K-State Wildcats vs. WVU Mountaineers: Basketball game time, odds & prediction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas State hosts West Virginia at 7:30 p.m.; Mountaineers favored by 6.5 on FS1.
- Mountaineers defend strongly, limit opponents to 64.3 points and low arc shooting.
- Wildcats struggle without starters; K-State 0-6 when under 81 points per game.
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will return to action at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a road game against West Virginia.
The Wildcats (10-10, 1-6 Big 12) are fresh off a loss in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry. The Mountaineers (13-7, 4-3 Big 12) are coming off a road loss against Arizona.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff:
K-State vs. West Virginia game details
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
TV: FS1
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Odds: West Virginia by 6.5 with an O/U of 146.5.
Probable starters
West Virginia (13-7, 4-3 Big 12)
- F (52) — Treysen Eaglestaff, 6-6, Sr., 10.6 ppg
- F (0) — Brenen Lorient, 6-9, Sr., 10.5
- C (55) — Harlan Obioha, 7-0, Sr., 6.2
- G (1) — Jasper Floyd, 6-3, Sr., 6.9
- G (3) — Honor Huff, 5-10, Sr., 16.3
Kansas State (10-10, 1-6 Big 12)
- C (22) — Dorin Buca, 7-2, Jr., 3.5
- F (15) — Taj Manning, 6-7, Jr., 3.6
- G (34) — Nate Johnson, 6-3, Sr., 11.3
- G (10) — David Castillo, 6-1, So., 11.6
- G (4) — PJ Haggerty, 6-4, Jr., 23.4
About West Virginia:
The Mountaineers are off to a winning start under first-year coach Ross Hodge, as he has led them to notable victories over Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Kansas. Honor Huff is the team’s leading scorer.
West Virginia uses a big frontcourt that features 7-footer Harlan Obioha in the paint. This team hangs its hat on defense, as it only allows opponents to shoot 45.7% from within the arc.
About K-State:
The Wildcats are coming off a deflating home loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. It will be interesting to see how they respond from that kind of setback.
K-State has been playing without several key starters in recent games, and that is not expected to change at West Virginia. Khamari McGriff was listed as questionable heading into the KU game. But Abdi Bashir, Elias Rapieque and Mobi Ikegwuruka were all out from the beginning.
Jerome Tang challenged Nate Johnson and David Castillo to “play better” after Saturday’s loss. It will be fascinating to see how they respond.
K-State game prediction:
This does not look like a good matchup for Kansas State.
West Virginia is undefeated at home this season, and the Mountaineers are one of the best defensive teams in the Big 12. They are allowing opponents to shoot 45.7% from within the arc and 34.4% from beyond the arc. They also know how to defend without fouling or giving up many offensive rebounds.
Teams are averaging just 64.3 points against the Mountaineers this season. Only Houston (61.6 points per game) has been harder to score against in the Big 12.
The Wildcats have struggled mightily against defensive-minded teams lately. They made 10 shots from 3-point range against Kansas and still only mustered 62 points against the Jayhawks.
K-State is 0-6 when it fails to score at least 81 points per game this season.
I don’t see that trend coming to an end against West Virginia, especially with Bashir and McGriff on the sideline.
Here’s guessing the Mountaineers will be too much for the Wildcats.
West Virginia 79, K-State 67
Last game prediction: Kansas 82, K-State 74 ✅ (actual score: Kansas 86, K-State 62)
Season record: 13-7.
Season record ATS: 9-11.
Season record O/U: 14-6.