The Kansas State Wildcats are a talented bunch. They’ve already taken down some of the best teams in the nation. To put themselves under the spotlight once more, the Wildcats will need to avenge an earlier loss to the TCU Horned Frogs in their Big 12 Tournament opener. Read on as we break down this do-or-die game.
Keen for more electrifying games in the tournament? Check out our complete preview for West Virginia vs. Baylor.
[sc:MarchMadness ]TCU Horned Frogs vs. Kansas State Wildcats Preview
Where: Sprint Center, Kansas City
When: Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 PM ET
Line: TCU Horned Frogs vs. Kansas State Wildcats – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the TCU Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs may have lost four of their last seven, but they’ve been pretty adept at covering the spread going 5-2 ATS over that span. The Horned Frogs should be pretty confident heading into this game. They own a 69-55 win over Kansas State on February 18.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]The Horned Frogs’ leading scorers Kyan Anderson and Trey Zeigler combined for just 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting in the win over Kansas State. Chris Washburn (averaging 6.7 points this season) picked up the scoring slack with 17 big points. Considering Kansas State’s paltry defense, the Wildcats allow opponents to shoot 44 percent from the field, expect Washburn to have another big game.
Washburn is more devastating on the other side of the court, though. He leads the team with 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game to rob opponents of precious scoring opportunities. Washburn had two blocks and a steal against Kansas State. As a whole, the Horned Frogs limited Kansas State to a bad night on the floor, shooting just 34.5 percent.
The total has gone over in TCU’s last four games.
Betting on the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State was up for an explosive end to the regular season. They won back-to-back games against ranked teams Kansas and Iowa State, before putting up a stinker against Texas. Still, the Wildcats have just the right amount of talent to get them going in the Big 12 Tournament.
The Wildcats’ leading scorer Marcus Foster showed Kansas State’s struggle with his play. He averaged just nine points per game over the last three games of the season. Foster also struggled mightily against TCU, going 1-for-6 from the field to score five points.
Kansas State can still put up the points, especially with Nino Williams and Thomas Gipson leading the way. Williams had a total of 21 points across the two wins against Kansas and Iowa State, but missed the Texas game due to personal reasons. Gipson averaged 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in his last three games. The two combined for 26 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to TCU in the regular season.
Expect the two to be back in their Big 12 Tournament opener, while Foster should be back to his high-scoring ways after putting up 15 in the regular season finale. Having the three in top condition should help the Wildcats exploit TCU’s defense which allowed opponents to shoot 50 percent from the field in their last three, including 57 percent in their last one against Iowa State.
The Wildcats also have one of the tightest defenses in the nation capable of keeping TCU in check. Kansas State has held opponents to average 63.7 points per game, 92nd in the nation.
Kansas State has won five of its last seven against TCU.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas State takes a tight win to advance in the tournament.
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