Texas Tech vs. Kansas State: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
After a bad week, Texas Tech looks to get back in the win column. But could they be the underdog against a now healthy Kansas State team?
TV schedule: Tuesday, January 22, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN2
Arena: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas
When the Kansas Jayhawks suffered a double-loss over a week ago in both the game to Iowa State and starter Udoka Azubuike for the season to injury, the Big 12 Basketball regular season title looked to be as wide open than ever.
Texas Tech was viewed as the favorite to overthrow Kansas, starting out 4-0 to start conference play. But like all other contenders in the past, they too suffered setbacks, going 0-2 this past week.
After losing to Iowa State earlier in the week at home, the Red Raiders 15-3 (4-2) then fell on the road at Baylor, 73-62. Jarrett Culver did tie a game-high with 19 points but between the 17 turnovers and the 11 three-pointers given up to the Bears, Texas Tech didn’t look like themselves. A loss to a good conference foe is nothing to be ashamed of but if the goal is a Big 12 title, last week didn’t help.
Now they face a team who’s playing some of their best ball of the season in Kansas State 14-4 (4-2). After losing their first two Big 12 games, the Wildcats have since won four straight, with three of them having leading scorer and Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Dean Wade back. He had 16 points and six assists in this weekend’s 65-55 win over TCU, with Xavier Sneed leading all scorers with 18 points. Now fully healthy, Kansas State is starting to look like the preseason top-15 team many expected them to be.
This game will be a matchup of mirrored strategies, with both Kansas State and Texas Tech each playing slower paced games with a huge emphasis on defense. Both teams are in the top four nationally in averaged points given up, each allowing less than 60 ppg.
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While the Red Raiders are a slightly better offensive unit, they turn the ball over a decent amount more than the Wildcats. Add to it that the game will be at Kansas State, the low number of expected possessions will favor the home team in a slugfest.