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The Kansas-Kansas State cross state rivalry will write a new chapter Tuesday night in a huge Big 12 matchup. The Kansas Jayhawks lead the all time series 118-56, and have won 8 straight head to head against K State dating back to 2016.
Kansas is coming off a 79-63 win at home on Saturday against #16 ranked Texas Tech. Last Saturday (1/26) they lost 71-63 at #8 ranked Kentucky, and last Tuesday (1/29) they lost 73-63 to Texas on the road.
Kansas State is coming off a 75-57 win over Oklahoma State on the road on Saturday. On Tuesday (1/22) they beat #14 Texas Tech 58-45 at home, and last Saturday (1/26) they lost 65-53 to Texas A&M on the road.
On the season, Kansas is 9-13 ATS, 1-5 ATS on the road, and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games. On the season, Kansas State is 11-10 ATS, 7-7 ATS at home, and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
Bovada has the Wildcats as 2 point favourites with an O/U total of 129.
Kansas State Wildcats
(16-5 overall, 13-1 at home, 6-2 in conference)
Kansas State averages 65.1 PPG, 34.7 RPG, 13.7 APG, 2.1 BPG, 7.5 SPG, and 12 TPG. As a team they shoot 42.7% from the field, 65.0% from the free throw line, and 32.3% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 58.7 PPG, 31.4 RPG, 40.7% shooting from the field, and 31.2% shooting from 3 point range.
K-State is led by a pair of Seniors in Barry Brown Jr. and Dean Wade. Brown Jr. averages 15.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 APG and 2.0 SPG while shooting 43.9% from the field, 71.8% from the free throw line, and 31.4% from 3 point range. Wade averages 14.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.7 APG and 0.9 SPG while shooting 53.4/79.2/46.7. Kamau Stokes contributes 9.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.5 APG and 1.3 SPG. Xavier Sneed (9.6 PPG/5.6 RPG/2.3 APG/1.3 SPG), Makol Mawien (6.6 PPG/4.3 RPG/0.6 BPG), Cartier Diarra (5.9 PPG/3.3 RPG/1.5 APG/0.9 SPG) and Mike McGuirl (3.3 PPG/1.5 RPG/0.8 SPG) play big minutes as well.
Kansas Jayhawks
(17-5 overall, 1-5 on the road, 6-3 in conference)
Kansas averages 76.8 PPG, 37.5 RPG, 13.8 APG, 3.6 BPG, 7.2 SPG, and 13 TPG. As a team they shoot 47.2% from the field, 67.7% from the free throw line, and 36.2% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 70 PPG, 36.5 RPG, 40.2% shooting from the field, and 32.9% shooting from 3 point range.
Kansas is led by transfer forward Dedric Lawson, who averages 19.5 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.2 BPG while shooting 51.3% from the field, 76.3% from the free throw line, and 33.3% from 3 point range. Lagerald Vick has been a solid #2, averaging 14.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.9 APG and 1.2 SPG while shooting 47.7/75.0/46.1. Devon Dotson handles the majority of the ballhandling while averaging 11.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.5 SPG. Ochai Agbaji (8.8 PPG/4.8 RPG/0.9 SPG), Quentin Grimes (8.1 PPG/2.3 RPG/1.8 APG), Marcus Garrett (7.2 PPG/3.6 RPG/2.3 APG/1.8 SPG) and Mitch Lightfoot (1.5 PPG/2.0 RPG/0.5 BPG) contribute as well.
Key Injuries
F Silvio De Sousa (eligibility) – out, G Marcus Garrett (ankle) – questionable
Predictions
This matchup has generally been one sided over the years, but this Kansas team is not on the level as some of those past teams. Last year, Kansas beat K-State by 31 points combined in their 3 victories, but Udoka Azubuike, Malik Newman, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Devonte Graham had big hands in all of those victories. On the other hand, Dean Wade rises to the occasion of playing his cross state rival, averaging 20.5 in his last 4 matchups with the Jayhawks (sat out last seasons Big 12 Tournament semifinal vs. Kansas).
The Jayhawks have gone through periods this season of serious offensive cold streaks, especially on the road, and have lost 4 of their last 5 road games. Against a spectacular defensive team like K-State that could all be amplified. Dedric Lawson should put up big numbers against a Wildcat team bereft of rim protectors, but K-State’s feisty defense could get the Jayhawks into some bad positions offensively, as they play lockdown defense on the perimeter and have a knack for creating turnovers. As long as Kansas State’s offense isn’t anemic outside of Wade and Barry Brown, K-State should grab a signature win and vault back into the Top 25.
Final Pick: Kansas State Wildcats (-2)
