Two teams that are desperate after building speed leading to next week’s BIG 12 tournament square on Wednesday when Kansas State visits Cincinnati.
Bearcats (17-12, 7-11 Big 12) comes from a loss of 73-64 at then no. 4 Houston on Saturday, a game that they led 10-2 in the beginning. Houston broke out on a 14-0 driving and outscored cincinnati 35-15 to close half.
Since the Big 12 Slate 2-8, Cincinnati has won five out of eight to give himself a chance to make his last two matches meaningful.
“You just have to win the next match,” said Cincinnati coach Wes Miller. “I think you win the next match and see where you are. One of the things that was frustrating for our players for eight games then was everyone told them that they had no chance of even taken into account for the tournament.
“I told them it is a bunch of BS. Just take care of the next day. Then you looked up and suddenly people consider you again. I think we have to do the same. Just win the next match and see what happens from there.”
Cincinnati will make sure that one of its 11 conference losses, as Wildcats registered a victory 70-67 in Manhattan, can., December 30 to open the Big 12 game.
Bearcats have three players on average double figures in points, with Jizzle James who leads the road at 12.8 points per match.
Kansas State (14-15, 8-10) snapped a four-game losing line with a 65-56 home victory over Colorado on Sunday.
Wildcats was led by David N’Guesan with 21 points and eight returns while digging McDaniel chipped in with 10 points and seven assists. Wildcats were without the injured Coleman Hawkins and Mobi Ikegwuruka.
Coach Jerome Tang has been true this week about a controversial rule that allows officials to review goals for goals after the next media -timeout. Three Kansa’s state baskets, including one in Sunday’s victory, have been reversed in the BIG 12 game.
“It’s totally stupid,” Tang said. “They have to fix it. They have to review it immediately. In this way they can give us back basketball rather than review it at the next media timeout and then we lose the point and we lose the ball. It’s ridiculous.”
-Field level media
