The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Preview: Kansas State vs Virginia Tech

Thoughts of consolation prizes are long gone. Both Kansas State and Virginia Tech are going to do everything they can to punch their ticket to NYC. The Wildcats are at this stage after steady play from their young guns has put their season back on course. As for the Hokies? They have dominated competition so far, but have yet to face a team as athletic and up tempo as Kansas State.

Keys to the Game

1) Get the Crowd Into It: If this game were played on a neutral court, it could be a different story. But because it is in Bramlage Coliseum, Virginia Tech's road woes are going to be an issue -- especially where the Hokies have lost 6 straight away from home -- at least before their game in Fayetteville, Arkansas. There, VT was able to get a jump on their opponent early. If Kansas State can get the crowd in the Hokies' heads tonight, this game could be a return to business as usual.

2) Size Matters: Kansas State is one of the longest teams in the country, and Virginia Tech is one of the worst rebounding teams in the country. There will be plenty of opportunities for extra shots, and the Wildcats need to take advantage of the additional opportunities. Hustle shouldn't be an issue with the stakes this high, but West's young squad better be ready to scrap for the ball.

Keys to the Game

1) Beware the Break: Virginia Tech likes to play fast, but surprisingly they do not go on the break that often. Instead, they look for quick shots in half court sets. The Hokies showed an inability to keep up with faster opponents like NC State and Virginia in ACC play. The Wildcats may not be as fast, but VT better be aware of running out of gas in the second half. The Wildcats do not stop running until the final whistle or until the game is out of reach.

2) Size Doesn't Matter, just Experience: Yes, Virginia Tech's tallest starter is 6'8", but one factor that could play huge for the Hokies is that they start 0 freshmen compared to KSU's 4. Many experts say that come march, experience trumps a lot of things. If this game stays close, the Hokies' mental fortitude could make the difference.

[mb625]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Ugh... sucks to miss out on the NCAAs like that, especially to a team like Drake... yuck. Anyhow, good luck with the rest of the NIT. I think you'll have VT's number.

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Being that I went to Virginia Tech, I'm torn here.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

NIT Regional Final

vs.

As strange as it sounds, sometimes basketball is a matter of faith. There have been questions throughout Guy West's tenure at Kansas State about whether or not he is the right man for the job, but tonight he was the toast of Manhattan, KS. West's young squad defended home court a third time to punch their ticket to the NIT Final Four in the "other" Manhattan by a final score of 78-54.

Walls and Ross controlled the paint early and set the tone for the game.

The first half of the game was defined by physical play, with both teams were content to attack the basket and bruise inside. While Kansas State was able to build a small lead, Virigina Tech was always nipping on the Wildcats' heels (paws?). One contributing factor was an uncharacteristically bad shooting night from KSU, who went 1-7 from beyond the arc in the first half. Their saving grace was DeMarcus Ross, who could not be stopped on the paint offensively or defensively -- and for once did not find himself in foul trouble. The 7'1" freshman mauled the Hokies with 5 blocks in the first half, and his quick down court passes usually led to easy points in transition.

But even with Ross' great individual effort, the rest of the team would need to rise up to put the Hokies away. There were no jitters in the locker room at halftime, instead players staying focused and talking about what they needed to do to improve. Virginia Tech's Mikel Laudato was proving to be a defensive menace in the middle for any player who tried to drive to the basket, and West believed the best way to get around him was to shoot over him.

Branduinn Gatling immediately showed Coach West his faith in his shooters was well placed. Gatling started the half by hitting two consecutive three pointers to push the Wildcat's lead to 11. From there Dandorriss Walls and Ross would begin to assert their size, leaping for rebounds from missed shots and helping contribute to 13 second chance points for the Wildcats to Virginia Techs' 3. The size in the middle and the shooting from the outside overwhelmed Virginia Tech. The second half started with a 15-0 run that would swell to a 22-2 mauling.

Needless to say, it was a party atmosphere in Bramlage Coliseum.

