KANSAN.COM
Frank Mason III, Kansas channel Bramlage energy
Senior guard Frank Mason III steals the ball late in the second half against K-State on Feb. 6. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 74-71 in Bramage Coliseum
Missu Minear/KANSAN
AMIE JUST
@amie just
MANHATTAN, Kan.
Frank Mason
III knew the
atmosphere at Kansas State
was going to be rowdy.
As the senior guard took the court at Bramlage Coliseum to warm up for his fourth and final time in the venue, he motioned for the K-State student section to get louder.
"I just wanted more energy," Mason said. "I was just trying to get the crowd into it even more and make the game more fun."
The K-State student section may have chanted "F—k KU" seven times
during the course of the game, but Mason wasn't deterred. It only fueled his fire.
Mason pursed his lips to shush them after several made Kansas baskets and at the end of the game, a K-State fan yelled "overrated" toward the Jayhawk bench to which Mason replied by pointing up toward the final score of 74-71, saying "scoreboard."
"I'll be honest. The crowd helped us win the game," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "There's no doubt about that. That's all we talked about was 'use their energy to give you energy.' And we talked about
different scenarios and how it was gonna help us. I think it did. I think their crowd energized our guys. I think they really enjoyed playing here today."
But Mason didn't need them. He injected life into the game on his own accord.
With one minute remaining on a K-State possession, Mason flew over a table en route to a loose ball, landing on a row of folding chairs. Disappearing from the camera's sight, Mason took a few seconds to collect himself before re-emerging on the court. He darted down the baseline and
intercepted a pass for his second steal of the night.
Bill Self Kansas coach
I think it did.I think their crowd energized our guys. I think they really enjoyed playing here today."
"I think those plays define seasons," Self said of hustle plays. "I think there's always something
that happens in a season that would be a defining moment. I don't know if that's it at all, I'm not saying that. It's always an extra possession hustle play that means the most to your team."
Mason said after the game that he scuffed up his elbow a little bit on the play, but it wasn't anything to worry about.
"I have never met a guy as small as him and as tough as him," freshman guard Josh Jackson said of Mason. "The 'plays he makes like that really tend to rub off on all of us. We see him make a play like that and it really steps
everybody's defensive intensity."
Mason recorded a teamhigh 21 points and added three assists and two steals in the win, helping make his case for National Player of the Year.
"He's just so poised, K-State coach Bruce Weber said of Mason. "He makes big plays, big shots. I thought Barry [Brown] made him earn a lot of it. He almost plays the whole game and he's a good player. He's gotta be in consideration for player of the year in our league and player of the year in the country. I don't think there's any doubt."
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