Bring On The Cats - Big 12 Game 13: Kansas State vs. (17) Oklahoma SoonersA Kansas State Wildcats Blog -- Carrying the Banner Highhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47995/bringoncats_fave.png2015-02-15T09:40:55-06:00http://www.bringonthecats.com/rss/stream/78023822015-02-15T09:40:55-06:002015-02-15T09:40:55-06:00Men's Hoops Recap - K-State 59, (17)OU 56
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<img alt="OU's Buddy Hield saw this wall of Iwundu all day Saturday." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QzQgNRqKiVNx49bD3UGI98AEndk=/0x0:2919x1946/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45694722/usa-today-8384809.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>OU's Buddy Hield saw this wall of Iwundu all day Saturday. | Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wildcats hold on in the waning minutes, after trying their best to gift the Sooners the win. Oh, and Marcus Foster.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.bringonthecats.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas State Wildcats</a> (13-13, 6-7 Big 12) managed to finally pick up their first win in their last six attempts, taking down and securing a season sweep of the (17)<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/">Oklahoma Sooners</a>, 59-56. First and foremost - it stops our losing streak at five. Secondly, the win ended the Sooners' winning streak at five, as well.</p>
<p>I had a good feeling about this game. There's something that I just can't put my finger on that playing against the Sooners this year is a favorable matchup for us. I'm not sure why - they rebound the ball well, they force other teams into tough shots, and they have enough weapons to stress a defense. Just comparing stats and styles, you would think we'd be out-classed at almost every facet of the game.</p>
<p>And apparently, you would be wrong.</p>
<p>Of note, <span>Marcus Foster</span> and <span>Malek Harris</span> served their time and were made available to play for the game. Foster did not start, but he checked in for the first time at 14:06 mark in the first half, and Malek made his appearance with 12:02 to go in the opening stanza.</p>
<p>K-State came out of the gate very well, as a matter of fact. While the Cats weren't on fire by any means - 23.1% FG in the first half - they were aggressive, taking the ball right at Oklahoma on the offensive end, while playing in-your-face defense on the flipside. The aggressive play paid off, as the Cats forced 7 first-half Oklahoma turnovers, compiled 8 offensive rebounds, and drew foul after foul on the Sooners, getting to the line 15 times (connecting on 13). Swarming perimeter defense actually gave up some easy inside buckets, but kept the Sooners from shooting well beyond the arc, going 1-11 in the first half from three point land. The Sooners looked to be the better team yet, and took a one-point lead into the locker room.</p>
<p>K-State's aggressiveness was very apparent coming out in the second half as well, but the Sooners were handling. Oklahoma would eventually stretch their lead to the biggest of the game - a 6-point spread - just over 2 minutes into the half. The pressure and pointed attack would eventually start to wear down Lon Krueger's squad, as fouls continued to mount (key big man <span>Ryan Spangler</span> would foul out with 8:15 left), and the Cats clawed their way back to take the lead at 38-37 with 12:33 left on a pair of <span>Wesley Iwundu</span> free throws. The Wildcats stretched their lead to as many as seven, behind free throws, a couple of timely <span>Justin Edwards</span> threes, and a raucous Octagon of Doom crowd. They maintained that seven point advantage to the 3:51 mark.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this K-State team can't quite get their hands wrapped around playing with prosperity, and decided to make it a game again. Oklahoma (more accurately, <span>Jordan Woodard</span>) went on a run to bring it back to a tie game at 56-all, because of foul after foul by the Wildcats. Then, this:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLHUQoP9d_8" height="510" width="854"></iframe></p>
<p>Well, Foster made his mark on the Sooners...again. K-State, up three, would foul early on the inbounds, sending the Sooners to the line. A missed FT, followed by one of the worst attempts at an intentional miss I've seen, and the Wildcats were able to close this one out</p>
<p>But lets chat about the end of the game for a few minutes from a planning standpoint. The only thing Bruce did right the final four minutes of the game was the foul at halfcourt being up three. I feel this is the right play in almost every situation. For Oklahoma to tie the game, multiple things have to go right - make the first, intenionally miss the second, secure the rebound, and make a putback...just to go to overtime. Conversely, without the foul - they have to simply just get lucky on one shot for the same outcome. With the type of players Oklahoma has, and Spangler out of the game, this decision actually made sense.</p>
