K-State Wildcats vs. WVU Mountaineers: Big 12 game preview, time, TV and prediction
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will try to remain undefeated in Big 12 play when it travels to West Virginia.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: WVU Coliseum (Morgantown, W.V.)
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: K-State by 2.5
Over/Under: 138.5
STARTING LINEUPS
P | No. | West Virginia | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 11 | Quinn Slazinski | 6-9 | Sr. | 15.0 |
F | 13 | Akok Akok | 6-10 | Sr. | 4.0 |
G | 3 | Kerr Kriisa | 6-3 | Sr. | 9.4 |
G | 1 | Noah Farrakhan | 6-1 | Sr. | 14.2 |
G | 21 | Raequan Battle | 6-5 | Sr. | 21.5 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 7 | David N’Guessan | 6-9 | Sr. | 7.6 |
F | 13 | Will McNair | 6-11 | Sr. | 7.8 |
G | 24 | Arthur Kaluma | 6-7 | Jr. | 15.1 |
G | 5 | Cam Carter | 6-3 | So. | 16.2 |
G | 2 | Tylor Perry | 5-11 | Sr. | 15.7 |
About West Virginia (5-9, 0-1):
The Mountaineers are struggling in their first season without Bob Huggins. West Virginia only has five wins and is the odds-on favorite to finish last in the Big 12. It has lost four of its past five games, including a humbling 89-55 loss against Houston in the conference opener.
This team doesn’t do anything exceptionally well and really struggles on offense, as it is shooting 46.8% from two-point range and 29.3% from beyond the arc. Montana State transfer RaeQuan Battle has given the Mountaineers a bit of a lift since being declared eligible midway through the year.
About Kansas State (11-3, 1-0):
The Wildcats are coming off a dominant showing in their first Big 12 game of the season. K-State defeated UCF 77-52 on Saturday in a game that was never close. Was that a sign that Jerome Tang’s team is improving? Or was it just a good game against one of the worst teams in the conference? We may soon find out.
Tylor Perry is coming off a career high 25 points and should enter this game with lots of confidence as a shooter. This is only K-State’s second true road game of the season. It won its first away game 75-60 at LSU.
K-State vs. WVU prediction
If K-State is serious about finishing high in the Big 12 standings and making a run at the NCAA Tournament this season, then this is a game it absolutely needs to win.
This is not a vintage West Virginia team.
The Mountaineers aren’t just struggling without Bob Huggins. They appear to have bottomed out. This team is not even hard to beat at WVU Coliseum right now. The Mountaineers have already lost at home to Monmouth, St. John’s, Pittsburgh and Radford this season.
K-State can take advantage of a down WVU team and move to 2-0 in Big 12 play, which would give it valuable momentum as Jerome Tang’s squad turns its focus to more challenging games against Texas Tech and Baylor.
I am expecting the Wildcats to do exactly that. Tylor Perry found his shooting touch against UCF, and that should carry over to this game. If he continues to shoot with confidence then offense shouldn’t be a problem for K-State.
The Mountaineers don’t defend the 3-point line well and they don’t force many turnovers. K-State shouldn’t have much trouble scoring.
Now, there is some fear that West Virginia will come out with extra motivation for its first conference home game, especially after losing its last game by a huge margin at Houston. That could make this game challenging for K-State. But it is the better team and should find a way to win.
K-State 74, West Virginia 65
Last game prediction: K-State 67, UCF 63. (Actual result: K-State 77, UCF 52)
Season Record: 12-2
Season Record ATS: 7-7
Season Record O/U: 11-3
