The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

[baccVols]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

ouch, tough couple of games but a very good season so far. As we all know March is where it counts!!!!!

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

ouch, tough couple of games but a very good season so far. As we all know March is where it counts!!!!!

Thanks. But now the challenge is actually finishing out -- especially when this game is from an era where the selection committee still focuses more on end of season play than what happened earlier in the season (unlike now, where they are not allowed to that much weight)

Fight to the Finish

vs.

Greg McDermott always has his squad ready and prepared, and the over achieving Aggies have played their way into the possibility of breaking back into the NCAA Tournament. But to get there, they'll have to bolster their resume by overcoming the young and equally over achieving Kansas State Wildcats. These are the kinds of games fans hope for in March.

And tonight's bout in College Station felt like an early glimpse of March Madness. Both teams came out swinging, and the game was not decided until the final seconds.

Branduinn Gatling gets stuffed by Armanti Detrick on the fast break

The major story coming in for the Wildcats was whether they could get an effective performance from standout freshman Branduinn Gatling. He has not been the same since suffering a high ankle sprain a few weeks ago. Tonight he still looked a step slow both on offense and defense -- lacking his usual explosiveness and not being able to carry the same form on his jump shot. Texas A&M's Ronnie Pope was able to take advantage by driving around or through Gatling.

But the Wildcats were able to get performances from other members of their squad, especially with Esteban Kummer breaking out of his shooting slump and Dana Worthington bouncing back from some recent bad performances. Worthington's performance was especially important because DeMarcus Ross was in foul trouble for nearly the entire game.

But no matter how hard the Wildcats pushed, the Aggies always had answers. Coach McDermott seemed to know the right adjustments for whatever Coach West would throw at him. So while the Aggies consistently had a lead throughout the second half, the Wildcats could only close the gap -- but never overcome it. Not until the final minute of the game, where Esteban Kummer missed a three but Dandorris Walls was there to scoop up the offensive rebound and put back.

The Wildcats' first lead of the game wouldn't last. Wrapped up in scoring the go ahead bucket, the Wildcats were out of position as the Aggies brought the ball and got a quick three by Kevin Phelps. The teams would trade failed shot attempts before Kansas State got the ball with 19 seconds left.

Down 2, Justin Guzman brought the ball up the floor. Worthington was in the game due to Ross fouling out a long time ago, and the Wildcats were without their go to scorer -- Gatling -- as once again he was shooting ice cold. West had drawn up a play for Walls in the middle, or if he was unavailable Kummer for the win. McDermott locked down on the high percentage shot, but Kummer was able to get free after running through two screens. He hoisted three with no one around him, but it clanged high off the rim. The ball shot straight up but went straight to Dana Worthington's hands. His put back attempt was quick, but it bounced hard off the rim as well.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, the ref's whistle stopped the clock with 2.3 seconds left. Worthington, one of the Wildcats' worst free throw shooters, would be going to the line with a chance to send the game to overtime. He stood stoically at the line and hit the first free throw.

That brought the Wildcats within 1, but the crowd got even louder with one more shot to go. All the Wildcats needed was a chance to take the game to overtime and maybe they could overpower the Aggies. But first, it was all on Worthington at the line.

Dana Worthington just needs to make one more free throw.

He couldn't do it. The Aggies grabbed the rebound and got the ball away before the Wildcats could foul. Thus, Kansas State drops their third straight by a final margin of 74-73.

