Kansas State faced a hot shooting Cincinnati team in the first-round of NCAA South Regional on Friday. They lost 75-61 in Sacramento.
Bruce Weber’s Wildcats, wearing their black uniforms on Friday, expected to see a Cincinnati team that played good defense. Nobody expected to see the Bearcats shoot as if they were from another planet.
Kansas State led early 3-2 on a Dean Wade 3 pointer. I thought it was going to be his night. But the Wildcats never led again.
Sometimes basketball is simply making shots and Cincinnati did that early. They couldn’t miss.
The Wildcats looked uncomfortable early. The defense was struggling. It wasn’t the team was saw finish against Wake Forest.
Through the first 8 minutes, the Bearcats hadn’t missed a shot. They even made a three at the buzzer on a shot clock violation. Cincinnati made 11 of their first 15 shots and then 13 of 19.
First half fouls really hurt the ‘Cats. As the clock rolled past the 11-minute mark in the half, Bruce Weber had two freshmen two sophomores in the game.
Wesley Iwundu picked up his 3rd foul with just over 6 minutes to go in the half and D.J. Johnson was on the bench a majority of the game due to fouls and possibly injury. The Wildcats have not won with him on the bench this season.
Isaiah Maurice scored early and hit the glass but he’s not D.J. Johnson.
Despite the first half problems, the ‘Cats only trailed 39-28 at the break.
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Wesley Iwundu came out on fire to start the second half. This was the senior leadership the Wildcats needed. He hit a pair of early 3s, had a great second half and finished with 19 points.
Barry Brown made a little 5-point run of his own to pull the ‘Cats to within 6 points. It was as close as they would get.
After many gave up on this team February 25, in Norman, the Wildcats gave fans some March Madness fun.