<p>Outside of that, the closeout of this game was absolutely atrocious. Now, I don't know the reason for sure, but either Bruce Weber absolutely sucks at situational coaching (out-of-bounds plays, single scripted plays, etc.), or we have the least coachable players on the planet, bar none. Its a possibility its a combination of both. Having a screen-based set to get the ball in bounds on the baseline after a made basket against pressure is something even junior high basketball teams have. Apparently we don't. Our guys just cut back and forth, don't set screens, and subsequently, can't get open. With under four minutes to go, Wes turned the ball over once trying to throw a pass that wasn't open, called a timeout because he couldn't get the ball in, and I'll be damned if after that very timeout - where Weber HAS to design a play to get people open - we didn't come right out and do the SAME THING. Luckily, Thomas Gipson's good hands snared the ball on a bad pass, and we were able to break the pressure.</p>
<p>The frequency with which this happens - not being able to inbound against pressure - is high enough that this isn't a player problem. This is a coaching problem. The fact that we were able to win after having to overcome this multiple times...we won this game <i>despite</i> Bruce Weber, not because of him.</p>
<h4>Stats, STAT:</h4>
<p><i>36.</i></p>
<p>K-State went to the line an astonishing 36 times Saturday, connecting on 28 of them for a 77.8% rate. Conversely, Oklahoma went to the line 17 times, hitting 13. Before you think this is lopsided...it could have arguably been a <i>worse</i> disparity. As for actual fouls committed? OU 24, K-State 18. Not that out of line, given the way the Cats attacked the rim.</p>
<p><i>26.5%.</i></p>
<p>Just over 1-out-of-4 was our efficiency at shooting the ball from the floor. We did manage to go 33% from beyond the arc, but this is the worst shooting performance in a win all season.</p>
<p><i>9.</i></p>
<p>K-State outrebounded the Sooners by 9, 36-27. This was a huge factor in the game, as the Wildcats also earned more offensive rebounds, 14-7, leading to a 15-7 advantage for K-State in second chance scoring.</p>
<h5>K-State Player Of The Game: Wesley Iwundu</h5>
<p>I'm going a different direction with this one. Wesley Iwundu was likely the most important player on the floor, and he stepped up. Wes finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, going 6-6 from the charity stripe. While he did amass an 0-5 shooting effort inside the arc, he took on the challenge of defending Big 12 POY candidate <span>Buddy Hield</span> for 35 minutes, and kept him to 14 points (including a garbage three that he banked in), and kept him from being truly effective, after Hield went for 31 against us in the first contest in Norman.</p>
<h5>Other Player Notes</h5>
<p><span>Nino Williams</span> scored 10 in the first half on his way to 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists in a team-high 36 minutes.</p>
<p>Justin Edwards got the start, and actually hit a couple of big threes to put K-State on top in the second half. Edwards finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and a steal.</p>
<p>Marcus Foster came off the bench and played 25 minutes, leading the team in scoring with 14, including the game winner with 4 seconds left. He also contributed 2 rebounds, an assist, and a steal; he also played arguably the best on-ball defense I've seen from him in a K-State uniform.</p>
<p><span>Brandon Bolden</span> took a hard fall in the first half, hitting his face on the floor and apparently injuring his left arm; he walked off the floor under his own power, but with an air splint on his lower left arm. Unconfirmed, it's a broken wrist.</p>
<p>Buddy Hield still had some success, finishing with 14 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Jordan Woodard chipped in 13, and <span>TaShawn Thomas</span> finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.</p>
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<p>"They were just more aggressive than us on both ends of the floor. I feel like they fought harder on every possession." - TaShawn Thomas, postgame</p>
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<h4>Big Thoughts:</h4>
<h5>1. Three Keys</h5>
<p><a href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/2014-15-k-state-mens-basketball/2015/2/14/8038253/mens-hoops-preview-kansas-state-vs-17-oklahoma-sooners" target="_blank">We uglied it up.</a> We rebounded well, especially keeping them off the offensive boards. And the integration of Foster and Harris into the rotation didn't significantly screw up the chemistry. We had a plan, and for the most part, we executed it.</p>
