Holding on to exceedingly slim postseason hopes, Kansas State hosts Iowa State on Saturday in a rematch of a dramatic come-from-behind road victory two weeks ago.
The Wildcats trailed by 15 points in the second half before pulling out a 75-69 victory in overtime in the Feb. 9 game in Ames, Iowa.
Kansas State likely has to win at least two of its final three regular-season games and at least one in the Big 12 tournament the following week to have a realistic chance at an-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State (19-9, 6-9 Big 12) has won three straight games since the Feb. 12 loss to K-State. Even though the Cyclones have to win their final three games to finish .500 in the regular season, they appear to be safely in the field of 68. That’s what four wins over ranked teams can do for you.
K-State (14-13, 6-9) is coming off one of its best offensive games — and worst defensive efforts — in a 102-83 loss at No. 5 Kansas on Tuesday. The 83 points were one point shy of its most this season, while the 102 allowed were the most.
The Wildcats allowed Kansas to shoot better than 60 percent from the field in each half. The Jayhawks shot 64.1 percent for the game, including 62.5 percent (15 of 24) from 3-point range.
“There isn’t much I can say,” KSU coach Bruce Weber said after the game. “Obviously, they were very, very good. If you tell me we’re going to get 83 points and have five guys in double figures, you’d feel pretty good about yourself. We’re not the best defensively that we’ve been but we’re pretty good and we had no answers for them.”
K-State’s offense was good against the Jayhawks, just not good enough. The Wildcats shot 47.1 percent for the game. Now Weber’s team has to figure out how to keep it going offensively while tightening the defense.
For Iowa State to continue to move toward the postseason on a positive streak, the Cyclones will need to start by preventing a K-State comeback like the one that happened two weeks ago.
“Unfortunately, we got ‘out-physicaled’ in the second half and overtime,” Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger said after that game. “They wanted to win more than we wanted to win. That’s something everyone in our program has to swallow. Now, our backs can’t be more squarely against the wall.”
Iowa State responded well after that game, and now the Cyclones will try to sustain that response.
–Field Level Media
