The most important — and most difficult — game in the 2009 half of the 2009-2010 season tips off in an hour.
And so far today, all of our future and past opponents, save for one, have won or are winning their games.
A win tonight moves us into the Top 25 and theoretically could shoot our RPI into the Top 5.
It's time to take the next step, Cats.
0 recs | 110 comments
GO STATE
This could be a hell of a game. We’ve been playing pretty well lately. Let’s show Kruger what we can do!
Joesus - December 12, 2009
So apparently it's Turner Gill to KU
I like that a whole lot better than Harbaugh.
Of course, now Lew has a bunch of disappointed KU fans on his hand who thought for sure yesterday they were getting Harbaugh and that Gill was a token interview.
LOL
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Big game
A former co-worker is the UNLV beat writer for the LV Sun and says there’s a lot of purple at Orleans tonight. Good sign. Prediction: K-State 67-UNLV 62. EMAW!
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
What's his name?
I think I read some of his stuff.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Ryan Greene. Twitter: @ryanmgreene
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Yeah, that's the guy
I liked what I read from him.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Denis and Jake each with 3s
I was going to say that was encouraging, until Denis airballed his second 3.
Good hustle play by Dom to knock it off the other guy.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Jake came to play
Two 3s already.
UNLV can’t even get close from the perimeter.
10-4 Cats.
Dom with two cheap fouls – he’s done for the half.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Guys gotta move their feet.
Dom’s handchecks shouldn’t be called, but he’s gotta adjust. If Lon’s boys don’t guard the arc better, this should be an easy win…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
I will be the last person to criticize how Dom defends
Just saying.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
@austin_meek: Colon now receiving first Stare of the season.
Awesome.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Dom is still in
Guess Frank trusts him not pick up another.
Of course, he just gave up a 3 to Willis as a result.
5-0 UNLV run. Yuck.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Dom only has one foul
They erased one. Good.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
12-9
Jam Sam putback.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
14-9
CK sinks both the freebies.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
16-11
Denis sinks both the freebies.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Sutton over the back
NOW he has two.
And Jake finally missed from 3.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Jake leaves a white guy open for 3
And then throws the ball away.
Timeout from Frank. Chew ’em out, big guy.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Given the competition each team's played to this point,
Gotta think State’s in better position to succeed in this type of physical battle.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Only if we don't sink to their level to making mistakes
Like we did just now.
But yeah, the fouls are piling up for them and you have to think that favors our depth.
Just wish we could execute a little better on defense.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
BULLTAVIOUS FOR THREE!
19-18 Cats
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Great blck by Jam/Sam
And the trey….
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
JAM SAM FOR THREE!!!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
This is a chess match
They’re playing closer on us outside the perimeter now.
So now we need to go inside and draw fouls. Pick your poison, Lonnie.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
I think if JamSam scores 20, we win this going away.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
GOOD JAM SAM
Swished two freebies!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Have to get some movement underneath on offense
They’re forcing K-State to take guarded outside shots. Not a recipe for success…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
And have to take the free throws when we get them
Jamar now 4 for 4.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Pace and physicalness are going our way
Frank’s gotta challenge them to have a presence in the post if they’re taking away the perimeter, though. JamSam with 10 already is a good sign. Gotta keep it going…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Or Irving can just shoot another 3
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Great finish CK
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Where's Judge?
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
On the bench after picking up cheap fouls
CK and JS give us our best chance of scoring inside right now.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Gotta love the new JamSam
No complaining, no whining, no bitching. Just intensity on every possession…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
FIVE players with 3-pointers
But I thought Kevin Kietzman said we couldn’t shoot?
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Samuels
sounds like he’s playing out of his mind
Joesus - December 12, 2009
Indeed
Scoring every way possible, defense and rebounding even when he’s on his back.
Plus, he’s finding ways to get to the line and capitalize, which CK could stand to learn a little more.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Kudos to Frank
In a big game, he’s had to play a shorthanded (Judge and Dom sitting) half. He’s also had to make adjustments on the fly with the Rebs throwing zone and man looks at the Cats. They’re 2.5 dogs on the road in a game that could vault them into the Top 25, and K-State’s up six with less than :30 to play in the first half…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Make that eight
Absolutely sick, heads-up play by Denis and Jake there at the end.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
We'll learn a lot in the first four minutes of the second half...
If the Cats are as good as we hope, they need to come out and crush the will of the Rebs early with execution on offense and pressure on defense.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
+1
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
I give the second-half start a 7.
8 on offense/6 on defense. We’re in a good spot right now, though.
Samuels’ two quick fouls not encouraging. He was probably K-State’s best scoring threat in the first half (with props to Pullen, too).
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
I think it's a 10 now
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
We go to 11
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Nailed it
I learned a lot: We’re a Top 25 team.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
That first six or seven minutes closed the coffin.
Pullen’s been kicking dirt on the grave ever since…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
BTW...
@ryanmgreene: I know UNLV’s been down at half before, but not like this. Down 42-34, they were handled thoroughly by KSU
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Dom is what we were missing in the first half on offense
Going strong to the rim.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
UNLV is starting to play one-on-one ball
We’re getting them. Time to separate.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
+1
Rebs gotta take some chances to get back into this one.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Jeez, Jamar
Two quick fouls and give up the basket. Yuck.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Our offense, thanks to Dom and Jake, is way better
But our defense really has suffered since halftime.
