K-State Wildcats vs. West Virginia Mountaineers: Lineups, time, TV and a prediction
The details
When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas
TV/radio: ESPNU; KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita, KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City.
Projected lineups
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 1 | Derek Culver | 6-10 | So. | 10.8 |
F | 34 | Oscar Tshiebwe | 6-9 | Fr. | 11.8 |
F | 11 | Emmitt Matthews | 6-7 | So. | 7.4 |
G | 5 | Jordan McCabe | 6-0 | So. | 3.1 |
G | 10 | Jermaine Haley | 6-7 | Sr. | 9.2 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 14 | Makol Mawien | 6-9 | Sr. | 7.1 |
F | 23 | Montavious Murphy | 6-9 | Fr. | 5.4 |
G | 20 | Xavier Sneed | 6-5 | Sr. | 12.6 |
G | 3 | DaJuan Gordon | 6-4 | Fr. | 6.3 |
G | 2 | Cartier Diarra | 6-4 | Jr. | 12.6 |
About Kansas State (7-9, 0-4 Big 12): The Wildcats are still searching for their first Big 12 victory of the season after a pair of double-digit losses against Texas and Texas Tech. K-State may be short-handed for this game as sophomore guard Mike McGuirl is recovering from a concussion. If he is unable to play, freshman DaJuan Gordon will make his second straight start in his place. Bruce Weber made a few lineup changes last time out against the Red Raiders, including playing Antonio Gordon and Leci Stockard more than senior Makol Mawien inside. But Mawien will likely get a chance to redeem himself in this matchup, as K-State will need size and experience against West Virginia’s big lineup.
About West Virginia (14-2, 3-1): The Mountaineers are coming off a dominant 81-49 victory against TCU, a team that was previously undefeated in Big 12 play. Bob Huggins has West Virginia playing excellent defense this season. It has only allowed 51 points per game against conference opponents. The Mountaineers also feature impressive size inside with Derek Culver, Oscar Tshiebwe and Emmitt Matthews. Culver and Tshiebwe both nearly average a double-double. West Virginia has impressive victories over Ohio State, Wichita State and Texas Tech. Its two losses came on the road against St. John’s and Kansas.
Prediction: This figures to be one of Kansas State’s most difficult games of the season. West Virginia is stellar on defense and on the glass. It plays the same way as Texas Tech, only better. That’s bad news for the Wildcats, given that the Red Raiders just won 77-63 at Bramlage Coliseum.
Both Culver and Tshiebwe could end up on the All-Big 12 team this season. But the Mountaineers also have solid depth.
Weber said earlier this week that K-State will need two, and maybe even three, players to deliver “special” performances for the Wildcats to have a shot in this game. They will also need to rebound at a high level.
That seems like too much to ask from a team that has lost four straight games.
West Virginia 66, K-State 55.