Kansas State Wildcats vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Lineups, time, TV and prediction
The details
When/where: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Oklahoma
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 | 14 | Makol Mawien | 6-9 | Sr. | 7.7 |
G | 3 | DaJuan Gordon | 6-4 | Fr. | 6.4 |
G | 20 | Xavier Sneed | 6-5 | Sr. | 14.0 |
G | 2 | Cartier Diarra | 6-4 | Jr. | 13.1 |
G | 00 | Mike McGuirl | 6-2 | Jr. | 6.6 |
P | No. | Oklahoma State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 14 | Yor Anei | 6-10 | S0. | 8.1 |
F | 12 | Cameron McGriff | 6-7 | Sr. | 11.9 |
G | 1 | Jonathan Laurent | 6-6 | Sr. | 5.0 |
G | 21 | Lindy Waters | 6-6 | Sr. | 10.8 |
G | 13 | Isaac Likekele | 6-4 | So. | 10.4 |
About Kansas State (9-20, 2-14 Big 12): The Wildcats are looking to end their longest losing streak in 20 years and reach the 10-win mark late in a disappointing season. K-State is coming off one of its better showings of late, a 62-58 home defeat against No. 1 Kansas. The Wildcats held a second-half lead in that game and played with ideal energy and passion. Makol Mawien, in particular, played well on his way to 13 points and five rebounds. Can they carry that same amount of fire into this game against the Cowboys? Mike McGuirl led K-State against Oklahoma State earlier this season with 16 points, but the Cowboys prevailed at Bramlage Coliseum 64-59.
About Oklahoma State (15-14, 5-11 Big 12): The Cowboys have come on strong since starting Big 12 play with eight consecutive losses. Oklahoma State has gone 5-3 in league play since then with victories over TCU, K-State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Iowa State. It can continue to make a late push for the postseason with a sweep of K-State. Isaac Likekele has made a big difference. The sophomore guard was recovering from an injury during the team’s losing streak, but a return to form has helped the Cowboys get back on the winning track. Yor Anei had a strong game against K-State the first time around, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Oklahoma State has been tough at home lately, winning four straight at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Prediction
At the midway point of the Big 12 season, K-State basketball coach Bruce Weber emphasized the importance of finishing strong. The Wildcats only won two of their first nine conference games, but he thought they could collect more during their final nine.
Perhaps he was talking about Oklahoma State instead of his own team?
The Cowboys have done exactly what Weber hoped the Wildcats would during the second half of conference play. They have won five Big 12 games after losing their first eight and have become a formidable opponent for every team other than the Jayhawks.
Meanwhile, K-State has lost nine straight games. With one more defeat, it will set a program record for losses in a season.
These are teams heading in opposite directions, and it’s probably too much to ask the Wildcats to beat the Cowboys on the road. Oklahoma State has more offensive weapons than K-State and has been playing much better basketball over the past month. It has won four straight home games and topped 70 points in each of them. K-State will need to keep the score in the low 60s, or even high 50s, to have a shot in this one. That’s unlikely to happen.
Oklahoma State 71, K-State 62.