowboys.
The Wildcats made the Cowboys one-dimensional on offense, something they have not had happen too much this season. In their wins against Kansas and Kansas State earlier this season, Anderson came up huge, but his team offered significant help. The Cowboys were far from one-dimensional in both of those games, and their reward was two wins over top-10 teams.
Against the Wildcats in the Big 12 tournament, Anderson scored 42 percent of the Cowboys’ offense. He also took 40 percent of the shots on offense. That is simply not a winning formula for beating a team as physical as the Wildcats.
Jamar Samuels led the way for the Wildcats with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Kansas State certainly let Samuels work on the offensive end. After a dominating first half, the Wildcats led the Cowboys by a score of 51-26. Samuels scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half.
The Wildcats rebounded the ball in dominating fashion against the Cowboys, holding a 41-25 edge. The Wildcats also dished out 20 assists on 28 field goals.
Junior guard Jacob Pullen also added his 19 points and 3 assists. Two other players joined Pullen and Samuels in double-figures for the Wildcats.
Unlike other games this season, the Wildcats continued to pummel the Cowboys, refusing to allow any comeback. The Wildcats finished off the game and advanced to semifinal game where they will take on either Baylor or Texas.
The win does a lot for the Wildcats. It helps to restore the confidence level that dissipated after the deflating Iowa State loss and should carry some momentum into the next game for the Wildcats. K-State has won 25 of its 31 games this season, tying a school record for most wins in a season. They can break the record with a win against either Baylor or Texas tomorrow in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.
