‘Flush it’: Kansas State basketball is moving on from gut-wrenching loss at TCU

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Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang was not about to dwell too long on his Wildcats’ gut-wrenching loss Saturday at TCU.

“If we had won the game, it’s still like this one,” Tang said after watching TCU score the game’s last seven points to edge the Wildcats, 63-62. “We flush it, kind of like golfers and tennis players. It’s one point, you move on to the next.

“It’s one game.”

On one hand, it was a missed opportunity for K-State to claim its first road victory in nearly a year. On the other hand, it was a marked improvement over blowout losses at St. John’s and Wichita State in December.

Plus, the Wildcats (7-6, 1-1 Big 12) have another chance to end the 12-game road skid at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they face Oklahoma State (8-5, 0-2) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The loss notwithstanding, K-State has put together back-to-back solid performances to start Big 12 play with the TCU game following an impressive 70-67 victory at home Dec. 30 against Cincinnati.

Related: Kansas State basketball vs TCU recap: Wildcats blow late lead, lose heartbreaker 63-62

Related: Rejuvenated Kansas State basketball team is eager to build on first Big 12 win

Kansas State guard Dug McDaniel (0) dribbles past TCU’s Trazarien White (13) during their Big 12 game Saturday at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tang credits the players for buying into his vision, but also for earning his trust.

“A ton of buy-in,” he said. “And they’re getting more buy-in from me, too. It’s a two-way street, right? Staff and players.

“And we’re starting to see the game similar and understanding each other’s strengths and building toward something.”

Inserting point guard Dug McDaniel into the starting lineup has provided a spark, even though Tang is the first to admit that he and the junior Michigan transfer have not always seen eye-to-eye.

McDaniel, who led the team with 12 points at TCU after scoring 17 in the Cincinnati game, downplayed the fact that he’s now a starter.

“We practice together every day, so…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/flush-kansas-state-basketball-moving-142036350.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2025-01-06 14:20:00

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