SE: K-State Ready for Unexpected Matchup with No. 16 Seed UMBC on Sunday in Second Round of NCAA Tournament
Mar 18, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Expect the unexpected, especially in March.
For K-State, however, this mindset has been a big part of its entire season. The unpredictable path continued after the Wildcats (23-11) beat Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
While they anticipated preparing to play the No. 1 overall seed in Virginia, a previously impossible feat took place instead. UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's history, topping Virginia by 20.
"It's the first time in history, so of course it was unreal," K-State sophomore forward Xavier Sneed said, as K-State will take on UMBC in the second round on Sunday at 6:45 p.m. (CT), at the Spectrum Center. "Everybody was shocked."
"It's history," added freshman guard Mike McGuirl. "As a basketball fan it's pretty crazy to see that a 16 seed finally beat a one seed."
Again, this is far from the first time K-State has been hit with an unforeseen situation. Each time before, the Wildcats have responded in a positive way.
Take the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals against TCU, for instance. K-State looked to be on its way to a 59-56 win against the Horned Frogs. Then TCU sank a last-second 3-point shot to send the game to overtime.
K-State responded well. The Wildcats held the Horned Frogs without a field goal in the overtime period en route to winning, 66-64.
"Our poise, our confidence, our leadership," junior Barry Brown listed as the keys to his team's ability to respond. "I feel like we've had a little bit more leadership than in the past, and we have some more experience, so we're a little bit more poised in certain situations. That allows us to make big plays down the stretch"
The Wildcats have bounced back from more serious adversity than a game-tying shot, too.
Let's start with losing point guard Kamau Stokes to a foot injury on January 6. Stokes, a junior, was averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 assists before the injury and missed the next seven games. His teammates responded by going 5-2 without him, and the only two losses during his absence were to the eventual Big 12 champion Kansas.
"It's basketball. Things happen, injuries happen," said redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra, who averaged 12.0 points and 3.4 assists while Stokes was out. "We just keep it going, moving forward, have a next-man-up mentality and we do whatever it takes to win. It's a team game, so that's why we have 16 of us. Everybody has to contribute."
More bad news arrived after K-State beat TCU in the Big 12 Championship. K-State's leading scorer and All-Big 12 First Team pick Dean Wade suffered a foot injury. He sat out against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship semifinals, where the Wildcats would also lose Barry Brown, their second leading scorer, early on to an eye injury.
Still, the short-handed Wildcats gave Kansas, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a respectable battle. At one point in the second half, K-State pulled within two points of the Jayhawks. Players like Makol Mawien, who went off for 29 points against Kansas to earn all-tournament honors, and McGuirl, who served as a bench hero in Friday's win over Creighton, showed they were ready to play in much bigger roles.
"We didn't really expect any of it," McGuirl said of the injuries, "but when it happened we just had to stay positive, keep encouraging each other and battle through it because the rest of the world isn't going to stop for us."
"One of our sayings is, 'Stay ready so you don't have to get ready,'" Brown said of his younger and less-experienced teammates. "They're constantly in the gym, staying ready for their shining moment."
Now, the Wildcats face another challenge no one could have predicted. They will be the first team to play a No. 16 seed in the second round. The numbers mean nothing to them, however.
"We're just focused on them as our opponent, not what seed they are," McGuirl said. "At the end of the day, it's just going to be two teams going onto the court and just another opponent we have to prepare for the same way we prepare for any other team."
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Expect the unexpected, especially in March.
For K-State, however, this mindset has been a big part of its entire season. The unpredictable path continued after the Wildcats (23-11) beat Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
While they anticipated preparing to play the No. 1 overall seed in Virginia, a previously impossible feat took place instead. UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's history, topping Virginia by 20.
"It's the first time in history, so of course it was unreal," K-State sophomore forward Xavier Sneed said, as K-State will take on UMBC in the second round on Sunday at 6:45 p.m. (CT), at the Spectrum Center. "Everybody was shocked."
"It's history," added freshman guard Mike McGuirl. "As a basketball fan it's pretty crazy to see that a 16 seed finally beat a one seed."
Again, this is far from the first time K-State has been hit with an unforeseen situation. Each time before, the Wildcats have responded in a positive way.
Take the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals against TCU, for instance. K-State looked to be on its way to a 59-56 win against the Horned Frogs. Then TCU sank a last-second 3-point shot to send the game to overtime.
K-State responded well. The Wildcats held the Horned Frogs without a field goal in the overtime period en route to winning, 66-64.
"Our poise, our confidence, our leadership," junior Barry Brown listed as the keys to his team's ability to respond. "I feel like we've had a little bit more leadership than in the past, and we have some more experience, so we're a little bit more poised in certain situations. That allows us to make big plays down the stretch"
The Wildcats have bounced back from more serious adversity than a game-tying shot, too.
Let's start with losing point guard Kamau Stokes to a foot injury on January 6. Stokes, a junior, was averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 assists before the injury and missed the next seven games. His teammates responded by going 5-2 without him, and the only two losses during his absence were to the eventual Big 12 champion Kansas.
"It's basketball. Things happen, injuries happen," said redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra, who averaged 12.0 points and 3.4 assists while Stokes was out. "We just keep it going, moving forward, have a next-man-up mentality and we do whatever it takes to win. It's a team game, so that's why we have 16 of us. Everybody has to contribute."
More bad news arrived after K-State beat TCU in the Big 12 Championship. K-State's leading scorer and All-Big 12 First Team pick Dean Wade suffered a foot injury. He sat out against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship semifinals, where the Wildcats would also lose Barry Brown, their second leading scorer, early on to an eye injury.
Still, the short-handed Wildcats gave Kansas, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a respectable battle. At one point in the second half, K-State pulled within two points of the Jayhawks. Players like Makol Mawien, who went off for 29 points against Kansas to earn all-tournament honors, and McGuirl, who served as a bench hero in Friday's win over Creighton, showed they were ready to play in much bigger roles.
"We didn't really expect any of it," McGuirl said of the injuries, "but when it happened we just had to stay positive, keep encouraging each other and battle through it because the rest of the world isn't going to stop for us."
"One of our sayings is, 'Stay ready so you don't have to get ready,'" Brown said of his younger and less-experienced teammates. "They're constantly in the gym, staying ready for their shining moment."
Now, the Wildcats face another challenge no one could have predicted. They will be the first team to play a No. 16 seed in the second round. The numbers mean nothing to them, however.
"We're just focused on them as our opponent, not what seed they are," McGuirl said. "At the end of the day, it's just going to be two teams going onto the court and just another opponent we have to prepare for the same way we prepare for any other team."
Players Mentioned
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