|
Rematch with K-State-A Whole New Ball Game!!??
By
Andy Mac Williams,
3/23/2010
Tuesday December 8th,2009 wasn't a "Day that will live in infamy" for Xavier Basketball, but at the time things seemed pretty bleak. The Muskies lost 71-56 that night at Kansas State while a snow storm raged outside Bramlage Colesium (better know as the Octagon of Doom) in Manhattan, Kansas. XU's record dipped to 5-3. That game certainly proved to be the season's low water mark.
X was pummeled in the first half. They trailed 30-20 at the break to the Big 12 Wildcats but it seemed worse. K-State outrebounded XU 28-8 (11-1 on the offensive glass). Xavier failed to score a FG in the final 7:15. The Muskies seemed shocked by Kansas State's physical aggressive attacking posture and X just did not compete very well.
Things changed after halftime!! X began to compete and won the rebounding numbers in the second half 25-18 and they held their own on the offensive board. It was far too late to salvage a road win though. X shot 30%. Starters Jamel McLean, Jason Love, Dante Jackson and Terrell Holloway combined for 14 points on 4-for-21 shooting.
Holloway and McLean were in almost immediate and constant foul trouble. XU seldom ran the offense (only 6 assists total). Brad Redford did score a career high 16 (4-5 3 pointers) and the good guys did limit K-St guards Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente to 4-16 from the floor. But overall, it was a herky jerky ugly basketball game lowlighted by 57 fouls and 73 free throws. Just the way K-State likes to play.
Three months later X and K-State meet again in the NCAA Sweet 16 at Salt Lake City (9:37 EDT-Thursday night-CBS). The Wildcats are favored by 5.
Most bracketologists and pundits don't give the Muskies much of a chance. Reminds me of 2004. Xavier had lost badly to a long athletic Mississippi State team on the road in December. They played again in the NCAA second round and the Muskies won in a walk by 15. 3 months can do wonders!!
Kansas State has put together a nifty body of work-enough to net them a 2 seed. They are 28-7, rated 7th in both the AP and Coaches' Polls. They tied for second in the Big 12 with another team we know Baylor-behind Kansas. KS went on to beat Baylor in the Big 12 Tourney.
The Wildcats have won 4 of 5 in the postseason. 3 of their 7 overall losses are to arch rival Kansas. So far in the NCAAs K-State has pulverized North Texas (82-62) and dispatched highly regarded BYU (84-72).
Pullen and Clemente their veteran guards have combined to score 85 points. They held BYU phenom Jimmer Fredette to a very inefficient 21 points Saturday nite.
The KS front line by committee has rotating stars every nite. Recently frosh Wally Judge has stepped up (6-9, 245 McDonald's All American). He's totaled 14 pts and 14 rebs in the two NCAA games. UConn transfer Curtis Kelly is close to a double-double guy. 6-10 Luis Colon is a starter now. He did not play vs XU in Manhattan. Dominque Sutton is their defensive stopper at 6-5. He may match-up against Jordan Crawford.
Off the bench comes athletic 6-7 Soph Jamar Samuels. He's a tiger on the boards. Guard depth comes from Frosh Martavious Irving and Rodney McGruder. K-State scores 80 PPG and gives up 69.
They're plus 5 in rebounds with a huge edge on the offensive glass. The team shoots a mediocre 67% from the foul line but they get to the line a bunch. They launch a ton of 3 pointers also (19/game). Odds are they're going to get the offensive rebound even on some of those bad quick perimeter shots.
K-State just wears people out. Coach Frank Martin was a Bob Huggins assistant at UC and K-State. His mantra is toughness mixed with relentlessness seasoned with nastiness. He taught XU a lesson December 8th. The Muskies used what they learned to box UC's ears a few night's later and it was off to the races for Chris Mack's team.
They've won 10 of 11 taking out Minnesota and Pitt last weekend in Milwaukee. X is playing high energy, low turnover basketball (just 13 total turnovers in the first weekend of the NCAA-lowest of all teams still alive).
Jordan Crawford has totaled 55 points in two wins. Terrell Holloway is playing prototype point guard-controlling the ball-making the gutsy drives-nailing the clutch free throws-delivering the sticky perimeter defense. Jason Love and Jamel McLean are handling the load well inside. Dante Jackson revels in the Big Dance spotlight and makes huge plays.
The rematch with Kansas State is obviously on a neutral court without a Big 12 officiating crew. That helps even things up somewhat from December and that one-sided 15 point loss.
XU is playing much better and harder. To push X onto the Elite 8 though they need more. Mark Lyons needs to play smart minutes with Holloway and in relief of Terrell. Pullen and Clemente are explosive and must be pressured.
Kenny Frease has to play decently because KS runs alot of bodies in along the front line. XU needs the good Kenny (Minnesota-first half-Florida-Wisconsin and Pitt in last year's NCAA)-strong position-good hands-block some shots-take it hard to the rim.
Redford could be a wild card. He scored a big 5 points against Pitt. K-State can be lax in picking up shooters when play gets ragged. Brad will get open looks. He needs to put the shots down.
I like Xavier's chances. We're not in Kansas this time, ToTo!!! Don't be suprised if Butler is still standing Saturday, not Syracuse! Two MCC graduates playing for a trip to the Final 4!! Now wouldn't that be just a slice of Mid-major heaven. Tough for Jay Bilas and Digger to swallow!!
|
|
