Kansas State vs West Virginia: Open Game Thread

It’s Blackout Day in Manhattan, KS as the Kansas State Wildcats take on the #7/8 West Virginia Mountaineers in Bramlage Coliseum.

The two teams are both coming off of potential season-defining moments. K-State went on the road, still looking for a signature victory and a Big 12 road win, and took down the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Gallagher-Iba Arena, a feat that’s only been achieved twice now in the last 24 years. The Wildcats kept on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble, and retained a top-half Big 12 standing with the victory. And Bruce Weber’s detractors now have slightly less ammunition as he sits at 1-0 versus Brad Underwood. A win today could propel the Cats to a big finish to January, and would give the Cats the true signature win needed come Selection Sunday.

West Virginia lost at home to an Oklahoma team, in overtime, that has struggled this season. The Mountaineers have now dropped a full two games back of KU in the Big 12 standings, and a potential chance to knock off the 12-time defending Big 12 champs is fading fast. WVU needs to pick up a road win to keep pace with the Jayhawks and the Baylor Bears, both already holding victories over K-State.

History does not favor the Wildcats, as WVU has won each of the last five games, including the last two in Bramlage. However the Cats are generally holding serve at home this season, but dropped their only game at home, against a ranked foe, just last weekend.

Greg Woods again has your full game preview of tonight’s action, be sure and check it out for a full rundown.

The game, slated for an 5:05pm CT tip, will be broadcast on ESPN2, with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Mark Plansky (analyst) on the call, and streaming may be available to you (depending on your location and provider/package) at WatchESPN.com. Audio, as always, is available on the K-State Sports Network (Sirius 81/XM 81) and streaming online at K-StateSports.com.

The #22 Wildcat women (15-4, 5-2) are also in action today, facing Iowa State in Ames also at 5:00pm. The game will be broadcast online at Cyclones.TV, as Rich Fellingham (play-by-play) and Molly Parrott (analyst) call the action; and audio may be available on select parts of the the K-State Sports Network, but will be streaming, free, online at K-StateSports.com.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State
G: #3 Kamau Stokes
G: #5 Barry Brown
G: #25 Wesley Iwundu
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #4 D.J. Johnson

7/8 West Virginia
G: #2 Jevon Carter
G: #4 Daxter Miles, Jr.
F: #11 Nathan Adrian
F: #20 Brandon Watkins
F: #23 Esa Ahmad

Go Cats!!