Good morning to everyone but especially to…
THE NO. 13 KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Just over two years ago, Keyontae Johnson collapsed on the court during a game. Tuesday night, he rose higher than anyone to throw down a ferocious, game-winning alley-oop to lift No. 13 Kansas State to an instant-classic 83-82 victory over No. 2 Kansas.
To illustrate just how monumental this win was, Kansas State had lost 15 of the last 16 Sunflower Showdowns dating back to 2016.
- It’s the Wildcats’ first win over an AP top-two team since 2016.
- The Jayhawks’ streak of 15 straight wins in single-digit games is over
- Johnson and Desi Sills led the way with 24 points each, which was just enough to overcome Jalen Wilson‘s 38-point outburst, the most points in a game by a Jayhawk since Andrew Wiggins in 2014.
This was a terrific, gritty effort from the Wildcats, whose offense has been their calling card this season but whose defense got it done Tuesday, forcing 15 turnovers — including one on Kansas’ final possession — and allowing just 6-29 (20.7 percent) shooting on 3-pointers.
The game will also boost Kansas State’s case for a high seed come March, notes our David Cobb.
- Cobb: “The Wildcats entered with an excellent 4-1 record in Quad 1 games, but the win over Kansas stands out above any other victory to date for a few reasons. For one, it came against a despised in-state rival that had dominated the series in recent seasons. But it should also silence some of the lingering doubters wondering if Kansas State could stay nationally relevant under a first-year coach amid the rigors of Big 12 play.”
Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for…
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JOE LOMBARDI, SHANE DAY AND THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
As the Chargers attempt to climb out of the disappointment of blowing a 27-point lead, they’ll be doing it without two key coaches.
The team fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day on Tuesday.
- Both coaches had been with the team for the past two seasons, a span over which the Chargers ranked sixth in offensive points per game, fifth in yards per game and third in passing yards per game.
- However, as we chronicled in Monday’s newsletter, offensive failures played a huge role in the Chargers’ late-game collapse against the Jaguars. They…
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