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BIG1217
Words from the Big 12 Writers from around the conference weigh in on their teams
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Wildcats win tough one against Tigers
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas State forward Luis Colon, left, and Missouri guard Miguel Paul, right, reach for the ball during the first half of their game last Saturday in Manhattan. The Wildcats won 63-53.
By Ashley Dunkak K-State Collegian — Monday, March 1
MANHATTAN — In front of a packed crowd at Bramlage Coliseum, No. 6 K-State overcame 18.8-percent shooting in the first half and pulled out a gritty 63-53 win over Missouri.
Missouri coach Mike Anderson attributed the difference between this meeting of the teams and the previous one to free throws and taking care of the ball. He also mentioned the Tigers were missing several key players, but said it was not any excuse.
"You can play defense until you're blue in the face," Anderson said. "But you've got to be able to score."
The game began fast, furious and physical — and a little on the wild side. The Wildcats got off to a quick 4-0 run to start, but the Tigers quickly amassed an 11-1 streak of their own, thanks to their omnipresent backcourt pressure, which aided in several steals and appeared to disrupt the offensive
rhythm of the Wildcats early.
Missouri sophomore guard Kim English, who would finish with 13 points, was responsible for seven of those early 11 points for the Tigers. For the majority of the half, the Wildcats struggled to score; initially, their only offense came from forays into the paint and resulting free throws. They struggled there as well, unable to get consistent penetration and even getting called for an offensive goalend. They seemed to have lost faith in the mid-range jumper and largely went for three-pointers or layups.
Around the 10-minute mark in the first half, K-State began to improve. The team had some good defensive possessions, and while it did not convert on those as it could have offensively, K-State slowly clawed its way back.
"They're a very good defensive team," said Missouri senior guard J.T. Tiller." They stay up in your grill and play defense just like we do."
ISSOURTIGERS
Missouri fails to maintain its early lead
By John Marshall Associated Press Saturday, Feb. 27
MANHATTAN — The Wildcats watched the first half of top-ranked Kansas' loss to Oklahoma State and knew they had an opportunity. Instead of grabbing it, they missed one shot after another against Missouri's pressure defense, putting together their worst shooting half in 14 years (18 percent).
But the Wildcats didn't slump their shoulders, didn't let Missouri run away with it. Relying on defense, Kansas State broke out of its funk — at least partly — and took control with a 15-2 run early in the second half.The plucky team held on down the stretch to keep alive its slim hopes of tying rival Kansas for the Big 12 regular season title.
The Wildcats have their most wins since 1987-88 and can take another step Wednesday in Lawrence, where Allen Fieldhouse is
sure to be rockin' for what could be the biggest game in the history of one of college basketball's most heated rivalries.
"Our team understands this could be our big push for the Big 12 championship," said Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, who had 11 points. "We get to go to KU and we have our destiny in our hands."
Missouri won the first meeting between the cross-state rivals on Jan. 9 with gritty defense and had Kansas State on its heels early in the rematch. The Tigers just couldn't sustain it and struggled to make shots against the Wildcats' relentless pressure without forward Justin Safford, who tore his ACL against Colorado on Wednesday.
Kim English had 13 points and J.T. Tiller added 11 for Missouri, which was 4 for 18 from 3-point range and shot 31 percent overall to lose its sixth straight in the Little Apple.
"We just played unaggressive," said Missouri's Keith Ramsey, who had 10 points and
Kansas State wasn't a whole lot better. The Wildcats shot 4 of 17 from three-point range and 33 percent overall, getting 10 points and 10 rebounds from Curtis Kelly and a 14-point effort from Jamar Samuels.
It was ugly from the start.
eight rebounds. "We stopped attacking and we weren't playing with each other like we normally do."
Missouri typically causes problems with its full-court pressure, forcing opponents to speed up and play out of control in what it calls "The Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball."
An underrated part of the Tigers' defense is in halfcourt sets. They're quite good there, too, as Kansas State found out.
"They're trying to win something," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "They're in the hunt for something, just like we are. I thought it was just a basketball game between two good defensive teams that are familiar with one another."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missouri guard Kim English passes to a teammate while covered by Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen during their game last Saturday. English had 13 points in the loss.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE MARCH 3,2010
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