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As Jon Morse notes in The National (which you should read at least for the shade Morse throws at Dan "you're ruining the game" Shaughnessy), we're in the home stretch for college basketball. After tonight, the Division I title games for men and women along with the women's Division II and Division III title games will be the only action left.
The Big 12 threat at the NCAA Tournament ended last night when Oklahoma was shown the door by Villanova, and in wholly unceremonious fashion, 95-51. The other game was won by North Carolina, and though slightly more competitive, was probably just as much of a foregone conclusion. In other words, this year's Final Four took all the fun out of college basketball. I didn't even think that was possible.
We were already Wildcats, and now we're Nova fans, yes?
It's official: there is no joy in Mudville.
Yesterday, the BatCats dropped two games to #22 Texas Tech, and in both contests, the team gave away a slew of big hits and runs early in the game and could not recover from the deficit. Over the two games, the Wildcats were out-hit 22-17 and gave up 10 extra base hits, including four home runs.
Kansas State will try to salvage a win in the series when the teams face off at noon today. RHP Corey Fischer will take the mound for the Wildcats.
The track and field teams had another solid outing on the final day of the UCLA Legends Invitational. The women finished in second place with 124.5 points, while the men finished third with 94 points.
Yesterday's action included six first-place finishes for the Wildcats, and Kansas State ended the meet with a total of nine first-place finishes and a new school record in men's weight throw.
Akela Jones, competing outdoors for the first time this season, took first place in high jump (because of course she did) and in the 100m hurdles. Teammate Tia' Gamble won the 400m dash with a new personal best time of 54.12. Jones and Gamble then joined Ranae McKenzie and A'Keyla Mitchell to win the 4x400 relay. Joining the track stars in the winners' circle was Shadae Lawrence who took first in the women's discus throw event.
On the men's side, Zach Supple was first in the pole vault with a leap of 5.11m.
Next week, the Wildcats take this show to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the LSU Battle on the Bayou.