MANHATTAN, Kan. (KAKE) - The Kansas State Wildcats are heading to the East region as a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They will play in Greensboro, North Carolina against 14-seed Montana State.

The 'Cats finished the year 23-9 and entered the Big 12 Tournament as a 3-seed before being bounced by TCU in the quarterfinals. 

They enter the Big Dance losers of two straight but will benefit from getting away from the grueling competition in the Big 12. 

Led by seniors Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson, K-State defied expectations under first-year head coach Jerome Tang. The Wildcats were picked to finish last in the conference before the year but wound up just two games behind Kansas in the final regular season standings. 

K-State will start its tournament run on Friday in North Carolina and would take on the winner of Kentucky and Providence with a win.