Kansas vs Kansas State Basketball Recap

Kansas 82, Kansas State 65

The Kansas Jayhawks know they will be a No. 1 regional seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Kansas State Wildcats merely hope to be a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance. Wednesday night in Lawrence, Kan., the big kid on the block in the Sunflower State showed little brother how to be the "1" in charge.

Yes, the big, bad bunch from Kansas delivered a lesson to its in-state rival at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Playing with the poise and power of an elite outfit, coach Bill Self's Jayhawks dealt a blow to Kansas State's hopes of becoming the fourth No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Coach Frank Martin's Wildcats held out hopes of becoming the top dog in the West Region, while the KU crew is assured of setting up shop atop the Midwest Region, but after this 17-point pasting, it's clear that KSU must win the Big 12 Tournament if it wants to have a "(1)" beside its listing on office pool bracket sheets in a few weeks.

This contest wasn't a referendum on the Kansas State team in general, but it did offer an indication of how ready the Wildcats were to assume the spotlight on a big stage. While K-State fought bravely for most of the evening in a daunting road environment, the visitors simply lacked the might and muscle of their not-so-gracious hosts.

Kansas blitzed KSU with a 15-4 run in the game's first five minutes, which immediately set a tone for this ballyhooed Big 12 battle. Kansas State would respond to the many runs KU uncorked - the Cats climbed back within six points, then fell behind 33-20, and then scrambled within six points again as the first half unfolded - but the larger theme was that the Jayhawks were always delivering the first punch. Kansas State kept expending a lot of energy in the attempt to remain competitive, and while the Wildcats earned admirers with their spunk and pluck, Kansas - not impressed by the effort of its opponent - always had more energy and excellence in reserve.

This pronounced pattern, in which KU landed several blows only for KSU to punch back, continued for much of the second half. After KSU erased a 45-38 halftime deficit but then fell behind by a 57-47 margin, Martin's men produced yet one more rally. The Wildcats - on a 3-pointer by guard Denis Clemente (who led Kansas State with 21 points) - crept within four at 57-53 midway through the second stanza. With 11:51 remaining, the second-place team in the Big 12 had a legitimate shot at becoming a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Given the resilience shown by Kansas State, it was entirely reasonable to think that this contest would go down to the wire, as was the case in the Jan. 30 game won by KU in overtime.

Instead, the Jayhawks decided to put an end to any hopes of a Kansas State celebration.

With center Cole Aldrich asserting himself in the low post at both ends of the floor and forward Markieff Morris cleaning up on the defensive glass, Kansas delivered yet one more run. This time, K-State - both physically and psychologically weary after playing catch up all night long - couldn't mount a response.

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In the next several minutes after Clemente's triple pulled KSU within four points of the Jayhawks, Kansas put the pedal to the metal. With Aldrich scoring on back to back possessions in one stretch and then blocking a pair of shots later on, the home team produced a 10-2 run for a 67-55 bulge with just over eight minutes left. As KSU fell further behind, the Wildcats became more desperate on offense, and their guards lacked adequate body balance and control on multiple forays to the hoop. With KU staying in front of KSU ballhandlers at the defensive end of the floor, and Markieff Morris (brother of Marcus, who also played in this emotional event) gobbling up defensive rebounds left and right, the Wildcats never found a foothold as the second half wore on. All told, Kansas State went eight minutes and 17 seconds without a made field goal in the second half. By the time Clemente broke the spell with a jumper at the 3:34 mark of regulation, Kansas had accumulated a 75-59 stranglehold on this Sunflower State showcase. The program accustomed to being a No. 1 seed had shown the upstart aspirant exactly who was boss.

We're now left to see if this matchup emerges again in the Big 12 Tournament. If it does, Kansas State could get a No. 1 seed after all. But take note: The Wildcats will have to get the jump on the Jayhawks and make sure they don't have to play from behind. This Wednesday wipeout shows that the 2008 national champions look every bit the part of a program that could add to its trophy case in 2010.

By: Matt Zemek
Big 12 Fans Senior Staff Writer