I think it is really simple right now for the 'Hawks. Win tomorrow and we should get a #1 seed. Win tomorrow and Sunday against Oklahoma State/Texas and we have without a doubt clinched a #1 seed, maybe even the #1 overall seed. Losing tomorrow will clinch a bid for the Wildcats in the Tournament and could drop us down the a #2 seed. I think we would still be good-to-go depending on what goes on around us (a Florida loss tomorrow to Mississippi could really help us out) but let's not leave it to the committee to decide for us.
Here is a brief little preview for tomorrow afternoon's interstate battle that will take place in Oklahoma City.
Kansas State's Players to Watch For
G Cartier Martin: 26.6 minutes, 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, .77 assist/turnover ratio
F David Hoskins: 26.7 minutes, 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.05 assist/turnover ratio
G Lance Harris: 26.6 minutes, 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.39 assist/turnover ratio
G Clent Stewart: 25.4 minutes, 6.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.34 assist/turnover ratio
G Akeem Wright: 26.5 minutes, 6.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.56 assist/turnover ratio
Three Keys to the Game
1) Guard the Perimeter
They love the 3 point shot, we need to shut it down for us to be a place to win tomorrow. 4 of the 5 "Players to Watch" are guards all capable of knocking down an outside shot. We need to have Super, RR and SC play really good perimeter defense.
2) Sasha Kaun! Sasha Kaun! Sasha Kaun Everybody! Sasha Kaun!
Sasha had a great game against Boomer Sooner on Friday and with the...let's just say Jason Bennett <3 fouling people, on Purple he has a shot to dominate yet again in OKC. Let's pound it down in the middle to him and DA and reap the results.
3) Burn the OKC Curse into the Ground!!!!!!
Before today's game Split talked about our OKC curse. I'm not really a big believer in losing 2 tournament games and all of a sudden you have a curse, but let's put an idea of an OKC curse on the Jayhawks out of everyone's mind by blowing K-State out of the water. Wow, that sounds like a battle cry.... "To Sparta!"
RCT Prediction: I picked us to win 79-69 in my Big 12 Tournament Preview, so what the hay let's stick with that answer.
Kansas 79 Kansas State 69
Big 12 Tournament Preview Update
Because I love to shove it in your face when I am right on some things, I am doing amazingly well in my little Big 12 Preview. I only missed one on the first day of action, I picked Mizzou over Baylor, but I had picked Missouri to lose the next game anyways and with my correct pick of Okie State upsetting A&M I am 7/8 so far. Tomorrow I picked Okie State over Texas and, as mentioned above, Kansas over Kansas State.
I LOVE MARCH!
Rock Chalk!