K-State Wildcats vs. Providence Friars: Game preview, TV info, time and prediction
Kansas State will try to win its third straight game when it takes on Providence at the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship at 5 p.m. Friday.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a game prediction:
When: 5 p.m. Friday
Where: Baha Mar Convention Center (Nassau, The Bahamas)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: K-State by 1
Over/Under: 150.5
STARTING LINEUPS
P | No. | Providence | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 23 | Bryce Hopkins | 6-7 | Jr. | 13.3 |
F | 13 | Josh Oduro | 6-9 | Sr. | 10.7 |
G | 1 | Jayden Pierre | 6-2 | So. | 12.7 |
G | 22 | Devin Carter | 6-3 | Jr. | 15.7 |
G | 0 | Davonte Gaines | 6-7 | Sr. | 7.7 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 7 | David N’Guessan | 6-9 | Sr. | 7.3 |
F | 13 | Will McNair | 6-11 | Sr. | 8.7 |
G | 24 | Arthur Kaluma | 6-7 | Jr. | 9.0 |
G | 5 | Cam Carter | 6-3 | So. | 19.0 |
G | 2 | Tylor Perry | 5-11 | Sr. | 20.7 |
About Providence (3-0):
The Friars are off to an excellent start under new coach Kim English. The former Missouri basketball star has led Providence to three straight victories, including a 72-59 win over Wisconsin. Devin Carter is the guard who makes the Friars go, but Bryce Hopkins has also been playing well down low. Providence is an excellent team on defense, as it allows opponents to shoot 22.2% from 3-point range and 38.9% from two-point range. Both numbers rank in the top 30 nationally. This is the most balanced team that K-State has faced this season. The Friars are at their best on offense inside, as they are making 58.5% of their two-point attempts.
About Kansas State (2-1):
The Wildcats are coming off a pair of easy victories over Bellarmine and South Dakota State. They will look to build off those performances on a neutral-court setting this week in the Bahamas. K-State hasn’t been at full strength all season without Nae’Qwan Tomlin (suspended) or Ques Glover (injured) but is expected to have Arthur Kaluma back in the starting lineup after he took a game off to deal with a minor leg injury. Will McNair has given the Wildcats excellent minutes at forward. Cam Carter and Tylor Perry have been scoring machines in the first three games of the season. Perry could be challenged against Providence, though, as the Friars play strong defense on the 3-point line.
Prediction: K-State vs. Providence
This game should be a good litmus test for Kansas State.
Providence and K-State are evenly rated by college basketball statisticians Ken Pomeroy and Bart Torvik. Both teams have winning records. And this game will be played on a neutral court in the Bahamas.
That makes this matchup hard to project as both teams work to find themselves in the first few weeks of the season.
But I think the Wildcats have a small edge.
Kim English is in his first year as head coach with the Friars and this will be his challenging game away from home with this group. Jerome Tang knows everything about playing in this environment. He took the Wildcats to the Cayman Islands and they won three games on their way to a tournament championship there.
Tylor Perry and Cam Carter are playing at a high level together in the back court. Add Arthur Kaluma back to the starting lineup and the Wildcats should play their best.
It may not be as easy as usual for them to make 3-pointers or defend in the pain, but K-State has an experience advantage that it can ride to victory in this game.
K-State 79, Providence 76
Last game prediction: K-State 85, South Dakota State 74 (Actual: K-State 91, South Dakota State 68)
Season Record: 3-0
Season Record ATS: 2-1
Season Record O/U: 3-0
This story was originally published November 17, 2023 at 6:30 AM.