Kansas State at Tennessee: Open Game Thread

It’s time for the Big 12/SEC Challenge. This year the Kansas State Wildcats are matched-up with the Tennessee Volunteers , with the pair playing in Knoxville, TN today. Today’s game will conclude the non-conference season for the Wildcats and K-State enters the contest with an 11-1 record, including a 3-1 mark away from home., and a victory would give the team 12 wins in non-conference play for the first time under head coach Bruce Weber (11 in 2012-13, 2015-16).

The Volunteers (11-9, 4-4 SEC) are coming off a massive upset victory over the NBA’s Kentucky Wildcats last Tuesday at home. The Volunteers are 7-3 at home this season, including 5-1 in non-conference play, and will be looking to remain perfect against “Wildcats” this season. Tennessee holds a 1-0 all-time record against K-State, with the teams lone meeting in the 2014 version of the SEC challenge, with the teams also facing-off in Knoxville that season. The Wildcats will face a familiar face on the opposing bench, as former Texas HC Rick Barnes is entering his second season as the coach of the Vols.

The Wildcats are coming off a loss to Iowa State in Ames last Tuesday. The Cats built themselves a huge early hole and a late comeback was not enough for the Cats to escape with a victory. While K-State has struggled on the road in conference play this year, the Cats won both true road non-conference games, at Saint Louis and Colorado State. The Cats were hoping the extra day off would help heal some injuries, as Kamau Stokes was still having lingering effects from his rolled ankle at the end of the game in Stillwater over a week ago, and Dean Wade missed most of the second-half last week with a foot injury.

The game, slated for an 1:00pm CT tip, will be broadcast on ESPN2, with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Kara Lawson (analyst) on the call (presumably actually in Knoxville today), 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 145/XM 190 (Tennessee broadcast)) and streaming 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

Tennessee
G: #0 Jordan Bone
G: #3 Robert Hubbs III
G: #23 Jordan Bowden
F: #2 Grant Williams
F: #11 Kyle Alexander

Go Cats!!