SE: How Mike McGuirl Delivered an Unforgettable Senior Night Moment
Feb 24, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Three shots. Nine points. 90 seconds.
However you want to break down what Mike McGuirl did on Tuesday night, the senior's game-breaking moment gave K-State the lead for good in a 62-57 win over No. 7 Oklahoma.
Turns out, this was all part of the plan. Sort of.
"The last thing I told the guys today after shootaround was I want you to lead off SportsCenter," Bruce Weber said. "I'm just so happy for Mike McGuirl."
And that's before you get to the stage on Tuesday night. His nine-point explosion, when it mattered most, would have been impressive in a video game or in somebody's driveway.
McGuirl took a Senior Night that isn't the last home game of the season and might not even be the end of his time in Manhattan, and he turned in one of the most memorable games of his career.
"He took over," DaJuan Gordon. "He showed who he really is."
McGuirl finished with 19 points as the Wildcats picked up their second-straight win and their first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The funny thing about their only senior going Xbox inside the final four minutes is that K-State was only in this game down the stretch because of their defense.
The Wildcats were locked in and slapping the floor, as they managed to slow down an Oklahoma team that has all but booked their trip to the NCAA Tournament.
That defensive improvement, more than any one shot on Tuesday, might be the most important thing to remember from the win over the Sooners.
"It's astronomical," Weber said. "I give credit to the coaches, and the players who had the buy-in. All we did was start showing them some of our former teams and how they guarded, just to help the guys understand what's it about. We didn't have basic habits. We didn't have concepts. We missed a lot of stuff. As the season's gone on, we've figured some things out."
In the first half, the Wildcats couldn't afford many defensive breakdowns. Shots weren't falling for K-State as the Wildcats needed more than 16 minutes to hit their first three-pointer.
That would also be the first bucket of the game for McGuirl.
It was a night that began with a video tribute to a player who has been part of two NCAA Tournament teams at K-State.
With his parents watching from the stands, McGuirl wasn't fazed by the slow start. After all, in a season of adversity, it's going to take more than a few missed shots to rattle the senior.
"We felt it coming. It started with Texas A&M, but just with the schedule that we have, we're in the Big 12 and we play tough teams. We were coming along the whole time and getting better the whole time," McGuirl said. "And then the last game against TCU, we finally found it. Now it feels like we can keep pushing forward."
After a back-and-forth second half, K-State led by as many as seven points before Oklahoma stormed back to take the lead. A massive 25-point performance from senior Austin Reaves put the Sooners in a position to get the win and hand K-State another moral victory.
There would have been plenty to feel good about. But there was nothing moral about what Mike McGuirl did for the next 90 seconds.
His first triple made it 53-50 and a one-possession game for the Wildcats. Next possession, McGuirl took another three-pointer. This one was a little more…ambitious. He drained it.
"I was feeling good," McGuirl said. "A lot of time in the gym, I trusted myself and trusted the work I put in with my teammates and my coaches."
The senior wasn't done. Next possession, tie game and McGuirl basically just turned, looked at the basket and shot.
"You all know I like to let it fly," he said.
When that three-pointer went in, the Wildcats had the lead. Two minutes later, K-State had a win that isn't going to erase the adversity or the challenges of this season.
But it's a victory worth remembering. If this coaching staff and these players want to get K-State back to where the program belongs, taking down a team like No. 7 Oklahoma is a step the Wildcats have to take.
"Value each day. Value each opportunity," Weber said. "I don't want this season to end, because I know we've improved."
Three shots. Nine points. 90 seconds.
However you want to break down what Mike McGuirl did on Tuesday night, the senior's game-breaking moment gave K-State the lead for good in a 62-57 win over No. 7 Oklahoma.
Turns out, this was all part of the plan. Sort of.
"The last thing I told the guys today after shootaround was I want you to lead off SportsCenter," Bruce Weber said. "I'm just so happy for Mike McGuirl."
Bruce Weber, Tuesday afternoon:
— Austin Siegel (@_austinsiegel) February 24, 2021
"The last thing I told the guys today after shoot-around was I want you to lead off SportsCenter."
ESPN, Tuesday night: https://t.co/Hgu98gUpwa
And that's before you get to the stage on Tuesday night. His nine-point explosion, when it mattered most, would have been impressive in a video game or in somebody's driveway.
McGuirl took a Senior Night that isn't the last home game of the season and might not even be the end of his time in Manhattan, and he turned in one of the most memorable games of his career.
"He took over," DaJuan Gordon. "He showed who he really is."
McGuirl finished with 19 points as the Wildcats picked up their second-straight win and their first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The funny thing about their only senior going Xbox inside the final four minutes is that K-State was only in this game down the stretch because of their defense.
💦 FAMILY 💦#KStateMBB x EMAW pic.twitter.com/bSYAEqOJcf
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) February 24, 2021
The Wildcats were locked in and slapping the floor, as they managed to slow down an Oklahoma team that has all but booked their trip to the NCAA Tournament.
That defensive improvement, more than any one shot on Tuesday, might be the most important thing to remember from the win over the Sooners.
"It's astronomical," Weber said. "I give credit to the coaches, and the players who had the buy-in. All we did was start showing them some of our former teams and how they guarded, just to help the guys understand what's it about. We didn't have basic habits. We didn't have concepts. We missed a lot of stuff. As the season's gone on, we've figured some things out."
In the first half, the Wildcats couldn't afford many defensive breakdowns. Shots weren't falling for K-State as the Wildcats needed more than 16 minutes to hit their first three-pointer.
That would also be the first bucket of the game for McGuirl.
It was a night that began with a video tribute to a player who has been part of two NCAA Tournament teams at K-State.
With his parents watching from the stands, McGuirl wasn't fazed by the slow start. After all, in a season of adversity, it's going to take more than a few missed shots to rattle the senior.
Dear Mike,
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) February 24, 2021
Enjoy the moment, and thanks for the memories.
💜 #KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/lhTWx0KdRC
"We felt it coming. It started with Texas A&M, but just with the schedule that we have, we're in the Big 12 and we play tough teams. We were coming along the whole time and getting better the whole time," McGuirl said. "And then the last game against TCU, we finally found it. Now it feels like we can keep pushing forward."
After a back-and-forth second half, K-State led by as many as seven points before Oklahoma stormed back to take the lead. A massive 25-point performance from senior Austin Reaves put the Sooners in a position to get the win and hand K-State another moral victory.
There would have been plenty to feel good about. But there was nothing moral about what Mike McGuirl did for the next 90 seconds.
His first triple made it 53-50 and a one-possession game for the Wildcats. Next possession, McGuirl took another three-pointer. This one was a little more…ambitious. He drained it.
"I was feeling good," McGuirl said. "A lot of time in the gym, I trusted myself and trusted the work I put in with my teammates and my coaches."
The senior wasn't done. Next possession, tie game and McGuirl basically just turned, looked at the basket and shot.
"You all know I like to let it fly," he said.
Oh my. Mike McGuirl #KStateMBB 58
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) February 24, 2021
OU 55 | 2H - 1:01 pic.twitter.com/dL43B065Gp
When that three-pointer went in, the Wildcats had the lead. Two minutes later, K-State had a win that isn't going to erase the adversity or the challenges of this season.
But it's a victory worth remembering. If this coaching staff and these players want to get K-State back to where the program belongs, taking down a team like No. 7 Oklahoma is a step the Wildcats have to take.
"Value each day. Value each opportunity," Weber said. "I don't want this season to end, because I know we've improved."
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