Kentucky Survives Liberty, Set to Face Kansas State in Round of 32
Kentucky narrowly escaped against Liberty, securing their spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, where they will take on Kansas State, the No. 5 seed in the Spokane 4 Region. The two teams have only met once before, with Kentucky claiming a 60-49 victory back on December 3, 2020.
Kansas State: A Team to Watch
Making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance, Kansas State has reached the Round of 32 for the 11th time. Historically, as a 5-seed, they hold a 3-2 record, but they have yet to defeat a 4-seed in two previous attempts. A win on Sunday would secure their third-ever trip to the Sweet 16.
With an impressive 27-7 overall record, Kansas State has established itself as one of the top teams in the country. However, their Big 12 Championship run was cut short in the second round by West Virginia.
This season, the Wildcats made history, setting a new program record for total points in a season with 2,701. The previous record stood at 2,635, set during the 1979-80 season. Their offensive efficiency is among the best in the nation, shooting 53.2% from the field in three games this year. In their first-round matchup against Fairfield, Kansas State shot 53.1%, marking the fourth-highest field goal percentage in their NCAA Tournament history. The team also set school records for single-season assists (728) and blocks (187).
Jeff Mittie: A Proven Leader
Head coach Jeff Mittie is among the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I basketball, boasting a 671-377 career record over 33 seasons. In his 11 years at Kansas State, he has led the team to a 217-142 record, reaching 19 or more wins in eight seasons.
Despite his success, Mittie’s teams at Kansas State, TCU, and Arkansas State have never advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, this year’s squad presents one of his best opportunities yet.
Kansas State Projected Starters
- #1 – G Zyanna Walker (8.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.6 APG)
- #2 – F Temira Poindexter (12.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.7 APG)
- #3 – G Jaelyn Glenn (9.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.0 APG)
- #4 – G Serena Sundell (13.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.1 APG)
- #50 – C Ayoka Lee (15.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.3 APG)
Scouting Report: A Team Built on Efficiency
One of Kansas State’s biggest strengths is their ball movement and efficiency. Jeff Mittie’s squad ranks second in the nation in both assist/turnover ratio (1.66) and assists per game (21.4).
A major factor behind this success is Serena Sundell, who averages 7.1 assists per game, the second-highest in the country. On top of her playmaking, the 6-foot-2 senior contributes 13.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
The team also benefits from Temira Poindexter, who adds 12.4 points per game while shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc.
However, their biggest weapon is 6-foot-6 center Ayoka Lee. She dominates the paint, averaging 15.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, with an incredible 65.6% field goal percentage. Despite dealing with a foot fracture in January, Lee made a remarkable comeback, re-injuring her foot on Feb. 22 but still managing to post 17 points and 10 rebounds on 7-10 shooting in her return against Fairfield.
With their balanced scoring, elite passing, and dominant interior presence, Kansas State poses a significant challenge for Kentucky in what promises to be a thrilling Round of 32 matchup.
Projected Kentucky Starters
