INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bam Adebayo had a double-double and swatted away the final shot on Sunday as Kentucky sent Wichita State to yet another second-round heartbreak, 65-62 in the South region.

The youngest team in the NCAA Tournament grew up in the closing minutes.

Adebayo had 13 points and 10 rebounds. De’Aaron Fox had 14 points, including a late steal and dunk. Malik Monk blocked a shot and made a pair of free throws in the final 13 seconds. Adebayo clinched it by blocking Landry Shamet’s 3-pointer shot at the buzzer.

Yes, Kentucky’s freshman trio did it all.

Wham, Bam, move on ‘Cats (31-5), right into the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in nine years.

And wipe tears away again, Shockers (31-5).

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State head football coach Bill Snyder announced today that assistant coach Mike Cox will not return as a member of the Wildcat coaching staff.
Cox has coached the Wildcat linebackers since the 2012 season.

“I appreciate the time I have spent at K-State coaching and mentoring so many great young men, but it’s time for me to step away and focus more on my family and my children,” said Cox. “I look forward to following the Wildcats next season and for many years to come.”
“We are grateful for what Mike has done for our program and young people and respect the decision he has made to spend more time with his family,” Snyder said.

A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.

 

– k-statesports.com –

KENNY LANNOU

Associate A.D. for Communications | K-State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Breanna Lewis had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Kindred Wesemann added 16 points and seventh-seeded Kansas State beat No. 10 seed Drake 67-54 on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats (23-10) took the lead in the game’s opening minutes and never relinquished it, even though the Bulldogs (28-5) never made things easy. That allowed Kansas State to ease into a matchup with No. 2 seed Stanford on Monday night for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Like they had against Drake, the Wildcats will again have the benefit of playing at home.

The NCAA selection committee awarded them the right to host the opening rounds when Stanford had a conflict at Maples Pavilion, a testament to the crowd support Kansas State has enjoyed over the years.

Lizzy Wendell scored 17 for Drake, which carried the nation’s second-longest winning streak at 22 games into the tournament. Becca Hittner added 13 points and Sammie Bachrodt had 10.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Troy Caupain scored 23 points, Kyle Washington added 16 and defensive-minded Cincinnati shot it way past Kansas State 75-61 Friday night in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Cincinnati (30-5) was knocked out the first round a year ago and No. 6 seeds were 0-3 before the Bearcats took the floor, with Maryland, Creighton and SMU all losing to No. 11 seeds.

The Bearcats took care of their business and the No. 6 jinx with an impressive shooting display, shooting 62 percent. Cincinnati is known for its defense and did that, too, preventing Kansas State (21-14) from making much of a run after building a 17-point lead.

The Bearcats now move on to play the winner between No. 3 seed UCLA and No. 14 Kent State on Sunday.

Wesley Iwundu led Kansas State with 19 points.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Frank Mason III scored 22 points and had eight assists as top-seeded Kansas won its opening game of the NCAA Tournament for an 11th straight year with a 100-62 victory over UC Davis on Friday night.

Freshman Josh Jackson, making his return after a one-game suspension for an accumulation of embarrassing incidents, added 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting for the Jayhawks (29-5).

The win ensures top seeds will remain perfect since the tournament expanded, with the schools now 132-0 against No. 16 seeds.

Five players finished in double figures for Kansas, with Svi Mykhailiuk and Devonte’ Graham adding 16 points each and Landen Lucas 13.

Chima Moneke scored 20 points to lead the 16th-seeded Aggies (23-13), who were in their first NCAA Tournament. Brynton Lemar added 17 and Siler Schneider 10 in the loss.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Wichita State’s high-flying offense didn’t get off the ground until the closing minutes, when the Shockers played like the more tournament-experienced team and pulled away to a 64-58 victory over Dayton on Friday night.

The 10th-seeded Shockers (31-4) won their 16th in a row — the second-longest streak in school history — by clamping down on defense and swatting away shots down the stretch. Wichita State blocked eight shots and held the seventh-seeded Flyers (24-8) to a season-low 31 percent from the field.

