K-State Wildcats vs. Florida Gators: Big 12/SEC Challenge time, TV, odds, prediction

THE DETAILS

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: K-State by 5

Over/Under: 140

STARTING LINEUPS

About Florida (12-8, 5-3 SEC):

The Gators enter the Big 12/SEC Challenge on a winning streak. They have won their past two games, against Mississippi State and South Carolina, and five of their past six. What that means is difficult to analyze. The Gators have lost to just about all of the good teams on their schedule, including two defeats against Big 12 teams West Virginia and Oklahoma. Do recent wins in the SEC signal that they are ready to beat a team like K-State? Or are they simply taking advantage of an easy stretch in their schedule? Saturday’s game may say a lot about Florida.

About Kansas State (17-3, 6-2 Big 12):

The Wildcats are coming off a narrow loss at Iowa State. But Jerome Tang’s team is still on a hot streak, having won 11 of its last 13 games. David N’Guessan is expected to play a more significant role in this game than he has recently as he continues to recover from injury. The Wildcats could use him in their frontcourt, as they have struggled to defend opposing big men in recent weeks. This is a familiar opponent for Keyontae Johnson. The K-State forward started off his college career at Florida before transferring to Manhattan this season. The Gators have changed coaches and overturned their roster since he left, so he only knows a few of the remaining players.

Prediction

This will game will create interesting matchups for both teams.

Florida is one of the best defensive teams in the entire country but the Gators are average at best on offense. K-State is excellent on offense and shaky at times on defense.

Florida has only allowed five teams to score 70 points against it all season. K-State not long ago dropped 116 points on Texas.

Can the Wildcats speed up the pace of Saturday’s game and win by putting up points? Or will the Gators slow the game down and win a rock fight?

Anything is possible given the complete lack of familiarity between these teams and coaching staffs.

But I like K-State in this spot for a few reasons.

1. Florida has a small lineup outside of 6-foot-11 Colin Castleton. As long as he doesn’t go off for 30 points, the Wildcats should be able to rebound and defend against the Gators’ guards.

2. Home court will be a factor. Many SEC basketball games are sparsely attended. Very few feature student sections like the loud one you will find inside Bramlage Coliseum. Playing this game in Manhattan will be worth a handful of points to K-State.

3. The Gators don’t force many turnovers. They are excellent on defense, allowing just 31.5% shooting from three and 43.6% from two, but they only force turnovers on 18.7% of possessions. That should be good news for a K-State team that gives the ball away too often on offense.

Give me the Wildcats to win and to cover.

K-State 67, Florida 59

Last game prediction: Iowa State 69, K-State 60.

Season record: 14-5.

Season record against the spread: 11-8.