K-State Wildcats at Texas Tech: Which basketball team will stay undefeated in Big 12?

The Kansas State men’s basketball team will try to remain undefeated in Big 12 play when it travels to Texas Tech with first place on the line in the conference standings.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: United Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, Texas)

Stream: ESPN2

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Texas Tech by 6.5

Over/Under: 140.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Texas Tech (13-2, 2-0):

The Red Raiders are one of the surprise teams in the Big 12 under new coach Grant McCasland. They have won eight straight games and are off to a 2-0 start in conference play behind the strong play of Pop Isaacs and Joe Toussaint. McCasland was well known for a slow style of play when he was previously at North Texas but he has the Red Raiders playing up tempo now and averaging 78.8 points per game. Texas Tech is good in all areas on offense as it is shooting 36.8% from 3-point range, 53.9% from two-point range and 77.6% at the free-throw line.

About Kansas State (12-3, 2-0):

The Wildcats are coming off an 81-67 victory at West Virginia that moved them into a first-place tie in the Big 12 standings. K-State is playing quality basketball at the moment thanks to solid contributions from all of its starters. David N’Guessan and Will McNair have both been giving Jerome Tang quality minutes in recent games. All three of Cam Carter, Tylor Perry and Arthur Kaluma are capable of leading the team in scoring from game to game.

K-State at Texas Tech prediction

If the Wildcats can hand the Red Raiders their first home loss of the season than it will be time to start taking them seriously in the Big 12 championship picture.

That won’t be easy, though.

United Supermarkets Arena has been a nightmare factory for K-State in recent years, as Texas Tech has won nine straight home games in the series.

The Red Raiders are also playing excellent basketball at the moment. Not only have they won eight straight games, they have mostly blown teams out for the past month. They have won six consecutive games by double digits.

K-State will need to score, or play outstanding defense, to keep up in this game. Texas Tech is averaging nearly 80 points per game and just dropped 90 on Oklahoma State in its last outing.

It will be interesting to see how the Wildcats handle a potential shootout. They have averaged 79 points in Big 12 play, but this will be a step up in competition. Will Cam Carter, Tylor Perry and Arthur Kaluma make enough open shots to lift the Wildcats to victory? Or will they be playing catch up most of the day?

Texas Tech is no slouch on defense, allowing 31.4% from 3-point range and 47.7% from two-point range. So K-State will need to work to find open looks.

Tang and McCasland know each other well going back to the time they spent together as Baylor assistants. This could also be an interesting chess match between coaches.

Still, Texas Tech seems to have an advantage here. It is the more balanced team and it will be playing at home.

Texas Tech 80, K-State 73

Last game prediction: K-State 74, West Virginia 65. (Actual result: K-State 81, WVU 67)

Season Record: 13-2

Season Record ATS: 8-7

Season Record O/U: 12-3