Deadric Lee tried to bring the Hokies back into the game by himself

The Hokies had little in the way of a response. Despite taking a few time outs, they could not slow down the Wildcats' offensive onslaught. Although Deadric Lee and Calvin Hooper did their best to respond to Kansas State's sucker punch, the damage had been done. In one telling sequence, Justin Guzman went coast to coast on an inbound pass and converted a layup. Then, Guzman intercepted the ensuing inbound pass for another quick bucket.

From there, the game was pretty much over. West got to clear his bench with plenty of time left -- and even then his reserves kept pace with Virginia Tech.

After the game, the locker room was unusually celebratory. West had this to say, "No, we haven't won anything yet. But these young men have stuck together through thick and thin, and tonight was a big win. We all know we have work to do, but making it to New York is still an achievement this team should be proud of."

The Wildcats will face the Valparaiso Crusaders, who gave Lehigh a similar shellacking earlier today, in the NIT Final Four.

Virginia Tech Hokies at Kansas State Wildcats
Mar 26, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Virginia Tech (21-13)	29	25	54
Kansas State (19-11)	34	44	78

Virginia Tech Hokies
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
H. Norris	24	2-6	2-6	0-0	1	5	1	0	2	6
D. Lee	23	6-13	1-2	2-2	2	0	0	0	0	15
C. Hooper	23	5-14	0-1	1-1	2	2	0	0	0	11
M. Rackauskas	23	3-7	0-0	4-4	7	1	1	0	2	10
M. Laudato	23	4-11	0-0	0-0	9	0	0	2	1	8
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
H. Nutter	7	1-4	1-2	0-0	0	1	0	0	1	3
X. Roy	13	0-4	0-0	0-0	1	5	0	0	1	0
D. Arnold	7	0-1	0-1	0-0	2	0	0	0	0	0
F. Zaharias	7	0-1	0-0	1-2	2	1	0	1	0	1
W. Dearmon	-- DID NOT PLAY --
J. Graham	-- DID NOT PLAY --
C. Coverdale	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		21-61	4-12	8-9	26	15	2	3	7	54

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	22	4-7	0-3	0-0	3	10	2	0	0	8
E. Kummer	21	1-5	1-3	2-2	3	5	1	0	0	5
B. Gatling	18	7-16	3-8	1-2	7	4	0	0	1	18
D. Walls	11	5-9	0-0	0-0	3	1	2	0	0	10
D Ross	14	7-9	0-0	3-7	3	1	0	6	1	17
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	14	4-0	0-0	0-0	8	0	0	0	0	8
M. Mathis	15	3-4	0-0	0-0	3	0	0	0	0	6
R. Guzman	10	3-6	0-0	0-0	1	1	0	2	0	6
M. Martin	8	0-2	0-1	0-0	2	2	0	0	0	0
C. Geiger	11	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	2	1	0	0	0
J. Hayes	4	0-1	0-0	0-0	3	0	0	0	1	0
K. Mendoza	4	0-1	0-1	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		34-69	4-16	6-11	38	26	6	8	3	78

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Regional Final Results

There's nothing quite like the pressure cooker of knowing whether you get to advance or pack bags and go. Sure, the NIT may not get as much attention as the NCAA tournament, but for the teams still alive it's a big deal. And this week there was a lot of great basketball.

NIT Regional Finals

Kansas State 78 Virginia Tech 54
Valparaiso 82 Lehigh 60
Texas Tech 68 Marquette 77
Xavier 75 Oklahoma 92

All in all, the results themselves were not terribly surprising. What may be a surprise is just how wide the margins were. Virginia Tech's road woes resurfaced, and Texas Tech was down by as many as 25 before Marquette relaxed their game. There is not a terribly big talent gap between the teams in the Final Four, and it will be interesting to see if the games get in any closer in New York.

