Kansas State He took his stellar turnaround season to new heights on Tuesday because the No. 13-ranked Wildcats completed in second place Kansas 83-82 in additional time at Bramlage Coliseum. The consequence snapped a seven-game shedding streak for Ok-State on the Sunflower Showdown as first yr head coach Jerome Tang’s lineup improved to 16-2 (5-1 Large 12) in his first style of in-state competitors.
Wildcats winger Keyontae Johnson caught a break from Markquis Nowell and made a landing with 25 seconds left to place Ok-State forward. With an opportunity to tie or take the lead within the dying seconds on the following possession, Kansas dedicated a game-ending turnover. Moments later, the Kansas State college students stormed the sphere to have a good time a large victory for a program that had come off three straight shedding seasons earlier than Tang arrived.
The win was significantly spectacular as a result of it got here on a quiet night time for star guard Marques Noel, who scored a season-low 4 factors. former Arkansas And Arkansas State Guard Desi Seals moved up 24 factors off the bench, and Johnson added 24 as nicely.
None have been extra essential to Johnson and the Wildcats than the spurting of the spotlight reel within the final minute, particularly because it got here on Kansas star Jalen Wilson, who scored 38 factors in a shedding effort. Wilson scored eight of KU’s 10 factors within the further interval, however have been unable to seal the win for his group in an exhilarating encounter.
Keyontae Johnson will get redemption
Johnson had an opportunity to win it within the dying seconds of regulation after Nyquan Tomlin pressured a Kansas changeup that led to a breakup try, however Johnson’s shot hit the backboard simply earlier than time expired. The Wildcats needed to foul on Kansas huge man Zuby Ejiofor, who objected to the shot. However in a sport that featured 49 foul calls and a complete of 67 free throw makes an attempt, there was no whistle in play.
In the long run, Johnson received his salvation with a go-ahead rush in additional time. The Large Dunk stands out as the best standout second but in Johnson’s comeback from an on-court meltdown in December 2020 that threatened his profession. Johnson was taking part in for Florida on the time and was not medically cleared for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, and he did not play final season both as a result of he tailored to a pseudo teaching function with the Gators.
Because it seems, Johnson has rather a lot left within the tank as a participant. He entered Tuesday’s sport averaging 18.4 factors and seven.1 rebounds for the Wildcats and turned in one other Sterling efficiency. Johnson completed 7 of 17 from the ground and eight of 9 from the free throw line.
Legalization of Kansas
Kansas entered because the No. 1 projected seed into the NCAA Match, in accordance with CBS Sports activities Bracketology professional Jerry Palm, and the Jayhawks will nonetheless be on the No. 1 projected beginning streak for now. Kansas State entered as a projected No. 4 seed and solely added extra cred to an already spectacular resume.
The Wildcats entered with a stellar 4-1 file in Quad 1 video games, however the win over Kansas stands out above every other victory to this point for a number of causes. First, it got here in opposition to a despised in-state rival who had dominated the collection in latest seasons. However it also needs to silence some lingering skeptics who surprise if Kansas State will stay related nationally underneath a first-year coach amid the trials of Large 12 play.
Ok-State suffered its second lack of the season Saturday when it went down 82-68 at TCU, giving some ammunition to those that had assumed the Wildcats would begin to fade after a tremendous 4-0 begin to the league. However after Tuesday night time’s win in opposition to the Jayhawks, shedding the street to the Horned Frogs looks as if nothing greater than the price of doing enterprise in what seems to be the ruggedest convention within the nation.
Kansas down late appetizers
Wilson’s efficiency stood out for the Jayhawks as he completed 12-of-25 from the ground and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. He added 9 rebounds and two blocks for good measure in a efficiency that may solely cement his standing as a front-runner for the Large 12 Participant of the Yr. However his heroics for Kuwait College have been essentially greater than intentional.
Kansas winger Kevin McCullar fouled with 5:47 remaining after holding scoreless for the primary time this season. Then, KU heart KJ Adams fouled with 1:43 remaining after scoring 17 factors, leaving the Jayhawks down two starters within the closing stretch of regulation.
Lastly, freshman star Grady Dick fouled with 1:31 left in additional time. The takedown mixture left the Jayhawks with out three of their prime 4 scorers on the ground in the course of the remaining 1:31 of additional time. Having three backup gamers on the ground with the sport on the road in a top-15 street battle was removed from very best.