Kansas State basketball vs West Virginia: Score prediction, scouting report

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MANHATTAN — Kansas State basketball is back home after two straight road games when No. 23-ranked West Virginia visits Bramlage Coliseum at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats (7-11, 1-6 Big 12) have dropped six straight games since beating Cincinnati in their Big 12 opener on Dec. 30. On Wednesday they blew a 12-point second-half lead in a 70-62 loss at Baylor.

West Virginia (13-5, 4-3) lost at home to Arizona State on Tuesday, 65-57, but before that they upset then-No. 2 Iowa State, 64-57.

K-State has enjoyed recent success against the Cavaliers, winning the last three matchups, including a sweep of last year’s two games. They have not won on the road — a stretch of 15 games — since winning at West Virginia, 81-67, last Jan. 9.

West Virginia has exceeded expectations under first-year coach Darian DeVries after being picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll.

Here are three things to know, plus a prediction, for Saturday’s game.

Related: Kansas State basketball vs Baylor recap: Wildcats can’t hang on to second-half lead

Related: ‘It’s my job to man up and persevere’: How Kansas State basketball’s Hawkins is pushing forward

Kansas State super-senior forward David N’Guessan (1) leads the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding heading into Saturday’s home game against West Virginia.

Slow starts and sluggish offense have plagued Wildcats in Big 12

Kansas State’s poor start in the Big 12 can be traced to slow starts on the court as the Wildcats have averaged just 27.9 first-half points on 38.7% shooting in their seven conference games. Those numbers have improved to 36.1 points on 47% shooting in the second half.

The Wildcats have struggled on offense in general during league play, reaching 70 points just twice, in the 70-67 victory over Cincinnati and an 84-74 loss at Kansas. In the other five conference games they have scored 66 points once, 62 twice and 57 twice.

A closer look at the West Virginia Cavaliers

Darian DeVries took the West Virginia coaching job this season after a successful…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-state-basketball-vs-west-235834942.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2025-01-24 23:58:00

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