NIT Final Four

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2018 Second Week Results

Sweet Sixteen

East Regional
#1 Arizona State 88 #5 Cincinnati 78
#3 Louisville 68 #10 UNLV 64

West Regional
#1 NC State 66 #12 Wisconsin 60
#3 Texas 96 #10 Iowa 100

South Regional
#1 Connecticut 85 #5 Stanford 57
#3 Utah 68 #10 Kentucky 80

Midwest Regional
#8 Indiana 96 #4 Missouri 98
#6 UCLA 90 #2 Syracuse 94

Elite Eight

East Regional
#1 Arizona State 87 #3 Louisville 79

West Regional
#1 NC State 110 #10 Iowa 72

South Regional
#1 Connecticut 75 #10 Kentucky 68

Midwest Regional
#4 Missouri 39* #2 Syracuse 77

* Not a typo: Missouri only scored 10 second half points

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Guy West Signed to Three Year Extension

Well, one name has been plucked off of this year's coaching market. There were a number schools salivating at Kansas State's Head Coach Guy West's expiring contract. Consider their hopes dashed.

West, who is one of the youngest coaches to even win a National Championship, much less one at a mid-major, has also proven himself to be a master recruiter no matter at where he has coached. And with last year's signings and the incoming signings so far, West has Kansas State set to be a very good program for the foreseeable future.

When announcing the extension, the Kansas State AD had this to say: "I am very pleased to see the level of work Coach West has put into this program. He has helped us grow, and I believe he is the man for the job to return this program to the national picture. What he has done with such a young squad is nothing short of amazing, and I'm sure the team will take even greater strides in the years to come. The future is very bright with Coach West on the bench."

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Final Four Preview: Kansas State vs Valparaiso

One team raised no eyebrows by making it here. The other? Should have been sent packing rounds ago. One is a battle tested power conference opponent. The other is an upstart underdog. The magic of March comes to NYC as heavily favored Kansas State takes on the Crusaders of Valparaiso.

Keys to the Game

1) Eat the Weak: There is no question that Kansas State has superior talent to Valparaiso. They need to show it, and the Wildcats need to remember that while the name Valparaiso may not be intimidating, they still made it to the same Final Four. Going in focusing on expectations will not win a game by itself, but Kansas State needs to own that they are the better team from the start.

2) Size Advantage: Other than Justin Guzman, the Wildcats are much larger than the Crusaders from the 2-5. Where they can exploit that advantage the best is at shooting guard and small forward. Not only is Kansas State faster, but longer and stronger. If the Wildcats can win this game anywhere, it will be at the wings.

Keys to the Game

1) Control the Paint: Valparaiso has gotten to this point with the strength of its inside game, but to be honest the Bracket broke in the Crusader's favor. They have not had to face size and talent so far this Tournament like they will against Kansas State. The Crusaders cannot go in and be intimidated. Sometimes one has to adjust their game plan to their opponent, but Valparaiso is not talented enough to totally abandon its inside game.

2) Be Calm: Valparaiso enters this game as the underdog, but there still is a lot of pressure having to play in the Final Four before the big lights in Madison Square Garden (well, the Carrier Dome, but still). This is not the environment the Crusaders are used to playing in, but once the whistle blows it's four corners of hardwood. The crowd will be there, the lights will be intense, but Coach Drew's squad needs to stay in the game and not let it get too big.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

NIT Final Four

vs.

Some games hold the promise of having a little bit of everything. And sometimes victory is in hand until someone else snatches it away. There are a lot of lessons the young Kansas State Wildcats will have to carry from this game. As usual, the place to start is the unlikeliest of sources.

Clement Fletcher (66 OVR) played the game of his life, and brought down the house

Valpraiso's calling card all season has been the strength of their interior game. Cedric Baldwin and C.C. Legans did not disappoint. Both were willing to go toe to toe with Kansas State's more vaunted freshmen. But when the Crusaders needed an extra spark, they turned to Clement Fletcher. The Junior took his game up to another level on both ends of the court. His energy brought out the best in his team mates, and together the Crusaders delighted the crowd with a three point lead at the end of the half.