<h5>2. Win on Hustle.</h5>
<p>The guys played hard the entire game. Sure, there were some lapses every now and then, but it's hard to be intense for the full 40. We aren't as talented as Oklahoma, but we were able to win because of players playing like they wanted to win. Getting in there and banging around. Stepping up and making free throws. Putting their effort in on the defensive end. Finishing the play out by securing rebounds.</p>
<h5>3. Planning for the Future.</h5>
<p>First things first - we've got a road trip to <strike>TCU</strike> a Fort Worth high school to take on the Horned Frogs, a team that just beat down OSU in the second half of their game Saturday. We need to keep building off the good things in the last two games and come out and pick up a win in Fort Worth on Wednesday. More importantly, we need to start stockpiling for the next couple seasons. Being able to gut out wins against ranked opponents will help this team moving forward.</p>
<h4>Next Up:</h4>
<p>On Wednesday, February 18, #EMAW travels to Fort Worth to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.frogsowar.com/">TCU Horned Frogs</a>. The game will be played in a larger high school gym due to ongoing renovations at TCU's home floor.</p>
https://www.bringonthecats.com/2014-15-k-state-mens-basketball/2015/2/15/8041513/mens-hoops-recap-kansas-state-59-17-oklahoma-56Eric Rubottom2015-02-14T18:30:02-06:002015-02-14T18:30:02-06:00Oklahoma at K-State: Open Game Thread
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<img alt="Buddy's going to get his. As in Norman, the key is making sure nobody else does." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zHyqNtAjTLz-vmtNa-xNFOUYPPI=/0x327:867x905/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45691068/usa-today-8350735.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Buddy's going to get his. As in Norman, the key is making sure nobody else does. | Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can the Wildcats manage to snag a flagpole and halt their freefall?</p> <table class="schedule-table"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="4" class="day_break">Sat, Feb 14, 2015</td></tr> <tr> <td>7:00 PM CT<br><img class="tv_logo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3304171/espn-2-hd.png"> </td> <td> <a href="http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/" target="_blank"><img class="teamlogo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo_minimal/140/large_crimsonandcreammachine.com.minimal.png"><strong>(17)</strong> Oklahoma</a> (17-7, 8-4 Big 12)</td> <td>at</td> <td> <a href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/" target="_blank"><img class="teamlogo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo_minimal/127/large_bringonthecats.com.minimal.png">Kansas State</a> (12-13, 5-7 Big 12)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<p><link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2434788/schedule_stylesheet_centered.0.0.css"></p>
<p>We've already entered the dank lower levels of the 2015 dungeon. The Wildcats are sitting on their first five-game losing streak since 2005. That skid was a six-game slide; a loss tonight would put the 2000-01 Wildcats on the clock. (Thankfully, if that's the word you'd like to use, the Cats will have to completely collapse to match the next level of ignominy: the 12-game losing streak in 2000 that finally cost Tom Asbury his job.)</p>
<p>But let's not focus on that, shall we? The reality is that the Cats are facing a team which they were able to solve on the road last month. The Marcus Foster Experience appears to still be sidelined, but while Oklahoma has reeled off five straight wins, they still have matchup problems with K-State. With good fortune, the Wildcats can once again exploit that -- and Weber's historical success against Lon Kruger doesn't hurt, either.</p>
<p>Go Cats!</p>
https://www.bringonthecats.com/2015/2/14/8038637/oklahoma-at-kansas-state-open-game-threadJon Morse2015-02-14T10:02:44-06:002015-02-14T10:02:44-06:00Oklahoma at K-State: How to Watch and More
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<img alt="You can't see it, but Lon is seriously wearing red sneaks with that suit. For real." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tQPogueJD16GS6JznTHflrEg6Bs=/0x286:2126x1703/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45690902/usa-today-8345280.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>You can't see it, but Lon is seriously wearing red sneaks with that suit. For real. | Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can the WIldcats manage to give us a sweep for a Valentine's Day gift?</p> <table class="schedule-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="4" class="day_break">Sat, Feb 14, 2015</td>
