(18) Kansas State (17-5) at Texas Tech (12-10)
FACTS & STATS: Site: United Spirit Arena (15,098) -- Lubbock, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: Kansas State 13-1, Texas Tech 10-1. Away Record: Kansas State 2-1, Texas Tech 1-8. Neutral Record: Kansas State 2-3, Texas Tech 1-1. Conference Record: Kansas State 7-1, Texas Tech 3-5. Series Record: Series is tied, 11-11.
GAME NOTES: Pat Knight hopes to score his first win as Texas Tech's head coach as his Red Raiders play host to the 18th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats tonight in Big 12 Conference action. By virtue of a Texas victory over Kansas on Monday, K-State owns the best record in the Big 12 at 7-1. The team is 17-5 overall, and the Wildcats have posted back-to-back victories since suffering their only conference loss to Missouri by three points on the road. On Saturday, Kansas State cruised to an 82-61 decision over Oklahoma State. As for Texas Tech, it is two games above .500 overall (12-10), but two games below .500 in league play (3-5). Pat Knight took over the reigns from his legendary father, Bob Knight, who stepped down before last Wednesday's game against Baylor. The Red Raiders are 0-2 under Pat Knight, including a 73-62 setback on Saturday against Nebraska on the road. The all-time series between Texas Tech and Kansas State is deadlocked at 11-11, but the Wildcats did crush the Red Raiders by a 66-45 final in the most recent meeting last season.
College basketball has its best freshman class in history, and Michael Beasley appears to be the best of the best. The 6-10 forward has suddenly made Kansas State relevant in regard to Big 12 contention, as he is scoring 25.2 ppg on 56.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 43.6 percent from three-point range. Far from just a scorer, Beasley is also ripping down 12.3 rpg to go along with 38 blocked shots. He has already set a school record with 19 double- doubles, impressive to say the least. Bill Walker is contributing 15.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg for the Wildcats, and Jacob Pullen adds 10.0 ppg. K-State is racking up 80.2 ppg while limiting the opposition to 66.3 ppg. Beasley posted 23 points and 13 rebounds in the romp over Oklahoma State on Saturday. Pullen tallied 17 points and Walker added 14 points for the Wildcats, who overcame 38.7 percent shooting from the floor by grabbing as many offensive rebounds (29) as Oklahoma State had total rebounds.
Texas Tech connected on only 39 percent of its field goal attempts against Nebraska on Saturday, including a 4-of-18 showing from three-point range. The Red Raiders were outrebounded, outscored from the foul line and allowed the Cornhuskers to shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor, so there are obviously a number of factors that contributed to the loss. Martin Zeno led the way in defeat with 16 points, and Alan Voskuil pitched in 14 points. John Roberson added 12 points for the Red Raiders, and Mike Singletary contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. Zeno is averaging 16.0 ppg this season, and Roberson adds 12.5 ppg. Tech is scoring 69.2 ppg overall while limiting the opposition to 64.7 ppg, but that positive differential is not reflected in the disappointing conference record.
Will Pat Knight get his first victory tonight? No, not with Michael Beasley on the floor for Kansas State. Expect the Wildcats to remain in first place in the Big 12 standings with yet another victory.
FACTS & STATS: Site: United Spirit Arena (15,098) -- Lubbock, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: Kansas State 13-1, Texas Tech 10-1. Away Record: Kansas State 2-1, Texas Tech 1-8. Neutral Record: Kansas State 2-3, Texas Tech 1-1. Conference Record: Kansas State 7-1, Texas Tech 3-5. Series Record: Series is tied, 11-11.
GAME NOTES: Pat Knight hopes to score his first win as Texas Tech's head coach as his Red Raiders play host to the 18th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats tonight in Big 12 Conference action. By virtue of a Texas victory over Kansas on Monday, K-State owns the best record in the Big 12 at 7-1. The team is 17-5 overall, and the Wildcats have posted back-to-back victories since suffering their only conference loss to Missouri by three points on the road. On Saturday, Kansas State cruised to an 82-61 decision over Oklahoma State. As for Texas Tech, it is two games above .500 overall (12-10), but two games below .500 in league play (3-5). Pat Knight took over the reigns from his legendary father, Bob Knight, who stepped down before last Wednesday's game against Baylor. The Red Raiders are 0-2 under Pat Knight, including a 73-62 setback on Saturday against Nebraska on the road. The all-time series between Texas Tech and Kansas State is deadlocked at 11-11, but the Wildcats did crush the Red Raiders by a 66-45 final in the most recent meeting last season.
College basketball has its best freshman class in history, and Michael Beasley appears to be the best of the best. The 6-10 forward has suddenly made Kansas State relevant in regard to Big 12 contention, as he is scoring 25.2 ppg on 56.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 43.6 percent from three-point range. Far from just a scorer, Beasley is also ripping down 12.3 rpg to go along with 38 blocked shots. He has already set a school record with 19 double- doubles, impressive to say the least. Bill Walker is contributing 15.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg for the Wildcats, and Jacob Pullen adds 10.0 ppg. K-State is racking up 80.2 ppg while limiting the opposition to 66.3 ppg. Beasley posted 23 points and 13 rebounds in the romp over Oklahoma State on Saturday. Pullen tallied 17 points and Walker added 14 points for the Wildcats, who overcame 38.7 percent shooting from the floor by grabbing as many offensive rebounds (29) as Oklahoma State had total rebounds.
Texas Tech connected on only 39 percent of its field goal attempts against Nebraska on Saturday, including a 4-of-18 showing from three-point range. The Red Raiders were outrebounded, outscored from the foul line and allowed the Cornhuskers to shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor, so there are obviously a number of factors that contributed to the loss. Martin Zeno led the way in defeat with 16 points, and Alan Voskuil pitched in 14 points. John Roberson added 12 points for the Red Raiders, and Mike Singletary contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. Zeno is averaging 16.0 ppg this season, and Roberson adds 12.5 ppg. Tech is scoring 69.2 ppg overall while limiting the opposition to 64.7 ppg, but that positive differential is not reflected in the disappointing conference record.
Will Pat Knight get his first victory tonight? No, not with Michael Beasley on the floor for Kansas State. Expect the Wildcats to remain in first place in the Big 12 standings with yet another victory.