The Wildcats were doing everything they could to keep pace, but no one had tested them quite like Valparaiso. They came out ready to play harder, and any time Kansas State gave them their best shot, Valpo struck back harder. There was no knock out blow to deliver -- the Crusaders just kept coming back.

But as has been the case many times over his career, Coach West made a few necessary halftime adjustments to try and keep his team afloat. Seeing man to man not working, West moved to a 2-3. In addition, he told his team to re-focus on getting the ball inside because the Wildcats were settling for too many jump shots and not drawing enough fouls.

The adjustments weren't enough to pour on a rout like their last game against Virginia Tech, but they did shift the momentum. Valparaiso is strong inside, but no one on their roster has the size and strength to match up with DeMarcus Ross. The Freshman Center, whose game is still has plenty of room to grow, showed why he was rated as the #1 Center recruit.

Justin Guzman and DeMarcus Ross build Kansas State's lead to 13 in the closing minutes.

The pace of the game may have slowed significantly in the second half, but in a way that may have made Ross' emergence all the more damaging. Valparaiso had a great opportunity to get back into the game with Branduinn Gatling losing his shooting touch in the second half, but instead it was Ross who slammed the door shut on the game by scoring 8 straight points. Not only did Kansas State get its first double-digit lead of the game, but with 4 minutes left and a 13 point lead, all the Wildcats needed to do was hold onto the ball and not hand the game away.

Coach Drew pulled his team together during the ensuing time out -- but there was no white flag raised. Instead, the Crusaders pushed harder than they ever have before. First, Johnny Goode pushed the ball down the floor and found Fletcher open for a three. Then Goode stole the ball and drove the ball back for no-frills but oh so emphatic dunk.

Kansas State 67 - Valparaiso 59

On the next play, Justin Guzman tried to wind down the clock, but as the shot clock went down Esteban Kummer could not break free from his defender. Guzman took a poor shot, and the Crusaders rushed down the floor. Clement Fletcher drove the ball straight into the post, and Dandorris Walls picked up his fourth foul of the game but denied the bucket.

The 60% free throw shooter hit both from the line.

Kansas State 67 - Valparaiso 61

Coach West took a time out to try and calm his team down. That, and to try and get something going on offense. But with the defense packed tight in the paint, Ross had to shoot from a much further distance than he would have liked. The ball clanged off the rim, and Valparaiso once again drove the ball down the court. The fast break option was not there, but DeMarcuss Ross reached in and fouled Gilbert Abellard when he should have just held his ground. Kansas State had hit the penalty, and but Abellard could only hit the front end of the one-and-one. But what may have mattered more in the big picture was that Ross had fouled out.

Kansas State 67 - Valparaiso 62

With little over a minute left, the Wildcats once again tried to find something on offense. Nothing was going inside, and for all intents and purposes nothing was hitting from outside. But Coach West did not want to burn his last time out in case he needed it -- it would be up to his young squad to ride it out and get something on the board. The ball found its way to Branduinn Gatling, who had come through so often in the past in tight spots for the Wildcats. Tonight? His three attempt to bury the Crusaders clanged loudly off the rim.

Johnny Goode took the ball back up the court quickly, and finding the weak spot in the 2-3 before Justin Guzman could get into position, he rose up hit the three of his life to send the crowd into a frenzy and bring the Crusaders to within 2.

Kansas State 67 - Valparaiso 65.

Once again, the Wildcats worked their way down the court. Down 2 and with 45 seconds left, Valparaiso knew they did not need to foul to get another possession, but instead only needed to get a stop. The Wildcats attempted to go for a high percentage shot, but their offensive breakdown continued. This time Dandorris Walls caught the ball in scoring position, but as he was turning to make a power move towards the bucket the ball was stripped out from under him.

