Super Scintillating Selections Top 30 Countdown: #9 Kansas State Wildcats

Happy Saturday friends. You will have to excuse me if you notice a couple spelling or grammar errors here. I was boots on the ground at JPJ for the UVA game today and there were liquor drinks involved during and adult sodas involved in the post game celebration. Go Hoos.

Today is not about the Hoos though, it's about the Kansas State Wildcats. Although Kansas State got hosed by Bob Huggins and his Mountaineers today, I believe the Wildcats are among the most exciting teams in the nation and their head coach, Jerome Tang, is my favorite to win National coach of the year in his first year with Kansas State. Now, if you have been reading my blogs you know that I hesitate to pick a first year or an unproven coach to make a run with his team. BUT Jerome Tang spent 19 seasons as an associate head coach at Baylor before he took this KSU job, and won a national championship with the Bears helping turn them into the national powerhouse that they are today. So, I think he deserves a second look.

Kansas State finished the regular season at 23-8 and an 11-7 record in the Big 12, earning them a bye in the Big 12 tournament next week. They are set up well for the NCAA tournament, and will probably end up as a 2 or 3 seed.

There is a lot to like about this team, starting with their nine quad-1 wins. BUT, there are some things they have a bad habit of doing that could lead to their exit in March.

Let's Get into it.

Why can the Wildcats make a run?

1. Keyontae Johnson AND Co. Keyontae Johnson suffered a very scary injury last year where he collapsed on the court against Florida State. Nobody really knew if he was going to play basketball again. Well, he is now among the nations top players and is the leader of this Kansas State basketball team. He averaged 17.6 points per game, grabs 7 boards a game, and shoots 42% from behind the arc. He is the ultimate threat and a weapon that every team wishes they had in March. But, the great thing about this team is that, he can carry the team but others can pull the weight as well. Markquis Nowell, Nae’qwan Tomil, and Desi Sills can pick up the slack if Keyontae is having an off day or if the opposing team is doubling him.

1. Defense to offense. Good defense leads to easy offense. The Wildcats force 15 turnovers a game and average 17 points off turnovers per game. They are also one of the best passing teams in the nation, averaging 17 assists per game. Forced turnovers combined with unselfishness and plenty of skill can lead to momentum shifting and game winning plays in the BIg Dance.

What's holding them back?

1. Protect the ball. 14 turnovers a game earns them a spot in the 300s in the nation in turnovers per game. I CANT TRUST that. Flaws that I can look past include average three point shooting, average play in the paint, and average defense efficiency. Why? All of these can be compensated with better play on the other end or in different areas of the game. You simply don't give yourself much of a chance when you are undisciplined with the ball, and it will hurt them when they start playing some of the top seeds that can take full advantage of the Wildcats' mistakes.

1. Fouling. Another dagger. Almost 18 fouls a game leading to 14.3 opposing team free throw points a game, and 20.9 opponent free throw attempts a game. That is just too much especially if they were to play a team that knocks down their shots from the foul line.

I hate that Kansas State struggles in the two areas that make me sick mostly because this team is very fun to root for and Jerome Tang/Keyontae Johnson are great stories.

My Prediction: Sweet 16

Next Game: vs. TCU 3/9 in Big 12 Tournament