In the East region, the superb poster of this evening of the “Sweet Sixteen” was this duel in Madison Square Garden between the Wildcats of Jerome Tang and the Spartans of Tom Izzo, certainly the two most satisfying teams in the game and the dynamic since the start of the tournament.
And “as expected”, the match offered an exciting battle in attack and hard-fought defense, concluded in overtime, at the end of which Kansas State validated its ticket for the “Elite Eight” for the first time since 2018 (98- 93).
New York native, the small but genius point guard Markquis Nowell treated his return home with a historic double-double: 20 points and 19 (!) assists, the new record all time in an NCAA tournament game! At the head of the Wildcats attack, the one who on Twitter bears the handle “Mr. New York City” proposed a real master class management, diabolically playing with the Spartans’ defensive covers, which were logically focused on him despite a loose right ankle for a good part of the second half!
” We were hypnotized by Nowell admitted Tom Izzo after the match. ” He’s a special player. I thought we defended pretty well against him. But his passes broke us. »
Even Kevin Durant, notorious consumer of the NCAA, went there of his congratulations.
That was a legendary display of controlling a basketball game Markquis. GG’s
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 24, 2023
” It was a special game for me humbly declared the main interested party, who probably played the best match of his career in his hometown, when his coach, more expressive, relished having in his ranks a “ fucking badass! »
In the quarter-finals in the East region, Kansas State will face Florida Atlantic (#9)the nice surprise of the tournament which, by eliminating Tennessee (#4), won the first Elite Eight in its history.
Long live “March Madness”!
The complete summary
The masterpiece of “Mr. New York City” at Madison Square Garden
