I took a little while to gather my thoughts. I am really conflicted about this team and their future.
Last night's loss was brutal. I don't know how else to describe it. It's a bad loss on lots of different levels.
First, that's a game that K-State has to win. I thought before the WSU game that K-State would win. I didn't think that going in to last night. I thought Marquette had the matchup advantage. I thought their length defensively in the post would matter a lot. And for the most part, it did.
But for the first 35 minutes of the game, I was convinced K-State would win. Then for the next 4:45 seconds I was positive they were going to lose. Then for the last 15 seconds, I thought they were going to win. And then Bruce.
The simple fact is, the way that game played out last night, K-State simply can't lose that game. It's that simple. And don't give me this, "well if Nijel Pack....blah blah blah". If Pack played, K-State loses bigger. I honestly believe that. Marquette was an awful matchup for him and K-State was better on the floor the last two games because they didn't have to cover for him defensively. They were really, really good defensively in these two games.
There were simply so many incredible positives in this game and K-State STILL lost (at home).
There were so many good things last night and they still lost, at home, to a team that is probably going to be a bottom 3/4 team in the Big East.
Man that hurts
Last night's loss was brutal. I don't know how else to describe it. It's a bad loss on lots of different levels.
First, that's a game that K-State has to win. I thought before the WSU game that K-State would win. I didn't think that going in to last night. I thought Marquette had the matchup advantage. I thought their length defensively in the post would matter a lot. And for the most part, it did.
But for the first 35 minutes of the game, I was convinced K-State would win. Then for the next 4:45 seconds I was positive they were going to lose. Then for the last 15 seconds, I thought they were going to win. And then Bruce.
The simple fact is, the way that game played out last night, K-State simply can't lose that game. It's that simple. And don't give me this, "well if Nijel Pack....blah blah blah". If Pack played, K-State loses bigger. I honestly believe that. Marquette was an awful matchup for him and K-State was better on the floor the last two games because they didn't have to cover for him defensively. They were really, really good defensively in these two games.
There were simply so many incredible positives in this game and K-State STILL lost (at home).
- First. there had been so much talk about Smith and Ish not showing up in big games. Well, K-State got every single thing they could have asked for out of those two guys. They had their two best games of the season against Marquette.
- Markquis Nowell was fantastic. Yeah, he had a couple of turnovers and a couple of bad shots, but dude was two rebounds away from a triple double. He is such a spark plug. He is the best player on this team right now.
- Davion Bradford is a shell (or double) of himself right now but he adjusted and you pretty much got everything you could have asked for. He can't get off the floor so he used his bulk to maneuver guys around the basket.
- K-State kept Marquette off the free throw line. I thought it was the key going into the game.
- K-State only turned it over 11 times and had 18 assists on 25 made shots. That's Bruce Weber wet dream stuff
- K-State outrebounded Marquette. The margin wasn't huge but they won the battle including more offensive rebounds.
- The rotation was tight with only 8 guys playing and the minutes going to the guys that deserved them.
- Mike McGuirl was a steadying influence. He was in control and he made the right plays.
- Marquette's 3 best shooters were a combined 4-21 from three point range.
- K-State did a fantastic job on Darryl Morsell holding him to almost half his per game average
There were so many good things last night and they still lost, at home, to a team that is probably going to be a bottom 3/4 team in the Big East.
Man that hurts
