'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABeAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQYQAAICAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABQYREzFRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBBEAAwACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIRAAQSIUH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMzY49xaXQ63baqimtjS4aLVhGZ/WzA/fs0kj99FRluxu+PpYlUjaAq7AgTE/D+l8YyzcRV4ECW3Dbt54AM//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kansas State kept its March Madness dream alive by producing a 75-69 victory over Kentucky on Sunday.
This punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 where, they will face off against Michigan State, which beat Marquette 69-60.
First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang brushed off the credit for the win:
"Dudes. We got dudes, and that's what it takes," Tang said. "I mean, people get all caught up in the coaching and all that stuff. It's dudes. You got to have players, and these dudes work."
At the top of the list of "dudes" is Markquis Nowell. The 5-foot-8 senior led the charge for Kansas State by scoring 27 points on 7-for-14 shooting. He got to the free-throw line often, connecting on 10 of 11 attempts, and also added nine assists, two rebounds and three steals.
The Harlem, New York, native also had an impressive performance in the opening round of the tournament. Nowell ended with 17 points, 14 assists, six rebounds, and three steals while shooting 7-for-12 in a 77-65 win over Montana State.
He will be heading back to his home state of New York for the Sweet 16 matchup, which will be tipping off in Madison Square Garden. Nowell has not been back to his home state in three years.
Keyontae Johnson, Nae'Qwan Thomas and Desi Stills have each played a major role throughout the tournament for K-State.
Kansas State's chances vs. Michigan State
The Wildcats (25-9) have been impressive all season, finishing third in the stacked Big 12.
They are ranked 84th in the country in scoring at 75.5 points per game and eighth in assists at 16.9 per game. They play an exciting style of basketball, and Nowell is at the heart of it, making decisions on when to play-make and when to take it himself.
Kansas State will have a difficult task facing Michigan State (21-12). Coach Tom Izzo has 50 NCAA Tournament wins under his belt, trailing only John Calipari for the most among active head coaches. The Spartans entered the tournament as a No. 7 seed, but are playing their best basketball at the right time.
It will take a complete effort from Kansas State, and the Wildcats have plenty of momentum behind them as well. Expect Markquis Nowell to be ready for his New York homecoming and the rest of the dudes to be ready to follow.
