OKLAHOMA CITY — I saw a young woman holding up a sign near courtside for both of Kansas State’s games here. It read “0 — WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
“Zero” means the uniform number of Wildcats guard Jacob Pullen and sorry, ma’am. You’re going to have to wait in line. After the game of his life Saturday night, a few more people are in love with him.
The list starts with Kansas State coach Frank Martin, whose defensive game plan Pullen carried out perfectly on BYU guard Jimmer Fredette. Forget Pullen’s career- high 34 points, including 7-of-12 3-pointers.
His defense on BYU’s star is what led the second-seeded Wildcats’ 84-72 win.
Fredette scored 21 points, but they were as quiet as BYU’s cheering section. He hit 5-of-13 shots and had five turnovers.
I saw Fredette was faster than any Florida player in Thursday’s first round. He wasn’t as quick as Pullen. Score one for the Big 12.
“We watch a lot of film,” Pullen said. “When you watch personnel, you just really get a feel for what people like to do. I tried to focus in on his crossovers and what side of the screens he did.”
Martin, the coach everyone doubted when Bob Huggins bolted for West Virginia three years ago, is turning into a brilliant strategist. He had Pullen guard Fredette out high. When he tried to drive, a big man forced him outside.
After blitzing Florida for 37, Fredette couldn’t get clear looks outside or clear paths inside.
“Number one, we have to be very disciplined, which we were in the first half, then the second half we started reaching and grabbing and put them on the line too much,” Martin said. “You can’t foul him.
“The second thing that we saw on tape is he likes to drive the ball to the middle of the floor.”
Said Fredette: “They’re an aggressive team defensively. We knew they were going to get up in us, and they started double-teaming me even in the backcourt. As soon as I got over half court, I was just trying to get it up to the teammates and trying to have them be aggressive as well.”
BYU won’t drop next year.
BYU coach Dave Rose can take comfort knowing seven of his top eight scorers return. Unless Fredette goes on a Mormon mission or goes pro — neither is likely — the Cougars will make another run in the NCAAs. Jonathan Tavernari (10.1 ppg) is the only senior.
New Mexico, the Mountain West’s regular-season champion, has only one senior in Roman Martinez, but junior Darrington Hobson, the conference player of the year, could go pro.
Best seat in the house?
The press corps isn’t bedraggled yet. We’re still giddy about covering the greatest sporting event outside the Olympics. But while munching a free cheeseburger in the Ford Center’s glitzy press lounge Saturday, I realized something.
The NCAA Tournament, with the possible exception of golf, is the only sports event better on TV than in person.
I do have possibly the best seat in the house. As pool reporter (I’m the guy fed to the embattled refs to ask about a controversial call), my seat is just off center court in the second row between the two teams.
I see everything. I hear everything the coaches say. I hear the referees’ jokes. However, I see nothing around the country. I did not see one play of 24 games. I made a point to stay in Friday night just to watch the New Mexico State-Michigan State game.
So how’s the tournament going, anyway?
