From The Couch – K-State Basketball Advances To The Sweet 16

From The Couch – K-State Basketball Advances To The Sweet 16

K-State is returning to the Sweet 16 after a great 75 to 69 win against six seed Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. K-State got behind early after some cold shooting, but played tough, tenacious defense all game long to keep it close. Three pointers by Markquis Nowell, Ish Massoud, and Keyontae Johnson late in the second half allowed K-State to pull away for the victory.

Nowell finished with 27 points, nine assists, and only four turnovers in the game. A few of the assists were jaw dropping, highlight reel assists enough to make any K-State fan jump out of their chair. If Nowell keeps playing like this, who knows how far this K-State team can go in this tournament.

This is the furthest that K-State has advanced in the NCAA tournament since making an appearance in the Elite 8 in 2018. Coincidentally, that team also beat Kentucky, but in the Sweet 16.

Here are some of the game highlights and coach and player comments after the game.

JM: This was one of many no-look highlight reel assists by Markquis Nowell in the game. He played at an elite level at a time where K-State needed him to.

JM: Nowell makes it look easy, but that’s not an easy pass to make.

JM: This was a huge rainbow three-pointer by Nowell down four points with three and a half minutes left in the game. What would have happened if he missed and Kentucky rebounded and went down and scored? I don’t want to think about it.

JM: This shot by Ish Massoud got me to jump up off the couch in celebration. K-State was down one with 2:22 left and Massoud calmly nailed the shot. He was asked if this was the biggest shot of his life….

JM: I’m happy for Massoud. He deserves this for sticking around and playing for Jerome Tang. He was also in a celebratory mood walking off the court.

JM: It’s nice to see the players celebrating with the fans like this. While Massoud’s three-point shot was probably the biggest shot of the game, Kentucky was still down only two points with 1:26 left in the game. K-State had the ball and Keyontae Johnson hit an amazing step-back three-pointer to seal the deal for K-State….

JM: Johnson didn’t have a great game, but this shot sure was great. He finished the game with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers. Kentucky made an effort to shut him down and did a decent job for most of the game. They were making him work to get open and he was hitting the front of the rim on most of his jump shots. But he made this one when it counted the most.

JM: Jerome Tang was fired up after this one, and rightfully so. I love his enthusiasm.

JM: Yep, we got dudes alright. And it looks like there are more on the way. But that’s a topic for another time.

JM: This was, uh, interesting to say the least. Hey, it worked, so I can’t complain at all.

JM: “The Mahomes?” I’m not sure exactly why they call it “the Mahomes,” but Patrick Mahomes chimed in on this video…

JM: Someone get Mahomes some K-State gear to wear.

JM: This team of “dudes” is loose and confident right now. And they love each other. Is that a recipe for winning a championship?

JM: “We have a program that is rich in tradition also.” What a great reply!

JM: If you’re a K-State fan and this doesn’t give you goosebumps, you might want to check your pulse!

JM: Tang was confident Massoud was going to hit that three-pointer, but I sure wasn’t until it went through the net!

JM: K-State fans always represent well when meeting either the football or basketball team back home after a big victory. Hope we see this a couple more times in the next two weeks.

JM: Jerome Tang. Class act. Glad he is K-State’s basketball coach. What an ambassador for the University.

JM: I don’t see any way they can give this award to anyone else besides Jerome Tang. What he has accomplished with this team since he was hired has been nothing short of phenomenal.

JM: K-State plays Michigan State in the Sweet 16 this Thursday at 5:30 on TBS. Playing against a Tom Izzo coached team scares me. They took care of the ten-seed USC and the two-seed Marquette rather easily. I think we’re gonna get another nerve-wracking game that’ll cause my blood pressure to spike like it did many times yesterday, but if K-State can play tough defense and not turn the ball over I like their chances. How cool would a Final Four appearance be? I hate to look ahead, but I think it’s possible. Can’t wait till Thursday.

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