Wildcats outlast Musketeers in amazing battle, reach Elite Eight
Jacob Pullen led the Kansas State Wildcats to victory in a most memorable battle against the Xavier Musketeers in the Sweet 16.
Whoever came up with March Madness to describe the NCAA Tournament is a genius. The Sweet 16 game between the number-two seeded Kansas State Wildcats and number-five seeded Xavier Musketeers–perhaps the best in tournament history–exemplified why this time of year is titled as such.
The magic began with 28 seconds remaining in the second half. Previously, both teams had battled back and forth. There were lead-changes galore and the stars were shining. More of the same followed, but this time the shots hit and the amazing clutchness was nearly indescribable. The Wildcats were in possession, the game tied at 67. Point guard Jacob Pullen came off a screen and drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key, driving an already crazy Gus Johnson even crazier.
This was just the beginning. Musketeers guard Terrell Holloway had his ensuing layup blocked, but star forward Jason Love was there to clean it up, making a layup to cut the margin to one, 70-69, with 12 seconds remaining. Pullen hit two free-throws to widen the lead to three once more, but the lead was still one possession. Three points in any fashion by Xavier could tie. They came from Holloway, who with ice water in his veins sunk three free-throws upon being fouled somewhat controversially. Wildcats guard Denis Clemente tried to foul prior to Holloway attempting a off-balance 25-footer, and it appeared he did so lightly before the official whistled Chris Merriweather for a much more blatant hack.
Overtime was forced much to the chagrin of CBS announcer Len Elmore, who reiterated in an irritated and enraged tone that the foul should have been called before the shot attempt was made, meaning two free-throws should have been awarded instead. But, what happened happened, setting up more drama with a jaw-dropping overtime battle.
Musketeers star Jordan Crawford began the extra session by slashing in for a layup, but this opening basket was answered by six straight points by Kansas State. For a few minutes, it looked as if Xavier, the underdog, had run out of steam. But the drought came to a halt. Holloway and Crawford wouldn’t let the fifth seed go quietly.
Holloway, a sophomore point guard, caught fire, hitting a deep three-pointer to pull the Musketeers within one, then, after a layup by Wildcats center Curtis Kelly, he drove through for an easy deuce. But Xavier wasn’t helping themselves defensively, as Kansas State scored once more, stretching the lead to three moments later. But in this game, big shots were hit no matter how tight or conservative the defense was. With the Wildcats ahead by three, 84-81, win a minute left, Holloway dribbled the ball out top before canning a three-pointer from at least four feet beyond the arc. Tie game. And it would only get better.
Pullen followed by maneuvering through the lane for a layup that was far too easy, as weak side help wasn’t administered once he blew by his defender. Holloway tried to answer, but took a questionably quick and low-percentage three-pointer. Able to use the entire game clock as 35 seconds remained, they could have wound down the timer and gone for the win in the waning seconds. But Holloway elected to try to put Xavier ahead with a off-balance heave that clanged off the rim. Now they were forced to foul. One free-throw by Merriweather would make it difficult on the Musketeers; two would be an uphill climb.
It turned out to be a great play by Holloway, though it didn’t seem as such at the time. Merriweather missed the first attempt and made the second giving the ball back to Xavier, forcing them to go for a three just to tie. What transpired will go into NCAA Tournament lore. And was transpired possibly made this one of the best tournament games in history. The added point made possible by Holloway’s quick-trigger didn’t fluster the Musketeers. Crawford dribbled the 35 feet away from the basket, size up his defender, dribbled inside ever-so little, and pulled up for three with five seconds remaining. The 30-footer swished through, sending the Musketeers bench into pandemonium, the announcers into a yelping frenzy, and basketball fans everywhere into “Wow…Did he just do that?” mode. It was incredible, and it’s what makes March completely mad.
After Clemente’s 17-foot runner missed, both teams went back and forth in the second overtime. This time it was Kansas State hitting three-pointers. Crawford and Holloway kept the Musketeers close, but Pullen took over to take the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. Behind by two with just over a minute left, he came off a screen and swished a deep bomb that would have sent Bill Raftery, if he was calling the game, into “Onions!” mode. He hit another in a tie game that nearly made Johnson pop a blood-vessel.
Holloway pulled Xavier within one, hitting two free-throws upon being fouled by Kelly, but Pullen followed with a pair of free-throws himself. Needing three points to tie, this time the Musketeers couldn’t scrounge out enough. Guard Dante Jackson, known for his three-point shooting, missed one with 17 seconds remaining. Clemente was fouled, hit two free-throws, and that was that. Game over, Kansas State had won.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise thrilling game. I expected Jackson to hit the shot and force a third-overtime, which I’m sure nonpartisan fans everywhere were clamoring for. But it was not to be. Even still, though the favorite escaped, this battle not only summed up how this tournament has gone, but it will most likely go down as the best in its history, with Crawford, Holloway, and Pullen the stars that made it so good.
