K-State Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns: TV, time, odds and Big 12 Tournament prediction
The Kansas State Wildcats are heading to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament and an opening game against the Texas Longhorns at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at T-Mobile Center.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City)
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: Texas by 4.5
Over/Under: 142.5
STARTING LINEUPS
P | No. | Texas | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 1 | Dylan Disu | 6-9 | Sr. | 16.1 |
F | 5 | Kadin Shedrick | 6-11 | Sr. | 8.1 |
G | 4 | Tyrese Hunter | 6-0 | Jr. | 11.4 |
G | 3 | Max Abmas | 6-0 | Sr. | 16.8 |
G | 9 | Ithiel Horton | 6-5 | Sr. | 5.9 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 20 | Jerrell Colbert | 6-10 | So. | 2.7 |
G | 4 | Dai Dai Ames | 6-1 | Fr. | 4.6 |
G | 24 | Arthur Kaluma | 6-7 | Jr. | 14.8 |
G | 5 | Cam Carter | 6-3 | So. | 14.9 |
G | 2 | Tylor Perry | 5-11 | Sr. | 15.2 |
About Texas (20-11, 9-9)
The Longhorns closed out the regular season with an impressive home victory against Oklahoma in which they dominated from start to finish. Texas will try to build off that performance during its first game at the Big 12 Tournament.
The Longhorns have played well for the past few weeks, as they have won four of their past six games with the only losses coming at Baylor and at Kansas. Dylan Disu and Max Abmas are two of the top scorers in the entire conference.
About Kansas State (18-13, 8-10)
The Wildcats also ended the regular season with a bang, as they defeated Iowa State at home last weekend. Jerome Tang’s team will be happy to play this game on a neutral court. K-State was strong at home all season, going 14-3 at Bramlage Coliseum. But it only won one road game in conference play, and that came all the way back in January at West Virginia.
The Wildcats can play their way into the NCAA Tournament with a strong showing this week. Tylor Perry and Arthur Kaluma both earned honorable mention from the Big 12 for averaging close to 15 points per game.
Texas vs. K-State prediction
When Texas and K-State played in the regular season, the Longhorns won an absolute rock fight 62-56 in Austin.
If the rematch is once again played at a slow pace, with every possession potentially meaning the difference between a win and a loss, then the Wildcats will most likely survive and advance on the Big 12 Tournament bracket.
But a faster-paced game would favor the Longhorns.
Texas has kicked its offense into high gear over the past few weeks and scored at least 80 points in four straight games. It dropped 94 on Oklahoma in the final game of the regular season. K-State has virtually no chance of winning if this game is played in the 80s or higher.
So which team can control the pace and win on its terms? Good question. K-State has one of the top defenses in the country. Texas has been lighting up the scoreboard of late behind Dylan Disu and Max Abmas.
This one could go either way.
Motivation will favor K-State, as it badly needs a victory to improve its NCAA Tournament chances. But Texas has played better basketball over the past month. The Longhorns also have experience on this stage and won the Big 12 Tournament last season.
All things considered, I give a slight edge to Texas because it is the more balanced team.
Texas 74, K-State 68
Last game prediction: Iowa State 69, K-State 65 (Actual result: K-State 65, Iowa State 58)
Season Record: 24-7
Season Record ATS: 15-16
Season Record O/U: 20-11
