Kansas St.-Louisville Preview

3/24/2008 4:14 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

Kansas State overcame the absence of its leading scorer in the opening round of the NCAA tournament thanks to the play of a seldom-used reserve.

The Wildcats may find it considerably tougher to do that again when they face Louisville and the Big East's top scorer in the second round.

Fifth-seeded Kansas State takes on Angel McCoughtry and the fourth-seeded Cardinals on Tuesday in Bridgeport, Conn., looking to reach the round of 16 for the first time in six years.

Kansas State (22-9) will again be without Kimberly Dietz, who averaged a team-best 14.9 points this season before injuring her knee in the Wildcats' Big 12 tournament loss to Iowa State. The senior's college career is over, leaving a huge void in Kansas State's offense.

On Sunday, Kelsey Nelson unexpectedly stepped up to fill it, scoring 20 points in a 69-59 win over Chattanooga. Nelson, a junior reserve who came in averaging 1.8 points in 13 games, was 6-of-11 from the field and had six rebounds.

"You can't replace a player like Kim Dietz, but Kelsey's performance really helped us," said teammate Shalee Lehning, who had 12 points.

Kansas State hopes Nelson can repeat her stunning effort Tuesday against McCoughtry and the Cardinals (25-9).

McCoughtry has led the Big East in scoring the last two seasons and is averaging 23.5 points and 8.8 rebounds this season. She had 20 points, eight rebounds and three steals in Louisville's 81-67 win over Miami of Ohio on Sunday.

The junior had been held to single digits in points in two of her previous three NCAA tournament games, but was 7-of-13 from the field Sunday. She left with less than five minutes remaining after rolling her left ankle, but said she'll be ready to go Tuesday - a sentiment echoed by coach Jeff Walz.

"She's fine," he said. "It's just another bump or bruise along the way. She'll be ready to play on Tuesday night."

McCoughtry had 14 points at halftime Sunday and despite scoring 12 of the Cardinals' first 18 points, wasn't satisfied with her performance.

"I felt like I played one of my worst games of my career tonight," she said. "But we got some runs and we got some layups and I think that helped."

Louisville has won 12 of its last 14 games, averaging 75.2 points and holding opponents to 59.3 points on 36.6 percent shooting over that span.

Louisville is looking to reach the round of 16 for the first time in team history. The Cardinals have been to the second round four times before, including last season when they lost 67-58 to Arizona State.

Kansas State, meanwhile, is trying to get out of the second round for the first time since 2002. This is the fifth straight year the Wildcats have won their NCAA tournament opener.

Tuesday's winner will face Old Dominion or Virginia in Greensboro, N.C. on Sunday.