CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With its leading scorer out with a stress fracture in his left foot, Kansas State found a way to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Their reward? The chance to face what may be the biggest Cinderella team ever, No. 16 University of Maryland-Baltimore County, which stunned Virginia 74-54.
The ninth-seeded Wildcats got 18 points from Barry Brown and 17 from Mike Mcguirl to beat eight-seeded Creighton 69-59 Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats (23-11) learned before the game Dean Wade, who averaged 16.5 points a game would not be available.
“It’s sad he’s not part of it,” said Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “But it’s still great for our other guys that they were able to rise up and find a way to win.”
Kansas State enjoyed a huge edge at the free-throw line where the Wildcats hit 14-of-25 free throws as compared to 4-of-5 for Creighton. The Blue Jays also shot poorly from the 3-point line, making just 9-of-34. Kansas State’s bench also outscored Creighton, 19-7.
Marcus Foster, who had scored 15 points in each of his first two NCAA appearances, had just 5 points for Creighton on 2-of-11 shooting. Kansas State guard Barry Brown, who scored 18 points, was on Foster for most of the game.
“I was just jumping a lot of stuff and kind of denying him a little bit and it worked out,” Brown said. “My teammates had my back with back doors and stuff like that. It worked out.”
Kansas State (23-11) advances to a second round game against the winner between top-seeded Virginia and 16th seeded UMBC. “I’m just proud of them because they’ve been very resilient, persistent throughout the year,” Weber said. “It hasn’t been a smooth sail the whole time. We’ve had to deal with injuries and tough losses and a lot of the different things. But they’ve stayed the course and really bought in and listened to the coaches.”
Creighton’s 59 points was a season low. Weber credited Brown. “From day one I asked when he was a freshman, I said, ‘Who is going to be our stopper,” Weber said. “He raised his hand and he said, ‘I am.’ He’s taken that role. He loves it.”
Weber didn’t discount the possibility Wade could be available for Sunday’s second-round game. “If it improves and he wants to go and give it a shot and we need him, I don’t think it’s going to be major minutes,” Weber said. “But he wants to be part of it. If it helps us have success and move on, I’m sure Dean will be there giving his all.”
