Big 12 Basketball: 2018-19 key storylines for Kansas State at Oklahoma

Players to watch

Christian James: The 6-foot-4 senior is the Sooners top offensive threat. He has improved each season of his career though he has struggled during the early portion of Big 12 play.

James has reached double-figures in each of his four Big 12 games and 15 of 16 overall. But he is averaging just 13.5 a game as he is shooting just 34 percent from the floor and 25 percent from deep.

James is making 2.3 trifectas and hauling down a team-high 7.7 boards a game overall. He also has six double-doubles with two coming during conference play.

Brady Manek: The 6-foot-9 sophomore stretch forward has scored in double-figures has scored at least 10 in each of his conference games. He is also second on the team with 7.4 rebounds while grabbing 10 or more caroms on five occasions, which includes posting four double-doubles. Manek has made a three-pointer in seven games and is averaging 1.6 trifectas a night.

Kristian Doolittle: Doolittle is a two-way forward who was excellent against Iowa St. He has been more consistent during conference play, averaging 15.3 points along with 8.6 rebounds while shooting 53.7 percent from the floor. An excellent defensive rebounder, Doolittle also has attempted 5.6 shots from the free throw line a game.

Barry Brown: The 6-3 combo guard is the offensive and defensive catalyst for the Wildcats. He is the team’s top offensive threat and will dig in defensively as well. Brown can create his own shot and likes to get to the bucket. While he knocks down 1.1 treys a game, he isn’t an effective shooter from long-distance as he is connecting on those shots at just a 28.3 percent clip.

Brown has stepped up his production so far in conference, averaging 19 points and 2.3 steals a game. He has scored in double-digits in three of the four league games, which includes topping 20 points in each of the last two.

Dean Wade: The 6-foot-8, 225-pounder senior is a brute in the post and finishes well around the rim. The team’s leading rebounder at 7.8 a game, Wade is very active on the offensive boards (2.4). He wasn’t much of a factor offensively against Iowa State finishing with two points on 1-for-5 shooting, however, he collected nine rebounds (three offensive).

Wade has scored in double-digits in eight of his 10 appearances and shoots at 50.5 percent from the floor. The defensive oriented forward is also a good passer with

Kamau Stokes: The 5-foot-10 senior point guard is the table-setter for the Wildcats. Stokes is a solid distributor but has been very good at protecting the ball in conference play as he has doled out 12 dimes and turned the ball over just three times.

He also has shown the ability to score, reaching double-figures in 10 of his last 12 appearances, but he is not a great shooter. Stokes leads KSU with 1.9 triples while shooting at a 35.4 percent clip.

Prediction: OU 65, KSU 60. Homecourt advantage matters in this matchup.