Kansas State Wildcats at Texas A&M Aggies
Mar 4, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Kansas State 17-8 (7-7)	33	40	73
Texas A&M 17-10 (7-7)	35	39	74

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	20	2-9	1-5	0-0	2	5	0	0	2	5
E. Kummer	17	4-9	3-7	2-2	3	5	1	0	0	13
B. Gatling	21	3-12	1-5	0-0	4	3	0	1	1	7
D. Walls	14	5-7	0-0	1-1	7	3	2	1	0	11
D. Ross	11	5-7	0-0	2-4	6	0	0	1	2	12
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	16	6-9	0-0	3-5	4	2	0	0	2	15
M. Mathis	12	0-2	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0
R. Guzman	13	3-6	0-0	2-2	3	0	1	3	1	8
M. Martin	10	0-2	0-2	0-0	1	5	0	0	2	0
C. Geiger	13	0-1	0-1	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
J. hayes	4	1-3	0-1	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	2
K. Mendoza	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		29-67	5-21	10-14	33	23	5	6	10	73

Texas A&M Aggies
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Feeney	19	2-7	2-3	1-3	2	7	3	0	1	7
K. Phelps	26	3-11	2-3	2-2	5	3	0	0	3	10
R. Pope	22	7-18	1-5	4-5	4	1	1	0	2	19
P. Lagana	25	3-5	0-0	4-8	9	1	2	0	0	10
A> Detrick	21	3-6	0-0	1-2	11	0	2	1	0	7
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
R. Carpenter	11	1-5	0-1	3-4	2	0	1	0	0	5
J. Rogers	8	4-9	0-4	0-0	3	0	0	0	0	8
N. Sokolov	4	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	2
C. Buboltz	8	2-2	0-0	2-2	0	4	0	0	0	6
W. Corner	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	1	0
M. Carlisle	-- DID NOT PLAY --
B. Cotton	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		26-65	5-16	17-26	38	16	9	1	7	74

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

March Pressure Cooker

vs.

Kansas State seems to be finding itself in the same situation lately: facing an opponent with a questionable tournament resume looking for a big boost. Tonight's foe? The Red Raiders -- but this time the Kansas State Wildcats had the luxury of playing at home. That's fortunate, because no one wants to take a 4 game losing streak into a conference tournament.

However, the Wildcats had a game that would make Dr. Murphy proud. Everything that could have went wrong, did -- and eventually there was little left for the home crowd to do but wonder if the team's first NCAA tournament bid in over a decade is slipping away after the Wildcats lost their last regular season game 86-77.

And the game wasn't even as close as the final score would indicate -- only some late game shooting by Justin Guzman and Esteban Kummer narrowed the margin to make the game semi respectable. Instead this game carries a number of story lines: but no name will resound worse from the Bramlage PA system than Abraham Crenshaw. The reserve shooting guard eviscerated the Wildcats for 18 points in only 8 minutes of play. A contributing factor to the outburst was Branduinn Gatling, but Coach West pulled the ailing freshman after it became clear he was not capable of keeping up with the pace of the game on his bum ankle.

Then again, a loss like this cannot be blamed on only one injured player; tonight the entire KSU squad, and their coach, dropped the ball.

Dana Worthington thought he had a clear path to the basket.

Guy West's teams are known for attacking the paint, cranking up the defensive pressure, and converting transition baskets. But tonight the Red Raiders beat West at his own game. Texas Tech took advantage of the pressure defense by continuously using dribble drives and backdoor passes to get easy baskets. The Red Raiders did something no other team has managed to do against Kansas State all season: match their team assist total. It was team basketball by Texas Tech both on offense and defense.

Damon Bradford takes on KSU's front line and wins

But there were other factors as well. Pat Knight had his team mentally prepared for the "win-or-die" situation, while Guy West seemed incapable of motivating his young squad to get back into the game. The Red Raiders came in with a plan of attack and executed. At one point, Ibrahim Christopher had a hand in 11 straight points for the Red Raiders. His virtuoso effort helped Texas Tech turn a 4 point lead into a 15 point advantage that took the home crowd out of the game early in the first half. West's players looked kicked in the gut and never seemed able to recover. They were hesitant on defense, slow on offense, and otherwise unable to match the Red Raider's intensity.