</tr>
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<td>7:00 PM CT<br><img class="tv_logo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3304171/espn-2-hd.png">
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/" target="_blank"><img class="teamlogo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo_minimal/140/large_crimsonandcreammachine.com.minimal.png"><b>(17)</b> Oklahoma</a> (17-7, 8-4 Big 12)</td>
<td>at</td>
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<a href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/" target="_blank"><img class="teamlogo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo_minimal/127/large_bringonthecats.com.minimal.png">Kansas State</a> (12-13, 5-7 Big 12)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3706325/bloglinks.css">
<div class="blog-links-compact-container">
<h4>
<span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span> The Opposooners <span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span>
</h4>
<div class="blog-links-compact-link-container">
<a href="http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=bloglinks&utm_campaign=blogs">Oklahoma Sooners blog Crimson And Cream Machine</a>
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<p><b>The game</b>: <a href="https://www.bringonthecats.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas State</a> hosts the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/">Oklahoma Sooners</a>. Oklahoma leads the all-time series 105-95, though the Cats hold a 57-36 edge in Manhattan. Bruce Weber is 4-1 against the Sooners; Lon Kruger is 5-5 against his alma mater. Head-to-head, Weber is 5-1 against Kruger.</p>
<p><b>Odds</b>: Oklahoma is a four-point favorite.</p>
<p><b>Tipoff</b>: Saturday, February 14 at 7:00pm CT, Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) in Manhattan, Kansas.</p>
<p><b>Tickets</b>: Tickets are available from the ticket office; $55, $65 for chairbacks.</p>
<p><b>Television</b>: ESPN2 with Mark Neely and Stephen Howard, coincidentally the same pairing from the last game at Bramlage.</p>
<p><b>Radio</b>: K-State Sports Network, with Wyatt Thompson and Stan Weber. Also available on Sirius/XM 91.</p>
<p><b>Online</b>: Video stream via <a href="http://es.pn/1v5X9Tn" target="new">WatchESPN</a>. Free audio streaming is available via <a href="http://bit.ly/15rNnVB" target="new">KStateHD.tv</a>. Live stats via <a href="http://bit.ly/1yqDy3x" target="new">Gametracker</a>.</p>
https://www.bringonthecats.com/2014-15-k-state-mens-basketball/2015/2/14/8038517/oklahoma-kansas-state-game-time-tv-info-odds-streaming-radio-moreJon Morse2015-02-14T08:15:31-06:002015-02-14T08:15:31-06:00Men's Hoops Preview - K-State vs. (17) Oklahoma
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<img alt="Nigel should be getting the start again today. And a little friendlier crowd to go with it." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_gr6ZIvfLQXj13EQA3334IvEx1w=/0x206:1806x1410/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45690734/usa-today-8356829.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nigel should be getting the start again today. And a little friendlier crowd to go with it. | John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Sooners come in looking for their sixth straight win. The Cats are looking to avoid their sixth straight loss. Which gives today?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bringonthecats.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Kansas State Wildcats</a> (12-13, 5-7 Big 12) welcome in the <a href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma Sooners</a> for a Saturday evening contest in Bramlage Coliseum. The Sooners are coming off an 11-point victory at Iowa State this past week, while K-State dropped a tough one at West Virginia, 76-72.</p>
<p>The Sooners come in looking for revenge on the Wildcats. In their last tilt - a January 15 game in Norman - K-State hung tough the whole game, including a solid performance from Stephen Hurt. In the final stretch, it was <span>Marcus Foster</span> displaying some heroics, hitting a game-tying floater bucket at the end of regulation, and a three-point dagger with three seconds left to sneak out of the Lloyd Noble Center with the win.</p>
<p>K-State is coming in losing five in a row and six-of-7, most recently the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/2014-15-k-state-mens-basketball/2015/2/11/8023589/mens-hoops-recap-kansas-state-72-21-west-virginia-76">loss in Morgantown</a>. Nino Williams tied a career high with 22 in that game, and the Cats posted two halves of over 50% FG (for a total of 56.8% for the game). This was the first time K-State lost a game this year (8-1) while making half their shots.</p>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 4;"><b>Know Your Opponent</b></h4>