Disappointing.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Couple of gripes.
On offense, Clemente, Judge and Kelly need to more visible, but Pullen/Samuels – and Sutton in the second half – have been great.
On defense, Cats need to cut off the lane…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Pullen's on fire.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Time to work on FTs.
70% from this point on too much to ask for? I’ll track it.
CK: 2/2
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
We're 15 of 17
I think it’s already fixed.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
62% entering the game?
That’ll lose you two or three close ones in the Big 12…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Only if that's where we stay
Which we won’t.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
CK: 3/3
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
CK: 4/4
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Scratch that tracking plan.
I’m gettin’ another beer. Needless to say, it’d be great to see them stay hot from the line…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Lu with a great steal, Denis with a great no-look pass
And CK with the finish and the and-one.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
67-45
This is a goat-stomping.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Clemente with the dagger...
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
The Top 25 is so close I can taste it.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Notice to the Big 12
We’re in the race.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Amen
I think Texas can be had. KU looked really, really good today.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Against a shitty team, at quasi-home...
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Alas, they covered the spread.
Good teams do that routinely. Think KU entered winning by average of 34. That’s impressive.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
So did Wooly teams
I’m just saying they haven’t played anyone yet.
Let’s see how they do in Knoxville before we crown them.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Wooly teams compared to this year's KU team?
Brave comparison…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
All I'm saying is that lots of teams can beat shitty teams by 30
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
to quote Mr. Wolf of Pulp Fiction...
“Let’s not go suckin’ each other’s dicks just yet…”
VegasCat07 - December 12, 2009
70-50
This one is over, dude.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
This one is over...
but the Big 12 is far from it, yes?
VegasCat07 - December 12, 2009
I said that we're in the race
Not that we will win it.
Why is everyone picking Internet fights tonight?
Enjoy the damn win, guys.
Turner Gill is gonna be the next KU coach and things are good in Wildcat Land. Enjoy the positive vibes.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
We're definitely in it.
Just jaded. Living in Philly makes you bitter.
Loving every second of this.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Yeah, look what it did to the Morris twins
:-)
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
HA!
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Stanback is really fucking annoying
I want this thing over 30 point margin, dammit.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Could UNLV look more overrated than they do today?
And along those lines, could K-State look any more underrated?
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
We made 'em look that way
Love it!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Refs are DESPERATELY trying to get UNLV back into it
Too late, Stripes.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
LU takes a charge!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Our guards are like cats toying with a mouse
It’s almost cruel.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Case in point
Jake drains another 3.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Pullen
Has to be one of the most complete games of his career…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
+181
Right up there with the KU game as a frosh.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Comparable to Clemente v. Texas last year?
Don’t know why, but it made me think of it.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
If he hits 40, it has to be
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
I'd say Denis has had a pretty damn good game so far, too.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Stan just asked if we should be ranked 15th.
I might be a cynic, but that’s just crazy…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Stan thinks we should be No. 23
I say give us No. 18.
We took it from UNLV, fair and square.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
You're right.
It was Ben Boyle. BTW, did you hear him go nuts when Pullen hit the 3 to put KSU up 22 for the first time? Thought he was going to pass out.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
I'd be happy with 23. Let us be underrated - they'll be plenty of opportunity to move up in the B12.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
We look dog-ass tired now
Let’s get this thing over with.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Solid, solid win.
Hats off to Frank. Love how he had the guys with tunnel vision on a win today. Need this intensity in the B12.
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Agreed
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
+1
Catbacker98 - December 12, 2009
Concvincing win
WOW is all I can say. Way to make a case to be in the top 25, CATS!!!!
Joesus - December 12, 2009
Like to see Bama knock off Purdue now...
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Word
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
First time since Rolando Blackman
That the Cats have won two against ranked teams away from home.
Wow.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Think that illustrates that Frank's system working.
Don’t think it’s the last time that happens this season either…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Damn, Alabama looks good
Up 27-16. On a 18-3 run.
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Think our guards could have some success against them.
Defense in the post will be key…
KSU_Philly - December 12, 2009
Yes
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Stephen Bardo on ESPN
Just said we’re one of the best defensive teams in the nation and that we have the best backcourt in the nation.
Along with New Mexico and Georgetown, said we’re the three most impressive teams today.
And said that we will “give KU and Texas fits.”
That’s what I’m talking about!
BracketCat - December 12, 2009
Hell of a game, Cats!!!
way to go boys. i have to say that before this game started, i was nervous. going to LV and playing UNLV, with the homecourt, basically, i didnt know how we would play. when we started off 7-1 or 7-4, i was shocked. two early threes and making some free throws, i was stunned. i was not even sure i was watching ksu play. dont get me wrong, i love seeing our boys play this good. i do think it is kinda ironic that both teams that we beat were ranked number 18. lets root for ku to drop that far, haha. the first 30 minutes of the game, i think we played the best ball we have played all year. We are hitting stride at about the right time for B12 season. i hope we surprise some people the rest of the way. beating ku and/or ut, would be nice and def make an improvement in our record. 11-5 or 12-4 would be shocking and def sending on a good road in the big tourney. lets dont get to ahead of our selves though. im just tossing out hopes. game at a time boys. make each game better than the last. keep this thing rolling.
KSUfan4Life - December 13, 2009
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