Valparaiso had the ball with 22 seconds left. Down two. Destiny in their control. They could go for overtime, or they could go for the throat and the win. Goode wound down the clock as the Crusaders' half court offense went into gear. These are the kind of moments where players appreciate their coaches running the same plays and scenarios again and again and again. Nerves don't matter when everything is etched in muscle memory. For their part, the Kansas State Wildcats stayed in position and stayed on their men, but Branduinn Gatling got caught in a powerful screen.

Clement Fletcher broke free and caught the pass with a clean look from beyond the arc. He hoisted the shot just before the clock expired. It was time to win or time to go home.

The shot bounced off the rim and harmlessly away.

Kansas State 67 - Valparaiso 65

The Wildcats surrendered the last 11 points, but advance to the NIT Final to face the Oklahoma Sooners.

Valparaiso Crusaders at Kansas State Wildcats
Mar 30, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Valparaiso (21-10)	43	22	65
Kansas State (20-11)	40	27	67

Valparaiso Crusaders
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Goode	19	8-13	2-3	2-2	4	1	2	0	5	20
G. Abellard	23	4-10	0-0	1-2	1	4	0	0	1	9
C. Fletcher	24	4-10	2-4	3-5	9	2	0	1	2	13
C. Baldwin	18	2-8	1-3	0-0	10	0	1	1	1	5
C. Legans	23	1-6	0-0	3-4	8	1	0	1	0	5
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
G. Dressel	6	1-4	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	1	1	2
J. Reid	14	3-7	0-0	0-1	7	0	1	1	0	6
D. Blanchard	4	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	2
B. Carlson	13	0-2	0-0	3-4	0	2	1	1	1	3
R. Chan	5	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	1	0
B. Ford	-- DID NOT PLAY --
R. Mayes	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		24-63	5-10	12-18	39	11	5	6	12	65

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	22	2-5	2-4	0-0	0	9	0	0	2	6
E. Kummer	21	5-11	3-5	0-0	5	4	0	0	1	13
B. Gatling	25	3-17	3-11	0-0	5	3	0	1	1	9
D. Walls	21	5-12	0-0	2-3	9	2	3	1	2	12
D. Ross	13	5-13	0-0	1-3	6	0	0	2	0	11
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	16	3-6	0-0	0-0	3	1	1	0	0	6
M. Mathis	12	0-2	0-0	0-0	4	0	0	0	0	0
R. Guzman	8	3-4	0-0	2-2	5	0	1	0	0	8
M. Martin	8	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	4	2	0	1	2
C. Geiger	5	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	0
J. Hayes	-- DID NOT PLAY --
K. Mendoza	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		27-71	8-20	5-8	38	24	7	4	7	67

[southernmetalhead]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Nice job on the contract extension and good luck in the NIT Final.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Nice job on the contract extension and good luck in the NIT Final.

Thanks. Oklahoma is not exactly a match up I am looking forward to but I guess this was a good tournament for the Big 12.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Final Four Results

Oklahoma 88 Marquette 71 One game was full of drama and last minute theatrics. The other was a snooze and a cruise, but not in the way most expected going in. What else is new, the Power Conferences have come to play in the NIT, but this time it is the Big 12 who will emerge with the eventual champion.

Kansas State 67 Valparaiso 65
Oklahoma 88 Marquette 71

In the first game of the Final Four, Oklahoma pulled away early from the Golden Eagles on the back of a stellar shooting night by super stud 6th man Erick Sola. His 6 three pointers more than overwhelmed Marquette. Meanwhile, Valparaiso nearly completed an epic comeback in the second half. But a missed three as time expired meant that the Kansas State Wildcats get to fight another day.

The question now is this: seriously, who would you take. The team that tried to hand a win to a mid-major, or the team that obliterated the strongest remaining squad in the field.

[HarkTheSound]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Great job making the NIT final. I forget how you did against Oklahoma during conference play; what do you think your chances are?

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Great job making the NIT final. I forget how you did against Oklahoma during conference play; what do you think your chances are?

Thanks. Making it here really makes me wonder how I would have done in the NCAA tournament if only Gatling had stayed healthy all season. But I'll take what I can get now. As for the Sooners...

