Malik Hall, Joey Hauser share impressions of Kansas State

As Michigan State gets prepared to take on Kansas State in the Sweet 16, the players and coaches alike have had a chance to get some early impressions.

Needless to say the general thinking is that you must have a pretty good basketball team if you’ve made it this far. And while Michigan State made it look easy in dispatching USC and Marquette in reaching the Sweet 16, Kansas State made it look equally easy in dusting Montana State and Kentucky.

“First impression is just a really great team,” Michigan State’s Malik Hall said. “They’ve had a heck of a year, played very hard, won a lot of very big games, so definitely a very capable team.

“I mean, I don’t really know what else to say. They’re just a really good team.”

Kansas State will provide a well-rounded matchup for Michigan State. According to the KenPom.com efficiency numbers, the Wildcats rank No. 47 nationally adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 17 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.

You don’t catch many breaks on either end of the floor.

From a player standpoint, the Wildcats have been led all year long by former Florida star Keyontae Johnson. After gaining medical clearance to play with the Wildcats, he’s been every bit the player that made him the 2020-21 preseason SEC Player of the Year.

Johnson is averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Wildcats.

“Yeah, I would say extremely talented,” Spartans forward Joey Hauser said. “They played in arguably the best conference in America this year, so they’ve seen it all. They’ve seen really good opponents. But definitely really talented and got some really good play makers.”

Kansas State managed to go 23-9 during the regular season and sported an 11-7 record in the Big 12, tied for third in the conference standings in arguably the most difficult conference in college basketball this year.

What will Kansas State be looking out for in the matchup?

Coach Jerome Tang provided a detailed synopsis of the meeting, but it really boils down to the transition game, he said.

“So those two things we have to be prepared for, stopping them in transition, getting back, building a wall, making a play in the halfcourt,” Tang said. “And then at the end when they take a shot, being able to corral the ball, limit their second-chance opportunities.”

Kansas State and Michigan State are set to square off on Thursday in a game that tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET on TBS.