Those are cardinal sins with tournament season approaching. Tonight, the Wildcats paid the price.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Kansas State Wildcats
Mar 7, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Texas Tech 18-12 (8-7)	42	44	86
Kansas State 17-9 (7-8)	35	42	77

Texas Tech Red Raiders
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Bradford	24	4-13	1-6	3-3	2	14	1	0	2	12
T. Burleson	21	5-11	1-5	0-0	4	3	1	0	1	11
I. Christopher	23	9-17	0-4	0-0	4	2	1	0	1	18
K. Birley	24	4-5	0-0	0-0	5	1	1	1	0	8
J. Vitelli	24	4-8	0-0	0-0	10	0	4	2	1	8
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
A. Crenshaw	8	6-8	4-5	2-2	2	0	1	0	0	18
G. Munoz	11	4-6	1-3	0-0	0	5	1	0	1	9
W. Kapono	3	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	0
K. Maye	12	1-1	0-0	0-0	3	0	0	1	0	2
E. Ellerbee	-- DID NOT PLAY --
V. Hacker	-- DID NOT PLAY --
J. Berry	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		37-70	7-23	5-5	30	27	10	4	6	86

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	22	4-7	4-6	0-0	3	7	0	0	3	12
E. Kummer	21	4-9	3-7	0-2	3	5	2	0	0	11
B. Gatling	11	0-6	0-3	2-2	3	1	1	0	0	2
D. Walls	22	7-11	0-0	3-4	6	3	1	2	3	17
D. Ross	19	6-9	0-0	1-2	5	2	0	1	2	13
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	12	3-4	0-0	0-0	2	1	0	0	0	4
M. Mathis	10	3-4	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	2	6
R. Guzman	7	2-5	0-0	1-2	0	2	0	1	0	5
M. Martin	8	0-1	0-1	0-0	2	5	1	0	1	0
C. Geiger	9	0-1	0-1	0-0	3	0	0	0	0	0
J. Hayes	4	2-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	1	0	0	4
K. Mendoza	4	1-1	1-1	0-0	2	1	0	0	0	3
TEAM TOTALS		31-62	8-19	7-13	29	27	6	4	11	77

[mpejkrm]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

That's a rough way to end your season, man. Good luck in the conference tournament.

By the way, how long are your halves?

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2018 End of Conference Season

It was a war of attrition, but after the dust cleared the Missouri Tigers emerged as the regular season champions of the Big 12. There are some questions about their long term viability with a blip-on-the-radar screen loss to Kansas, but the Tigers have been one of the most consistent teams in the country this entire season. Hats off to them for staying focused, but the Tigers are a team with National Championship aspirations and this is merely the first step of their journey.

Big 12 2017-2018 Final Standings Conference Standings - Updated: Mar 10, 2018
TEAM (NOte: #3 CONFERENCE RPI)	REC	PCT	CONF	GB
#13 Missouri	21-5	.807	12-4	-
Baylor	19-11	.633	10-6	2
#7 Texas	20-9	.689	9-7	3
Texas Tech	19-12	.612	9-7	3
Texas A&M	18-11	.620	8-8	4
Oklahoma	16-13	.551	8-8	4
Colorado	22-11	.666	7-9	5
Iowa State	19-10	.655	7-9	5
Kansas State	17-10	.629	7-9	5
Nebraska	17-13	.566	7-9	5
Oklahoma State	14-16	.466	7-9	5
Kansas	12-16	.428	5-11	7

The question still remains whether the selection committee will reward or penalize the Big 12 for being such a tough conference. But a number of teams took care of business and look to be locks to join Missouri in the field of 65. Those teams include Baylor, Texas, and Colorado.

However, there are as many as four more teams who enter the conference tournament with NCAA Tournament aspirations. Texas Tech and Texas A&M have both overcome some bad early season losses to put themselves in position to make a run. The same can be said of Iowa State, who stumbled out of the gate in the Big 12 but has recovered enough to make the Dance with a win or two in the Conference Tournament.

