Rapid Recap: A big tournament opener for Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell
BIG NIGHT FOR KANSAS STATE GUARD
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell continues to be a stat sheet stuffer. The super senior point guard for K-State tallied nine points, 12 assists and five rebounds in the victory over Rhode Island to begin the multi-team event in the Cayman Islands.
His 12 assists were the fourth most by a Kansas State player in a single game. The 12 assists were also the most assists for a Wildcat since Steve Henson in 1989.
Nowell did a very good job of dissecting the defense and delivering the ball on time and on target. He was quick to acknowledge 12 assists is a team accomplishment and his teammates did him a solid favor by consistently knocking down shots.
NAE’QWAN TOMLIN SPLASHES IN THE ISLANDS
Nae’Qwan Tomlin was all over the floor and made an incredible impact for K-State. The junior college product played his best game as a Kansas State Wildcat and totaled 15 points, six rebounds and five blocks.
Tomlin ran the floor, was plenty active and did a lot of unique things on the basketball court. His drive and dunk versus the Rams is a great example. Against Rhode Island, he let his speed be a difference on the offensive and defensive end of the floor.
K-State head coach Jerome Tang believes Tomlin is more locked in on defense right now and is making tighter rotations. He also went as far as to say he thinks No. 35 can be an All-Big 12 player this season for Kansas State.
K-STATE PREPARATION FOR NEVADA
Playing two games in two days is tough. How will K-State prepare for Nevada after playing the night before? Well, it helps that it’s another night game and not an afternoon game after a night game for starters.
The scout has already been finished for the Wolf Pack according to Tang, but they will not watch any film until the day of so that they can obtain some rest. K-State knows who Nevada is and what their DNA is under Steve Alford, but they need to figure out how to score on them because they possess one of the better defenses in the country.
TURNOVERS
While the Kansas State was sharing the basketball at a high clip with 20 assists, they also had 21 turnovers. Desi Sills and Keyontae Johnson combined for 10 of them. K-State has to cut down to keep climbing as a program.
