K-State Wildcats vs. Houston Cougars: Basketball game time, TV, odds and prediction
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will return home for an important Big 12 game against the Houston Cougars at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, including a score prediction:
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: Houston by 10.5
Over/under: 127.5.
STARTING LINEUPS
P | No. | Houston | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 11 | Joseph Tugler | 6-8 | So. | 5.9 |
F | 13 | J’Wan Roberts | 6-8 | Sr. | 8.8 |
G | 7 | Milos Uzan | 6-4 | Jr. | 8.9 |
G | 21 | Emanuel Sharp | 6-3 | Jr. | 14.0 |
G | 4 | LJ Cryer | 6-1 | Sr. | 14.3 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 33 | Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | Sr. | 10.7 |
F | 1 | David N’Guessan | 6-9 | Sr. | 13.2 |
G | 2 | Max Jones | 6-4 | Sr. | 8.6 |
G | 11 | Brendan Hausen | 6-4 | Jr. | 12.0 |
G | 0 | Dug McDaniel | 5-11 | Jr. | 10.1 |
About Houston (11-3, 3-0)
The Cougars have won seven straight games, including their first three in Big 12 action. Kelvin Sampson’s team stubbed its toe early on against Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State but has been perfect ever since. Houston is once again best known for its defense. The Cougars rank first nationally in 2-point defense (39%) and 3-point defense (28.2%). They also force a turnover on 22.7% of all possessions. LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp lead the team on offense.
About Kansas State (7-7, 1-2)
The Wildcats have lost five of their past six games, but they only played one true home game during that stretch. And they managed to win it against Cincinnati 70-67 at the start of Big 12 play. That will give K-State hope heading into one of its most difficult tests of the season against Houston. K-State is looking to bounce back from a pair of losses to TCU and Oklahoma State. David N’Guessan is the team’s leading scorer, followed by Brendan Hausen and Coleman Hawkins. Big man Ugonna Onyenso saw more playing time than usual against Oklahoma State and may also see extra minutes against the Cougars.
K-State game prediction
The Wildcats played the Cougars just once last season, but that was more than enough for Jerome Tang.
Shortly after K-State lost that game 74-52, the K-State coach proclaimed Houston to be the best defensive team he had ever coached against.
Things won’t get any easier for the Wildcats when they host the Cougars on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum. On paper, Kelvin Sampson’s team is even better on defense this year. Houston leads the nation in effective field goal percentage (40.4%), two-point percentage (39%) and block rate (19.3%).
The Cougars also rank 10th nationally in 3-point defense (28.2%) and are 12th in turnovers forced (22.7%).
No team has scored more than 55 points against Houston during its current seven-game winning streak. And the Cougars won that game by 31.
Good luck to the Wildcats, who are averaging 66 points in conference games. They will be fortunate to flirt with 60 points on Saturday.
That won’t be enough for them to challenge Houston.
Crazy things do happen from time to time inside the Octagon Doom. But I don’t expect Houston to be on upset watch this weekend.
Houston 70, K-State 55
Last game prediction: K-State 69, Oklahoma State 64
Actual score: Oklahoma State 79, K-State 66
Season record: 8-6
Season record ATS: 4-10
Season record O/U: 7-7.