Meanwhile, Kansas State looked like a lock to make the NCAA Tournament earlier in the season, but their most recent four game losing streak (not their first of the season) has put the Wildcats' Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Right now they are projected as the last team in the field in as a #11 Seed. But all it would take is a few upstart teams winning their Conference Tournament to push Kansas State out of the field.

2018 Tournament First Round Line Up
#8 vs. #9
#5 vs #12
#6 vs #11
#7 vs #10

First Round Byes

#1 #2 #3 #4

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

That's a rough way to end your season, man. Good luck in the conference tournament.

By the way, how long are your halves?

Thanks. It's pretty much win or go home from here on out. I've thrived under those circumstances in the past though. But Gatling is still listed as injured for the next 2 days. His injury really hinders what I like to do on offense.

Also, I play 15 minute halves.

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Good luck in the conference tournament, like you said it's win or go home. I don't want to look ahead, but after Iowa State - it's Missouri. Taking out the #1 team in the conference is definitely going to bust someones bubble.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Good luck in the conference tournament, like you said it's win or go home. I don't want to look ahead, but after Iowa State - it's Missouri. Taking out the #1 team in the conference is definitely going to bust someones bubble.

I can only hope that March continues to be Missouri's time to fade away and disappear (much like in real life).

But first, Iowa State!

[baccVols]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

ahhhh man.......that darn bubble.....but watching the selection show is kinda more exciting when your not sure if you are in or not!

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Big 12 Tournament First Round

#9 vs. #8

This match up had all the trimmings and pre-game hype to get even casual fans to tune in. Both teams need this game for their postseason survival -- not just in the Big 12 but the Big Dance. The last game was decided in the final seconds and by only one point. On top of that, Iowa State has been on fire with five straight wins, while Kansas State has been sinking in the other direction with four straight losses.

Could the Cyclones keep the good times rolling, or were the Wildcats due for a turnaround?

DeMarcus Ross sends back a weak shot attempt

The first half was defined by Kansas State's smothering defense. Although they are a young bunch, they are also long. DeMarcus Ross and Dandorriss Walls controlled the paint combining for six blocks in the first half, while Esteban Kummer and a still hobbling Branduinn Gatling contested shots from the outside.

For awhile, the Cyclones could not solve the riddle of West's team. West is at his best with his back against the wall, and tonight was no exception as the Wildcats built a fourteen point lead in the first half.

But as they have done during their winning streak, Iowa State found a way to dig in and start chipping away at the lead. They began funneling their interior defense through star center Calvin Galbreath. And Galbreath delivered as he has throughout the season: disrupting shots and scooping up rebounds. Kansas State became ineffective from the inside, but their outside shots stopped falling at the wrong time as well.

Kansas State was still up 6 at the half, but it looked like Iowa State's game to lose at the break.

Jerrad Edwards runs past the entire KSU squad on the break

This was the kind of situation Coach West was brought to Kansas Statein for. At Drexel, he had become known for making the right adjustments and running circles more heralded coaches. So it has to be disappointing to see the level of effort put forth by the Wildcats in the second half. Maybe the tournament stage was too big for the young squad, but they looked deflated and mentally unprepared for the barrage the Cyclones were about to unleash.

There is only one statistic necessary to describe what happened: Iowa State's fast break points: 18. Kansas State's? Zero.

The Cyclones attacked the basket again and again and ran faster and harder than Kansas State. After spending the half not being able to hit a three, Iowa State decided to skip the half court step and play at a break neck pace. The Wildcats tried to match, but they could not even hit a simple layup. Instead, they got desperate and started making bad passes and taking bad shots.

Iowa State grabbed control of the game from there and never let go. All the Wildcats could do was watch their promising season be capped with a 5 game losing streak by a final score of 76-65. Destiny was theirs to control, but Kansas State's fate now rests with the Selection Committee.

