Game Info

Date: Saturday, February 10th
Time: 7:00 pm
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (20-4, 8-3)
Bad Guys: Kansas State Wildcats (17-7, 6-5)
Location: Bramlage Coliseum | Manhattan, Kansas
TV/Stream: ESPNU
Radio/Stream: 97.3 FM/104.3 FM/950 AM

Lineups

* Assists.

Starting 5

1. KenPom. KenPom has Kansas State as being the 48th best team in the nation, 34th in AdjO and 87th in AdjD. Texas Tech moved up slightly, up to 8th overall, 57th in AdjO and 3rd in AdjD.

2. Stats. Via RealGM, Kansas State is a slightly better eFG% shooting team, 54% to 53%, while Texas Tech holds a decent advantage in offensive rebounding percentage, 32% to 26% and free throw rate, 29% to 25%. Both teams turn the ball over at about the same rate, 14% for Kansas State and 15% for Texas Tech. I also wanted to point out that Kansas State is 11-4 at home and Texas Tech has not won in Manhattan since January 8, 2007, where Jarrius Jackson scored 23 points and Martin Zeno had 12, beating the fighting Wildcats 62-52.

3. Scouting. The thing that bothers me a bit is that Kansas State is so big, they’ve got so many big players that can cause issues for teams like Texas Tech that isn’t exactly big. Mawien, Wade, Love, and Stockard are all really big bodies and that’s something that bothers me. Luckily, Wade seems to be the guy that’s really capable of scoring, so maybe that’s not as big of a concern as I’d like to make it out to be. Barry Brown was really good the last time these two teams met, he got to the line a ton, shooting 13 free throws in Lubbock. I’d really watch out for Brown getting to the line and maybe this is where you have a rotation of guys that try to slow down Brown.

4. Reading Material.

• A-J Media’s Carlos Silva, Jr. – No. 7 Red Raiders prepared for difficult road test against Wildcats:
  

  Texas Tech’s senior guard, who has averaged 25.4 points, 4.2 assists and three rebounds in his previous five games, is looking to continue his consistent play when the No. 7 Red Raiders play Kansas State in a 7 p.m. Saturday road game in the Big 12 Conference.

  Evans will need to do that against a player who is, arguably, playing at as high a level before cooling off over the last five contests in the Wildcats’ Barry Brown Jr.

  “Confidence is a big thing in our sport. Guys can get hot,” said Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, who has guided his squad to a 20-4 overall mark and 8-3 record in Big 12 play this season. “I would say Brown, for example, I think is one of the best guards in the Big 12 that probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Keenan, himself, told me the first time we played K-State: that’s one of the best players in the Big 12. And I share and echo Keenan’s feelings of Brown in that regard.”

• Wichita Eagle’s Kellis Robinett – Bruce Weber closing in on former K-State coaches Jack Hartman, Tex Winter in one stat:
  

  With 21 victories over ranked opponents, Weber is one win shy of matching former coach Jack Hartman for the most in school history.

  It would be a nice accomplishment for Weber, who is also one win away from tying Tex Winter for most top 10 victories in K-State history, but, for now his focus is on the micro challenge of beating the Big 12’s hottest team.

  “I hope (K-State players) remember we got our butts kicked (74-58 last month at Texas Tech),” Weber said. “They were so physical, and we just weren’t ready for it, especially at the start of the game. Now, hopefully we have a good focus. I would love to get off to a good start.”

• CJ Online’s Tim Bisel – With No. 7 Texas Tech visiting Bramlage, K-State hopes to reverse trend vs. Big 12′s elite:
  

  “The second half I thought we attacked them, got the ball to the paint, got the ball to Dean and played off of Dean,” Weber said. “Those are all going to be important, and then you have to make some shots against them.

  “I think they’re the leading charge team in the country, or one of the best, so they protect that paint. When you drive, you’ve got to kick it out, and if you make shots it gives you a chance.”

• The Ringer’s Mark Titus – The Race for the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 Seeds Is a Beautifully Unpredictable Mess:
  

  If I were a Texas Tech fan, however, I would go nuts for a no. 1 seed. The Red Raiders are exactly the kind of team that benefits the most from securing a top seed, since it represents a massive accomplishment for an up-and-coming program to hang its hat on. Shoot, I still think Stanford has a great basketball program just because I remember the Cardinal being kings of the no. 1 seed during the early 2000s. The best NCAA tournament seed the Red Raiders have received was a no. 3 in 1996, which also happened to be the only time the program ever earned a top-five seed. No matter how the Red Raiders fare in this year’s NCAA tournament, getting a no. 1 seed would boost their national reputation and provide a huge lift for recruiting. (Assuming Tech doesn’t become the first no. 1 seed to lose to a no. 16 seed in the first round, of course.)

5. Official Site. The official site has your official preview and head coach Chris Beard discusses the respect he has for Kansas State:

“We have a lot of respect for Kansas State,” Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. “They’re not only one of the hottest teams in our conference right now but one of the hottest teams in our country. The way they bounce back from a West Virginia loss, to beat Texas on the road, speaks for itself. Coach Weber’s won wherever he’s ever been, and Kansas State is no different. We also have respect for their players. I think they have basically an all-conference back court. Wade’s really developed into one of the best players in the Big 12. Everybody on their roster is playing great and at a high level. They’ve overcome an adverse situation with Stokes’ injury and now he’s back. In our minds, we’re going to have play one of our best games of the year to have a chance to be competitive and win the game Saturday.”