Kansas State basketball offense is nice, however protection wants to enhance

MANHATTAN — Already sitting with 37 factors over 12 minutes into the sport, Kansas State level guard PJ Haggerty gathered himself to take a 3-pointer.

Typically, that form of scoring explosion would characteristic loads of factors from considered one of faculty basketball’s premier scorers, however this Wildcats offense seems to be totally different by means of its first three video games.

Swish. Haggerty had his first factors of the sport. The Wildcats have so many dudes on this offense that it does not even want Haggerty to hold them.

Kansas State finally constructed its result in 25 in opposition to its first high-major opponent of the season. “Sandstorm” blasted over the audio system for the primary time this season, permitting The Octagon of Doom to rejoice a crew displaying early indicators of being one to return to the NCAA Tournament and compete at a excessive stage within the Big 12.

Then the ultimate 16 minutes occurred.

Kansas State allowed California to get again in a sport it was in complete management of, because the Golden Bears shot 67.6% from the sector, making 12 pictures from deep earlier than ending the second half with 62 factors. The Wildcats held on for a 99-96 win over California on Thursday, Nov. 13, in a sport that had no enterprise being that shut.

The sport showcased the Wildcats’ nice potential, whereas additionally highlighting a few of their early flaws. The offense has an opportunity to be nice. The protection continues to be a piece in progress.

“For 24 minutes, we played some really good basketball on both ends of the floor,” Ok-State coach Jerome Tang mentioned. “Then, human nature kicked in, and they relaxed. (Cal) saw the ball go in the hole, and when you let good shooters see the hole… whew.”

Kansas State (3-0) by no means seemed to be in bother, sometimes scoring in response to California runs that threatened to make it a sport. The Wildcats’ backcourt has been particular early on, that includes the sleek scoring means from PJ Haggerty, the toughness of Nate Johnson, and the breakout of David Castillo. They’re additionally seeing the expansion of a frontcourt that bought an environment friendly 21 factors out of Khamari McGriff and promising minutes from the 7-foot-2 Dorin Buca.

The protection is leaving a lot to be desired, though there was some promise by means of the primary half. In the primary 20 minutes, the Wildcats made life troublesome for Cal, which turned the ball over 11 instances and averaged lower than some extent per possession.

In the second half, the Golden Bears bought sizzling, with former Ok-State guard Dai Dai Ames scoring 21 of his 25 factors within the body. Chris Bell made six 3’s, ending with a game-high 27 factors. California lower the Wildcats’ result in three with beneath a second left, however scored 11 of the sport’s final 12 factors within the closing 2 minutes.

“We let up on the defensive end, and at the same time, they made some very tough shots,” Johnson mentioned. “It was nerve-wracking because we showed what we could be in the first half, but we should have kept our foot on the gas pedal, and we kind of let off.”

Through three video games, Ok-State is permitting 77 factors per outing, nevertheless it will increase to 84.2 when together with the exhibition contests, through which the Wildcats allowed 100 at Missouri and 90 to Division II Newman.

Tang stored going again to “human nature” of the massive lead being the reason for the Wildcats’ second-half defensive lapses, nevertheless it’s straightforward to see why there could also be some early skepticism. Frustration can construct across the early defensive showings, however we’ll see the Wildcats challenged extra within the weeks forward, when there will not be an opportunity of a 25-point lead.

It’s early, however there are indicators of a enjoyable season forward for the Wildcats. However, the protection will stay a query till it exhibits enchancment.

“It’s about focus,” Tang mentioned. “It’s a combination of things on both sides. I think there were times we played really good defense. For the first 24 minutes, we executed what we wanted to. For the last 16 minutes of the game, I think they executed what they wanted better than we could defensively.”

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can observe him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or electronic mail him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com