Kansas State Wildcats at Iowa State Cyclones
Mar 12, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
#9 Kansas State 17-10 (7-9)	40	25	65
#8 Iowa State 19-10 (7-9)	34	42	76

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	21	3-7	3-5	0-0	2	5	0	0	2	9
E. Kummer	25	4-7	1-4	2-2	3	2	0	0	1	11
B. Gatling	23	4-17	3-11	0-0	6	1	0	0	0	11
D. Walls	20	4-7	0-0	3-3	5	3	3	3	2	11
D. Ross	19	2-10	0-0	5-10	4	4	1	3	0	9
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	15	5-9	0-0	0-0	4	0	0	2	2	10
M. Mathis	10	0-5	0-1	0-0	3	4	2	0	1	0
R. Guzman	9	2-3	0-0	0-0	0	2	0	1	0	4
M. Martin	6	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	2	0	0	1	0
C. Geiger	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	1	0
J. Hayes	-- DID NOT PLAY --
K. Mendoza	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		24-66	7-21	10-15	28	23	6	9	10	65

Iowa State Cyclones
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Blankenship	26	7-14	0-3	6-6	1	10	1	1	6	20
J. Edwards	23	11-18	1-3	2-2	2	1	1	0	1	25
S. Holt	26	6-12	0-1	0-0	11	2	2	0	0	12
C. Prince	28	1-1	0-0	0-0	9	2	0	0	0	2
C. Galbreath	26	3-8	0-0	2-5	7	1	5	2	1	8
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
U. Graham	8	2-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	0	1	0	4
O. Farmer	6	1-4	0-1	1-2	0	1	0	0	0	3
O. Fraser	8	1-4	0-1	0-0	2	2	1	1	0	2
C. Massie	-- DID NOT PLAY --
C. Terry	-- DID NOT PLAY --
A. Sanchez	-- DID NOT PLAY --
J. Andrews	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		32-64	1-9	11-15	33	20	10	5	8	76

[AntiBandwagoner]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Disappointing loss, hope you can make the tourney.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2018 Tournament Results

First Round

#8 Iowa State 76 #9 Kansas State 65

#5 Texas A&M 51 #12 Kansas 59

#6 Oklahoma 87 #11 Oklahoma State 85

#7 Colorado 92 #10 Nebraska 67

Quaterfinals

#1 Missouri 74 #8 Iowa State 78

#12 Kansas 72 #4 Texas Tech 76

#6 Oklahoma 79 #3 Texas 94

#7 Colorado 72 #2 Baylor 75

Semi Finals

#8 Iowa State 98 #4 Texas Tech 58

#3 Texas 98 #2 Baylor 47

Finals

#8 Iowa State 86 #3 Texas 82

Is there a storm brewing? That's the Iowa State Cyclones riding their hot streak and eviscerating the Big 12 Field. Well, that's one way to get off the bubble and punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

[HarkTheSound]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Woah! Iowa State went on an absolute roll...reminiscent of what UConn did in the Big East tourney a few years ago. Hopefully the committee is on your side for the selection process.

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Selection Sunday looks to be as exciting as always.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Disappointing loss, hope you can make the tourney.

Thanks. Yeah, it is disappointing that I lost because I really feel like if I had just gotten one more win out of my most recent games I'd be safe -- or pretty much safe. But once the Cyclones got rolling there really was no stopping them. It was just one of those games.

Though that's part of the fun with CH2k8. Sometimes your team comes out great. Sometimes they don't.

Woah! Iowa State went on an absolute roll...reminiscent of what UConn did in the Big East tourney a few years ago. Hopefully the committee is on your side for the selection process.

Not quite 5 wins in 5 days but yeah, they blew through the field. Getting a 40 point victory over Texas Tech is shocking to be honest. I guess it is some consolation that I lost to the team that won the whole thing. Some consolation.

Selection Sunday looks to be as exciting as always.

Oh yes it does. Nothing quite like hanging on the precipice of disaster, no?