Zach Brown’s 3-pointer put Wichita State up 51-45 with 5:38 left, the biggest lead by either team up to that point, and Dayton never threatened again. Landry Shamet had 13 points.

Dayton had the experienced lineup, playing in its fourth straight NCAA Tournament with three senior starters. Point guard Scoochie Smith had 25 points.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals have optioned three of their top prospects, infielder Hunter Dozier and outfielders Jorge Bonifacio and Bubba Starling, to Triple-A Omaha as they begin paring their roster

Kansas City announced the series of roster moves Friday.

Dozier is a power-hitting third baseman who has been working at other positions as the Royals try to get his bat into the lineup. But he may ultimately remain at third base and take over next season for Mike Moustakas, who is eligible for free agency.

Bonifacio is a speedy outfielder and Starling one of the team’s best defensive prospects.

The Royals also optioned right-hander Andrew Edwards, catcher Cam Gallagher and infielder Ramon Torres to Omaha, leaving them with 45 players in big league camp.

[6] 18/16 CINCINNATI (29-4, 16-2 AAC)

1. [11] KANSAS STATE (21-13, 8-10 Big 12)

NCAA South Regional First Round

Friday, March 17, 2017 >> 6:27 p.m. CT >> Golden 1 Center (17,608) >> Sacramento, Calif.

 

 

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 413-222/19^th season

At K-State: 100-67/5^th season

1. Cincinnati: 2-0 (1-0 at NCAA Championship)

 

Cincinnati: Mick Cronin (Cincinnati ‘97)

Overall: 305-158/14th season

At Cincinnati: 236-134/11th season

1. Kansas State: 0-0 (0-0 at NCAA Championship)

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (21-13, 8-10 Big 12)

G: #3 Kamau Stokes (11.9 ppg., 4.2 apg.)

G: #5 Barry Brown (11.8 ppg., 3.2 rpg.)

G: #25 Wesley Iwundu (12.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg.)

F: #32 Dean Wade (9.3 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

F: #4 D.J. Johnson (11.4 ppg., 5.8 rpg.)

 

18/16 Cincinnati (29-5, 16-2 AAC)

G: #10 Troy Caupain (10.1 ppg., 4.6 apg.)

G: #25 Kevin Johnson (8.0 ppg., 2.1 rpg.)

G/F: #1 Jacob Evans III (13.7 ppg., 4.1 rpg.)

F: #11 Gary Clark (10.7 ppg., 7.9 rpg.)

F: #24 Kyle Washington (13.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg.)

 

NCAA TOURNAMENT CAPSULE

Overall: 34-32  |  29th appearance (ties for 23rd-most nationally)

First Round: 10-4  |  In Sacramento: First appearance

In South Regional: 1-1 (1993, 2017)

As a No. 11 seed: 2-2 (1990, 2008, 2017)  |  vs. a No. 6 seed: 2-2

1. Cincinnati: 1-6 (1-2 at NCAA Tournament)

Weber vs. Cincinnati: 2-0 (1-0 at NCAA Tournament)

Weber vs. Cronin: 2-0 (1-0 at NCAA Tournament)

 

