NCAA Tournament: Kansas State Defies Odds With Clutch 3-point Shooting To Beat Kentucky
NCAA Tournament: Kansas State's improbable run continued on Sunday as as they defeated Kentucky 75-69 in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. Markquis Nowell led the way with 27 points, including 23 in the second half, to help the Wildcats overcome a slow start from beyond the arc.
NCAA Tournament: Kansas State's Roster Rebuild Pays off With trip To Sweet 16
For Kansas State, this marks their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2018. It's been an incredible journey for the team, which was picked last in the Big 12 and had hardly anyone left on the roster for a new coach. However, head coach Jerome Tang never lost faith in his team and his players stepped up in a big way when it mattered most.
The Wildcats missed their first 13 three-point attempts and were 2 for 17 from beyond the arc when the outside shots started falling. Nowell buried a step-back three against Cason Wallace to pull within 60-59, followed by Ismael Massoud from the right wing for a 64-62 lead with 2:21 left. Keyontae Johnson added another from that side near the Kansas State bench, making it 67-62 with 1:23 left and creating a jolt with the kind of margin that felt massive considering nearly all of the second half had been played within four points.
Nowell, a third-team Associated Press All-American, played a fearless floor game. He hit three 3s, the first over Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe after the 0-for-13 start and another with his left foot on the “March Madness” midcourt logo. He was also part of two memorable plays before halftime: a behind-the-back transition pass to Johnson for a dunk, and then a look-away alley-oop to Nae'Qwan Tomlin on the baseline to end the half.
Tshiebwe had 25 points and 18 rebounds for sixth-seeded Kentucky, which led by eight early in the second half. But the Wildcats never could stretch that lead nor make their own big outside shots (4 for 20). Antonio Reeves, Kentucky's No. 2 scorer, managed only five points on 1-for-15 shooting, including 1-for-10 on 3s.
Kansas State's journey to the Sweet 16 is all the more remarkable considering their recent history. The program last went to the tournament in 2019 and had three straight losing seasons. However, after a summer of transfer-portal work, the Wildcats thrived right away. Tang's bets paid off in a number of ways on Sunday.
There was Johnson, who transferred from Florida after collapsing in a game in December 2020 and hadn't played since. There was Virginia Tech transfer big man David N'Guessan, who played multiple late possessions with his right heel out of his shoe — yet still had the tipout offensive rebound that led to Johnson's 3. And there was Massoud, who transferred from Wake Forest before Tang's arrival and joined Nowell in sticking around this year. He made his huge 3 about 30 minutes from his first college campus.
After the game, KSU players hugged each other at midcourt, with guard Desi Sills talking animatedly to nearby cameras as he walked around the court. Johnson was still hanging around behind the bench to sign autographs, and Tomlin squeezed in one more pass for high-fives of his own before running off with a triumphant point to a cross-court pocket of KSU fans.
Kansas State faces No. 7 seed Michigan State in the East Region semifinals on Thursday. Regardless of the outcome, the Wildcats have already exceeded expectations and shown that anything is possible in March Madness with a little faith and a lot of heart.