<p>So what's changed since mid-January? Even with seven total losses, the Oklahoma Sooners are still the elite team the were earlier. They're currently alone in 2nd in the Big 12 race, a game and a half back from league-leading KU.</p>
<p>In the Sooners last contest, they picked up big road win in Ames, taking down the Cyclones by never trailing in the second half, and leading by as many as 20. <span>TaShawn Thomas</span> had a stat-stuffer game, with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. <span>Isaiah Cousins</span> also chipped in 19.</p>
<p>In their 5-game winning streak, they've won by an average of 19.0ppg, including a Big 12-record 45 point destruction of Texas Tech. <span>Ryan Spangler</span> has been scoring on a 15.6ppg clip during the streak, on 75% FG shooting.</p>
<h5 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 5;"><b><i>Keep a close watch on:</i></b></h5>
<p><span>Buddy Hield</span> is still the league-leading scorer (17.6ppg, 45%FG, 5.5rpg) and a legitimate contender for Big 12 (and national) POY honors, Ryan Spangler is still a stud on the boards and in coming up with garbage points (10.9ppg, 60.1%FG, 8.0rpg), and Isaiah Cousins is a solid gamer (12.2ppg, 2.1apg, 5.1rpg).</p>
<p>Beyond their starting five, however, production begins to drop off considerably, with no one averaging more than 4.4ppg coming off the bench.</p>
<h5 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 5;"><b><i>Offense/Defense Strategy:</i></b></h5>
<p>Oklahoma does what Texas, Kansas, and some other teams do on defense - they don't overplay the passing lanes, so their turnover numbers are somewhat low. However, they do a great job of playing tough, straight-up D, and make shots difficult. Subsequently, their defensive eFG% is off-the-charts good (#8 in the country, at 42.6%)</p>
<p>K-State, of course, will be in its man defense. Oklahoma does a good job of getting into the paint with dribble penetration, then finding the dump-off pass to a big, or kick out to a shot behind the arc. Most threes for their offense come from this concept, as opposed to off the dribble or perimeter screens. When Oklahoma shooters are open, they make the shots.</p>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 4;"><b>Probable Starters</b></h4>
<h5><i>Kansas State Wildcats:</i></h5>
<h5 style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; line-height: 12.0pt;"></h5>
<p>F <span>Nino Williams</span>, 6-5 220 Sr<br>F <span>Thomas Gipson</span>, 6-7 265 Sr<br>F <span>Wesley Iwundu</span>, 6-7 205 So<br>G <span>Nigel Johnson</span>, 6-1 185 So<br>G <span>Jevon Thomas</span>, 6-0 185 So</p>
<h5><i>Oklahoma Sooners:</i></h5>
<h5 style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; line-height: 12.0pt;"></h5>
<p>F Ryan Spangler, 6-8 235 Jr<br>F TaShawn Thomas, 6-8 242 Sr<br>G <span>Jordan Woodard</span>, 6-0 189 So<br>G Buddy Hield, 6-4 212 Jr<br>G Isaiah Cousins, 6-4 192 Jr</p>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 4;"><b>3 Keys To The Game</b></h4>
<h5 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 5;"><b><i>1. Ugly It Up</i></b></h5>
<p>While I do think that K-State could score at a higher pace if they got out into transition more frequently, that might just play into the hands of Oklahoma in this occasion. The Cats have a shot if they can keep the scoring down and ugly it up a little bit, as long as we can keep the Sooners from scoring efficiently. I know the fuglygame not fun to watch, but K-State just doesn't have the firepower to get into a scoring contest with Oklahoma.</p>
<h5><b><i>2. Continued Chemistry</i></b></h5>
<p>We saw K-State develop some level of chemistry against Texas and West Virginia. There isn't a "focus player" on the team, but they started to figure some things out in sharing the ball and getting some open shots. With some rumors flying about Marcus Foster and <span>Malek Harris</span> possibly being available from their suspensions as early as today, I'm really hopeful Bruce Weber is careful in how they're integrated back into the team, not to upset the chemistry and gameplan that is being developed.</p>
<h5><i>3. Protect the Paint</i></h5>
<p>This game is going to come down to rebounding, again. If K-State can stay in the paint and grab some rebounds, limiting Oklahoma's second (and third, and fourth) opportunities at the bucket, while getting a few of their own offensive boards, it'll give us a shot.</p>
<p><i>All stats by http://www.kenpom.com, or by the respective university's sports information.</i></p>
https://www.bringonthecats.com/2014-15-k-state-mens-basketball/2015/2/14/8038253/mens-hoops-preview-kansas-state-vs-17-oklahoma-soonersEric Rubottom