K-State Wildcats vs. McNeese State: Basketball lineups, TV, time, score prediction
The details
When/where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
TV/radio: ESPN+ (online streaming service, subscription required); KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita, KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City.
Projected lineups
P | No. | McNeese State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 12 | Kellon Taylor | 6-6 | Sr. | 8.9 |
F | 5 | Myles Lewis | 6-5 | Sr. | 10.7 |
C | 35 | Brendan Medley-Bacon | 7-1 | Jr. | 10.1 |
G | 0 | Trae English | 6-0 | Fr. | 4.5 |
G | 15 | Zach Scott | 6-4 | Jr. | 4.6 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 1 | Kaosi Ezeagu | 6-10 | Jr. | 7.6 |
F | 25 | Ismael Massoud | 6-9 | So. | 8.2 |
G | 13 | Mark Smith | 6-4 | Sr. | 9.6 |
G | 24 | Nijel Pack | 6-0 | So. | 14.5 |
G | 1 | Markquis Nowell | 5-8 | Jr. | 12.3 |
About McNeese State (3-8): The Cowboys have lost five consecutive games and are coming off an 82-72 defeat at UTEP. McNeese State has played a difficult schedule, as only two of its 11 games have been played at home. Coach John Aiken likes to play a big lineup with 7-foot-1 center Brendan Medley-Bacon in the paint. Myles Lewis leads the team in scoring. McNeese State ranks No. 325 in Ken Pomeroy’s national ratings database.
About Kansas State (7-3): The Wildcats are off to their best start in three seasons following a 67-58 road victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. K-State coach Bruce Weber used Markquis Nowell and Nijel Pack in the starting lineup for that game, and is expected to stick with them against the Cowboys. He thinks playing two point guards at the same time gives K-State its best scoring lineup. That didn’t turn out to be the case against Nebraska, but things could change against a new opponent. Kaosi Ezeagu and Davion Bradford are both coming off good games and will try to keep that momentum going. This could be an opportunity for Logan Landers to see extended minutes inside, as well.
Prediction: The only way this game ends up being close is if K-State doesn’t take McNeese State seriously.
That could happen. This is a classic let-down situation for the Wildcats, who are coming off an important road victory against Nebraska on Sunday. Can they regain their focus and play one more strong game at home before Christmas arrives? The answer will likely determine whether K-State covers the spread.
Here’s guessing the Wildcats have their way with the Cowboys. Beating over matched teams at home has become a specialty for Bruce Weber’s team this season. It should happen again.
K-State 82, McNeese State 55.