KU, K-State face off Friday at Big 12 tournament — Sunflower Showdown

“Just being more aggressive”, he said. But at the same time, we have to just get back to what we do, get focused.

So he made sure the Jayhawks didn’t.

It seemed like the Wildcats were on their way to a much less stressful victory until Desmond Bane hit a three-pointer as time expired in regulation. Robinson had 16 points and six assists.

Things started well for OSU. “Hopefully we can make the tournament”. That feat was one that no other team accomplished this season.

“It makes everybody feel good when a player can get off like that”, freshman Marcus Garrett said of Newman’s huge night. “Knowing that was something that we needed, it shows what he has inside of him”. Both teams lost three of their last five games, but only one of the final three losses last season was by greater than 10 points.

Oklahoma State made a couple of late runs, but he Jayhawks were never in danger of letting their lead slip, locking up at least 25 wins for an NCAA-record 13th consecutive season.

“Their philosophy, what they did to Vlad was clear, and we knew it was coming, but they were clearly more physical than us, especially in the second half”. “So I think those are the things that stand out”. “Malik putting us on his back was huge”. It helps that the Eagles are pitted against a Louisiana-Monroe team that has attempted the fifth-fewest free throws in D1 basketball.

“I guess we have about 18 hours”, Boynton said, “to refresh our bodies and minds”. “If it was 15, as long as we got the W, that’s all that matters in the postseason”.

But OSU also has 10 wins that fit into either the “Quadrant 1” or “Quadrant 2” categories.

The Jayhawks won without 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike, who sprained the MCL in his left knee in practice on Tuesday.

A first-round exit from the Big 12 Tournament for a second straight year leaves OU with some questions. Sophomore guard Xavier Sneed got the scoring started with a 3-pointer, which was immediately matched by TCU senior guard Kenrich Williams.

It’s tough to beat a team three times in one season.

“I didn’t expect to be in that position”, Oklahoma guard Trae Young said. Azubuike leads in rebounds with 7.1 while Graham tops in assists with 7.2.

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, Kansas is the favorite in this game, as the Jayhawks are getting odds of -8 points against Kansas State.

Quadrant 1 wins are defined as victories in home games against teams with RPIs in the top 30, neutral-court wins against teams in the top 50 or road wins against teams in the top 75.

In a defensive move not often seen by Bill Self-coached Kansas squads, the Jayhawks utilized a zone defense in the waning minutes of the first half and for the majority of the second to heavily neutralize the K-State offensive attack. The two KU forwards combined for 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Many bracketologists point to OSU’s weak nonconference schedule to exclude it from the field.

The Sooners beat the Cowboys by 20 in early January, back when they were ascending to No. 4 in the nation. Texas State has been poor at defending the paint, but superb at closing off the 3-point line.

“I saw his man step up, and I tried to throw a lob”, Young said. Also: “They are a lot more athletic than us”.

Friday’s game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, tips off at 6 p.m. and airs nationally on ESPN. The Jayhawks had a rate of 0.632 (above their season average of 0.577), while the Cowboys posted a mark of 0.447 (below their season average of 0.506).

Then, Newman told of something that sounds simple but does require care and attention.

“Just be better than yesterday”, he said. “I think our resume speaks for itself”.