2 Former Kansas State Coaches Still Dancing

The Kansas State basketball season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Two former Wildcat coaches are now in the Sweet 16.

Bruce Weber’s team won their NCAA tournament play-in game on Tuesday in Dayton. On Friday, Cincinnati ended the Kansas State basketball season.

Two of Weber’s predecessors at Kansas State advanced with victories in the round of 32 on Sunday. Bob Huggins West Virginia team qualified Saturday.

Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Frank Martin reacts after beating the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Frank Martin’s South Carolina Gamecocks provided the biggest surprise. This is Martin’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since he took Kansas State following the 2011-12 season.

That’s right, Martin’s South Carolina teams have not been in the big dance until this year.

After a 25-win season, they did get a trip the NIT last season. They lost in second round.

Martin’s team scored 65 points in the second half against Duke Sunday night. It was enough to upset the second-seeded Blue Devils 88-81.

There is not much of a basketball history at South Carolina. This is the team’s first trip to the Sweet 16.

On the other hand, Martin coached Kansas State to four NCAA tournament berths over five year as head coach of the Wildcats.

University of Oregon basketball coach Dana Altman led the Wildcat Basketball program in the early 90s.

His Ducks survived a scare in Sunday’s round of 32.

Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman (R) reacts on the sidelines in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Iona Gaels at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

One of Altman’s players hit a shot from far beyond the arc in the final seconds to give them a 3-point win over Rhode Island.

Although the circumstances were very different, Altman surprised a few people when he left Manhattan.

Following the 1993-94 season, he took the ‘Cats to the NIT final-four. A few days later, he resigned to take the head coaching job at Creighton.

More from Jug of Snyder

I never did understand the step down from the Big 8 to the Missouri Valley Conference even if he is from Nebraska.

While Martin and Altman’s teams are still dancing, Bruce Weber has plenty of work to do to get the Wildcats back to NCAA tournament next season.

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