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SLATE: McGuirl makes more memories

Waking up to a big win.

By Luke Sobba
Mike McGuirl went out — if indeed he’s going — with a bang.
Mike was special on his special night.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s Slate starts with celebration. Because you can never get too much of this kind of fun:

Behind the heroic late efforts of Mike McGuirl, who connected on three consecutive three-point shots to turn a 5-point Cat deficit into a 4-point lead in the closing minutes, K-State upset No. 7 Oklahoma Tuesday night in a win that would have seemed beyond improbable at the beginning of this season. Or, you know, even three weeks ago. Coach Weber challenged the team to be the day’s highlight on SportsCenter. With Michigan State upsetting No. 5 Illinois, the Wildcats might have gotten second billing. But they were certainly a highlight. And for good reasons, this time.

Beyond the usual local recaps by the Star, the Mercury and the athletic department, national outlets got into the act. CBS Sports projects that the OU loss drops them to at best a 3-seed in the NCAA tournament. NBC Sports put the focus where it belongs: on Mike McGuirl. Fox Sports ran with the straight wire report. But at least they noticed.

Behind enemy lines, Sooners Wire noted that OU has not won in Bramlage Coliseum since 2012, a delicious streak that—improbably—will continue for at least another year. OU Daily placed the blame on the Sooners’ own struggles.

It’s all fun. Fans know: If you are patient, sports will always reward you. And the unexpected rewards are just the best.

With the win, Coach Bruce Weber has now overseen ten victories over Top-10 opponents, tying him with Tex Winter for the most in K-State history.

Mike McGuirl deservedly got lots of love. K-State Sports Extra examined how he made a memorable senior night moment. Kellis Robinett revisited other “magical moments” in Mike’s career. He has certainly seen both ends of the thrill-of-victory and agony-of-defeat spectrum.

The Big 12 rescheduled a dozen COVID-delayed basketball games yesterday. Included in the list was the Iowa State rematch, which will now be contested at 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday, March 6.

Because basketball euphoria can’t be absolutely everything, K-State Sports Extra also took a moment to celebrate the early-season achievements of pitcher Jordan Wicks and the baseball team.

One more moment of nirvana. Because we can.

Oh, my goodness, indeed.