Final Preview: Kansas State vs Oklahoma

Of all of the games in this tournament, here is one that we've seen before. The last time these teams met, it was a completely one sided affair from start to finish. The Sooners not only out-played, but out-classed the Wildcats by a margin of 83-50. It was the biggest win and biggest loss for the respective teams. As the season has progressed, there is not much reason to expect the result to be any different. But with one game left for both teams, anything is possible.

Keys to the Game

1) Defend the Lines: Specifically the three point line and the base line. These were the two areas where Oklahoma decimated the Wildcats defense. Kansas State has had problems all season getting burned from the three point line. Sometimes it is from the team's star, and sometimes it is from a role player. Oklahoma has too many people that can light it up for West's squad to be off guard.

2) Stay on the Court: The Wildcats have managed to make it to the final despite having serious fouling issues. Their two starting big men, DeMarcus Ross and Dandorriss Walls are highly talented but are still too active when checking opponents or challenging shots. If they cannot stay on the court, it will be that much easier for Oklahoma to take control of the game.

Keys to the Game

1) Stick to the Plan: The Sooners are peaking at just the right time after having an up and down season in the Big 12 -- and they have largely done it by staying consistent. They can match up with anyone in the country along the perimeter, especially J.C. Terrell and Antonio Lamb able to handle the ball equally well. The guard combo creates numerous match up problems for any opponent, and both should be able to take advantage of Kansas State's diminutive Justin Guzman.

2) Turn up the Pressure: If one facet of the game was Marquette's undoing last round, it was their inability to take care of the ball. Oklahoma pressed early and often, and their high pressure defense forced numerous turnovers and kept the Golden Eagles off of their game. Kansas State does not rely as much on half court sets to score, but the goal going into this game should be the same. The young Wildcats have a tendency to leap before they look, and if Oklahoma can force some cheap turnovers they will be well on their way to earning the NIT crown.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

NIT Final

vs.

Many weren't sure what to make of this game going in. Oklahoma handily routed the Wildcats earlier this season, but that was on their home floor. Surely things would be different in front of a neutral crowd, especially with Oklahoma sixth man and sharp shooter Erick Sola a late scratch after uncontrollable swelling in his knee after the semi-final turned into season ending surgery.

But even if the cards were falling in KSU's favor before tip-off, there was still the matter of having to avenge their worst loss of the season on a neutral court. And almost no one coaches better on a neutral court than Guy West. Tonight, the Sooners would not be coasting midway through the first half.

Kansas State knew the Sooners would attack them inside and held their ground

These familiar Big 12 foes actually employ similar strategies. Both Oklahoma and Kansas State look to bludgeon their opponents inside long enough to set up their outside shooting. Last time, the Wildcats were caught flat footed and could do nothing to stop the Sooners. Tonight, when one team pushed, the other pushed back. Oklahoma tried to get its game going in the middle, but DaMarcus Ross and Dannorriss Walls held their ground and, for the first time in eternity, avoided foul trouble.

As a result, Oklahoma was left to shooting outside. J.C. Terrell and Antonio Lamb was happy to oblige by constantly lighting up the Wildcats in the weak spots of their 1-3-1. Any time the Wildcats thought they could get separation by attacking the basket and getting to the foul line, Terrell or Lamb would shoot the Sooners back into the game. The crowd was pleased by the 51-44 halftime barn burner, but it left both coaches going back to the drawing board.

And in the battle of halftime Xs and Os, it was Guy West who would emerge the victor over Oklahoma Coach Jeff Capel.

The Wildcats came out ready to defend the lines and dig deep into the paint. Anything the Sooners wanted from mid range, they could get. Meanwhile, Branduinn Gatling stopped forcing the "big shot" and started driving to the basket when the pressure got too close. But if one player turned the game more than any other in the second half, it was unheralded freshman wing man Esteban Kummer. The combo guard/forward was able to shoot over the shorter Antonio Lamb or anyone else the Sooners threw at him to the tune of three 3 pointers in the second half.

