Winners and Losers: Kansas State brings home the hardware

We wrap up the week was in the world of Kansas State sports and college athletics.

WINNERS

1) KEYONTAE AND MARKQUIS: Kansas State stars Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell were both named to the first team All-Big 12 by the coaches and media. Johnson was unanimously chosen as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year as well and Nowell was a first team All-Defensive team pick.

2) JEROME TANG: Like Johnson and Nowell, K-State head coach Jerome Tang walked away with recognition from both the coaches and media as the Big 12 Coach of the Year.

3.) TEXAS: The Longhorns put on an impressive showing in Kansas City en route to winning the Big 12 Tournament. After taking down Kansas State, TCU was knocked around by Texas. Rodney Terry’s club also defeated Kansas twice in the span of a week by an average margin of victory of 18 points. Texas might be the Big 12 team that can go the furthest in the NCAA Tournament.

4.) SHAKA SMART: How about the story Shaka Smart is writing at Marquette? After a so-so stint at Texas, he has Marquette 28-6 and the Golden Eagles won the Big East regular season and conference tournament. They are also likely to be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

5) BLUE DEVILS: There may not be a hotter team in the country than Duke after winning the ACC Tournament. After a stretch where it looked like they may not make the NCAA Tournament, the Blue Devils have now won nine in a row.

Check out my IG live! The official behind scenes for our March Madness watch party! @4evercoachreemvi gonna be interviewing players and staff members! 4:05pm CT! #EMAW

— Jareem Dowling (@Coachreem4ever) March 12, 2023

LOSERS

1) TOURNAMENT PATH: After a few weeks ago where it seemed like K-State may play first and second round games in Des Moines or Denver, both have turned unlikely. Kansas State is probably more likely to be slotted in Columbus, Albany or Orlando at the moment.

2) OKLAHOMA STATE: Because they laid an absolute offensive dud in the Big 12 quarterfinal against Texas in Kansas City and were on a end-of-season skid that included falling to K-State in Stillwater, the Cowboys may be on the outside looking in when it comes to Selection Sunday. Oklahoma State almost went the first eight minutes of the second half on Thursday without scoring and didn’t reach 50 for the game.

3) DRAMA: To be honest, the drama was kind of lacking from most conference tournaments. In the Big 12, only three games were decided by single digits. Kansas State wasn’t immune. They were smacked by the Horned Frogs again. Championship Saturday was lacking in competitive games as well. The Pac-12 has been the only high-major conference thus far to have their championship game decided by single digits.

4) BILL WALTON: Speaking of the Pac-12, there’s no harder listen in college basketball than Bill Walton. Not only was he actively rooting for UCLA over Arizona throughout the league’s championship game, but he took a shot at the Big 12 as well on a few occasions.

5.) KIRBY HOCUTT: Having to get rid of another coach for behavior is a tough look for Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt. The next Red Raider basketball coach will be the sixth of the K-State alum’s tenure in Lubbock.