Rapid Recap: Kansas State's second half defense improvement
Kansas State’s foul trouble strategy
Kansas State was in foul trouble early Wednesday night in Ames. Like 36 seconds early. Cam Carter had two fouls before the first minute had gone by. The junior did not check in again until there was 5:59 to go in the first half.
Normally Jerome Tang does not want to foul his players out in the first half by not playing them again with two fouls. However, Kansas State was keeping the game close enough Tang did not want to risk Carter picking up a third foul. Because of when he put Carter back in, the guard was able to play most of the second half for K-State.
Tang does not regret when he put Carter back in the game because he was able to be more aggressive in the second half of the game. Obviously, though, the Kansas State head coach does not want the junior to pick up two fouls in the first minute.
Improved defense in the second half
K-State did not defend well in the first half. Iowa State scored 41 points in the first 20 minutes and shot almost 50 percent from the floor. The second half was different and Kansas State defended better. K-State limited the Cyclones to 36 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three-point range.
Tang thought the defense for Kansas State was better in the second half. Specifically, he pointed out the first-shot defense being pretty good in the final 20 minutes. Kansas State did a decent job of rebounding, but second chances hurt allowing seven second-chance points in the second half.
The K-State head coach also pointed out it is hard to defend the foul line. Iowa State shot 27 free throws in the second half.
Fast start in the second half
After a slow start in the first half, Kansas State started very well in the second half. K-State was down 41-29 at halftime and had the game tied at 47 a piece with 14:37 to go.
Kansas State was more aggressive on offense in the second half. Some of the aggression stems from the first half. Iowa State defends near their own bench and they hear the calls K-State has. In the second half, the Wildcats are running offense near their bench which can make running offense easier. In turn, Kansas State shot 48 percent from the floor in the second half and 43 percent from three.
The Cyclones took Kansas State out of their offense in the first half and were really aggressive. Tang was pleased with his team’s response on offense in the second half.
