A Challenging Game Against BYU

MANHATTAN — For 32 minutes and 27 seconds of gametime, Kansas State basketball went without making a 3-pointer against BYU. The Wildcats, who entered Jan. 3 ranked ninth in the country in 3-point percentage, felt like it had been an eternity. Coach Jerome Tang said after the game that they didn’t shoot enough, adding that the length of one of the best teams in the country probably bothered them.

Still, after an 83-73 loss to the Cougars to open Big 12 play, Tang walked away encouraged that the Wildcats can compete with the nation’s best.

“I’m hoping that they can walk away with confidence that that’s a top-10 team nationally and people say that it’s a team that can win a national championship,” Tang said. “We didn’t play close to what we’re capable of playing. The ceiling’s high, so we should be really confident.”

Key Takeaways from the Loss

Kansas State (9-5, 0-1 Big 12) showed some positives, while it was also clear that they have a lot to clean up after Saturday, Jan. 3’s loss at Bramlage Coliseum.

For starters, the defensive performance was encouraging when that side of the court was the most significant question coming out of non-conference play. The Wildcats forced BYU into 19 turnovers, when the Cougars averaged 10.1 entering the game. That led to a 17-7 advantage in points off takeaways.

Defensive Intensity and Individual Performances

There was a defensive intensity that, at times, hadn’t been there for the Wildcats, whether in their most recent struggle against Louisiana-Monroe or in their loss to Bowling Green.

At the same time, PJ Haggerty looked like the All-American that the Wildcats brought him to Manhattan to be. At times in the game, he was the Wildcats’ only source of offense, leading the team with 24 points against the best team K-State has seen so far this season.

“Whether we won or lost this game, we knew that we were going to have to get better,” Tang said. “There are some glaring things that stand out, but they’re correctable. I know our guys’ hearts, so I know we will improve in those areas that we need to.”

Rebounding Struggles

Aside from their poor 3-point shooting, the most glaring weakness for the Wildcats against the Cougars was their rebounding. BYU had a 47-35 rebounding advantage, which included 16 offensive boards and 20 second-chance points.

Keba Keita dominated the game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 16 rebounds for the Cougars. AJ Dybansta, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Dybansta considered K-State in his recruitment, having visited Manhattan before committing to BYU.

Physical Challenges and Adjustments

It also seemed like the first time this season that the Wildcats were overwhelmed by their opponents’ length. BYU had four starters on the court listed at 6-foot-5 or taller, helping the Cougars collect six blocks and hold K-State to 35.3% shooting in the first half. After the Wildcats settled down, they were 48.5% from the field in the second half.

“I would say we just missed shots; that happens, and it’s part of the game,” Haggerty said. “I think we didn’t all-around play our best game, but I still think that we gave ourselves a chance. At the end of the day, we just lost.”

Upcoming Challenges

It doesn’t get any easier for Kansas State, which will now turn its attention to Arizona, which is ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The road trip begins Jan. 7, followed by a visit to Arizona State on Jan. 10.

Tang hopes the encouragement he drew from the Wildcats’ loss to BYU will carry over into the gauntlet that is the Big 12.

“We should be really confident, excited about getting back into practice and improving,” Tang said. “I’m excited about this road trip because of the weather and because we get a lot of time together and the opportunity to play the number one team in the country on their home court.”