Esteban Kummer gets a rare five point play to spark KSU in the second half

But Kummer can also be credited with the play that started Kansas State's final run of the season. After driving to the basket and drawing a foul from Josiah Padilla, Kummer missed the free throw, picked up a quick pass from the Branduinn Gatling rebound, and hit a three to push Kansas State's lead to 12.

Oklahoma never got traction again in the half. Running on a total team effort, including dominating defense by DaMarcus Ross (6 blocks) and great floor leadership by Justin Guzman (7 assists, 0 turnovers), the Wildcats were able to pile up a huge lead while only surrendering 9 points. Dana Worthington and Roger Guzman came up huge off the bench as well, combing for 18 of their 30 points in the second half.

Branduinn Gatling put an exclamation on the victory by driving through traffic for a dunk and converting the free throw to put the Wildcats up 85-53.

All that was left for the benches to clear, then the confetti, then the Oklahoma fans who made the trip to New York City. On the back of a huge second half run, the Wildcats overpowered their conference rival to win the NIT by a final score of 99-65.

Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas State Wildcats
Apr 1, 2018	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Oklahoma (21-14)	44	21	65
Kansas State (21-11)	51	48	99

Oklahoma Sooners (90 OVR)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Terrell	23	5-9	2-3	3-4	0	5	3	1	1	15
A. Lamb	24	9-17	6-12	0-0	2	5	2	0	5	24
E. Holmes	23	2-18	0-4	1-1	1	3	0	0	2	5
D. Banjo	23	3-5	0-0	0-0	5	1	1	1	1	6
J. Padilla	14	1-3	0-0	0-2	6	0	2	1	0	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Boylan	11	2-4	2-2	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	6
I. Webb	5	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	2
J. Santee	7	0-2	0-1	1-2	0	2	0	0	0	1
L. Claudino	3	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	2
J. Gunn	7	0-2	0-1	0-0	2	0	0	0	0	0
B. Hacker	9	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	1	1	2
E. Sola	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		25-64	10-23	5-9	18	20	10	4	10	65

Kansas State Wildcats (85 OVR)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Guzman	18	2-4	1-3	0-0	2	7	0	0	0	5
E. Kummer	18	5-9	3-3	3-5	4	4	0	0	1	16
B. Gatling	20	8-13	2-7	4-4	4	4	0	0	0	20
D. Walls	17	5-6	0-0	2-3	9	3	1	0	2	12
D. Ross	15	4-7	0-0	3-3	6	0	1	6	0	11
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	11	7-8	0-0	0-0	3	0	1	0	2	14
M. Mathis	12	1-2	0-0	0-0	3	3	1	0	0	2
R. Guzman	12	5-7	0-0	6-8	3	0	1	0	0	16
M. Martin	9	0-1	0-0	0-1	2	6	1	0	1	0
C. Geiger	9	0-0	0-0	1-2	1	1	0	0	1	1
J. Hayes	4	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	2
K. Mendoza	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	1	1	0	2	0
TEAM TOTALS		37-58	6-13	19-26	38	29	7	6	9	99

Coach's Take: This is a great moment our team can carry forward. People looked the other way and thought "Oh, maybe next year," when were did not make it into the field of 65. But our team kept our heads high, and I'm proud of them. They saw this as an opportunity to show the country just what they are missing out on. Today, there is plenty of reason to celebrate.

Branduinn Gatling Named NIT Most Outstanding Player
18.2 PPG | 7.0 RPG | 3.8 APG | 0.2 SPG | 0.4 BPG

Coach West got a lot of outstanding play from his young team, but maybe none moreso than the player he lost at the end of the regular season. Branduinn Gatling showed how strong Kansas State can be when it can stretch the floor with his shooting, and his length on defense helped on the wings and in cleaning up the boards. The freshman's game still has plenty of room to grow, but when Kansas State needed a boost he was the difference maker for the NIT Champions.