GAME 35 – QUICK HITTERS

• Kansas State (21-13, 8-10 Big 12) heads west to California to take on No. 6 seed Cincinnati (29-4, 16-2 AAC) in the NCAA South Regional First Round at 6:27 p.m. CT on Friday at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The game will air nationally on TruTV with Spero Dedes, Len Elmore, Steve Smith and Ros Gold-Onwude on the call.
• K-State advanced to the South Regional First Round after a 95-88 win over fellow 11-seed Wake Forest (19-14) on Tuesday night in the First Four at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. It was the first NCAA Tournament win for the Wildcats since 2012 and the first under head coach Bruce Weber, who also earned his 100th win at K-State in the victory.
• The Wildcats set a postseason record with a 66.0 field goal percentage (31-of-47) in the win over the Demon Deacons, while it tied for the 9th highest in school history and the highest since also connecting on 66 percent of its field goals against Coastal Carolina in 1997.
• K-State is making its 36th postseason appearance, which includes 29 in the NCAA Tournament and 7 in the Postseason NIT. The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 7 times in the last 11 seasons, including their first since losing to Kentucky, 56-49, in the NCAA Midwest Regional second round in St. Louis, Mo., on March 21, 2014. The program has now advanced to the postseason 9 times in the last 11 seasons.
• K-State has posted a 34-32 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play. The school will be making its second appearance in the South Regional with its other trip coming in 1993 when the 6-seeded Wildcats lost to No. 11 seed Tulane, 55-53, on March 18 in Orlando, Fla.
• K-State will be making its third appearance as a No. 11 seed (1990, 2008) and the first since the 2008 NCAA Tournament when the Wildcats defeated No. 6 seed USC, 80-67, in first round before falling to No. 3 seed Wisconsin, 72-55, in the second round at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The team is 2-2 vs. No. 6 seeds (losing to Kansas, 71-58, in 1988 and Xavier, 87-79, in 1990 and defeating USC, 80-67, in 2008 and Xavier, 101-96, in 2010.
• Head coach Bruce Weber is the fifth different coach to lead K-State to at least 3 NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014). Overall,Weber is in his 11th NCAA Tournament, which includes 6 at Illinois and 2 at Southern Illinois, and boasts a 12-10 record in those appearances.
• The Wildcats, which earned their third 20-win season under Bruce Weber and finished sixth in the rugged Big 12, have won 4 of their last 5 games, including going 1-1 at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

 

AT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• K-State is making its 36th postseason appearance, which includes 29 in the NCAA Tournament and 7 in the Postseason NIT… The Wildcats have now advanced to the NCAA Tournament 7 times in the last 11 seasons, including their first since playing in the second round in 2014… The program has gone to the postseason 9 times in the last 11 seasons (7 trips to NCAA Tournament and 2 to the NIT)… The 29 overall bids ties for 23rd nationally (along with Utah and BYU), including fourth among Big 12 schools.
• In K-State’s 29 previous NCAA Tournament appearances, the Wildcats have advanced to the Sweet 16 a total of 16 times…  The program has also reached the Elite Eight 11 times, made four Final Four appearances and played in one NCAA title game (1951).
• The program has posted a 34-32 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play, including a 2-2 record as a No. 11 seed…  K-State will be making its third appearance as a No. 11 seed (1990, 2008) and the first since the 2008 Midwest Regional, in which, the Wildcats defeated No. 6 USC, 80-67 before falling to No. 3 seed Wisconsin in Omaha, Neb. … In the other appearance as an 11-seed, K-State lost to 6-seed Xavier, 87-79, in the 1990 Midwest Regional First Round in Indianapolis.
• The Wildcats are 2-2 all-time vs. No. 6 seeds, losing to Kansas, 71-58, in the 1988 Midwest Regional Final and to Xavier, 87-79, in the 1990 Midwest Regional First Round before winning its last two matchups in an 80-67 win over USC in the 2008 Midwest Regional First Round and a 101-96 double-overtime win over Xavier in the 2010 West Regional Semifinals.
• Tuesday’s win over Wake Forest in the First Four was the Wildcats’ first NCAA Tournament win since earning a 70-64 win over Southern Miss at the 2012 East Regional Second Round in Pittsburgh, snapping a 3-game skid.

 

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A court affidavit says Kansas basketball player Josh Jackson threatened to “beat” women’s basketball player McKenzie Calvert during a confrontation at a Lawrence bar.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports (https://bit.ly/2nwu7zW) the affidavit released by the Douglas County Court was filed by police to justify a court summons Jackson received March 7. He is scheduled to appear in court April 12 on a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property.

According to the affidavit, Calvert told police Jackson followed her out of The Yacht Club and yelled at her to get out of her car, saying he would beat her. The confrontation came after Calvert threw a drink at her ex-boyfriend, Kansas player Lagerald Vick.

Top-seeded Kansas opens play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday against UC Davis.