Kansas State Basketball Double Header: Open Games Thread

It’s time for real-live actual basketball. At least games that count. And just to make it extra special, both the women’s and the men’s basketball teams for the Kansas State Wildcats are in action tonight in Bramlage Coliseum.

WBB

The women are up first, as they open their 50th season as a program against the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin (who are also kicking off their 50th season as a program). The game is scheduled for a 5:30pm tip, and can be seen live (and for free) on K-StateHD.TV, as Brian Smoller (play-by-play) and Shalin Klein (color analyst) will have the call. The over-the-air broadcast can be heard on select stations of the K-State Sports Network (same broadcast team), and streaming audio and stats can be found at KStateSports.com.

K-State holds a 3-2 record over SFA, but is a perfect 2-0 at home. The last time these two programs met was nearly 30 years ago, with the Ladyjacks defeating the Wildcats in Dallas 82-59.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (0-0)
G: #2 Cymone Goodrich
G: #10 Kayla Goth
G: #12 Rachel Ranke
F: #1 Kaylee Page
F: #11 Peyton Williams

Stephen F. Austin (0-0)
G: #3 Chanell Hayes
G: #4 Kennedy Harris
G: #22 Taylor Jackson
F: #21 Stevi Parker
F: #32 Imani Johnson

MBB

The men are taking on American University tonight, with tipoff set for 8:10pm (or 30 minutes following the women’s game, whichever is later). The game will be available on FOX Sports Kansas City, K-StateHD.TV [free], and ESPN3 with Ben Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) on the call. The game can be heard over-the-air on the K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Matt Walters (analyst) on the call (you can also listen online for free at TuneIn.com or at KStateSports.com).

This will be the first-ever meeting with American on the hardwood and the first against a Patriot League opponent at home since 1995. Overall, the Wildcats are 4-2 all-time against the league, including wins over Boston University (2009), Holy Cross (1975), Lafayette (1992) and Loyola (1995). K-State is 23-2 in home openers in Bramlage, and will look to pick up their fourth straight since the loss to Northern Colorado to open the 2013-14 season.

The Eagles finished the 2016-17 season at 8-22 overall, and 5-13 in the Patriot League for a ninth place finish. They return five letter-winners, but are one of the youngest teams in the nation with a combined ten freshmen and sophomores, and are one of just four teams nationally with no seniors (K-State is not one of those, thanks to Mason Schoen).

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (0-0)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #1 Mawdo Sallah

American (0-0)
G: #0 Sa'eed Nelson
G: #5 Larry Motuzis
G: #10 Chiekh 'CB' Diallo
F: #22 Sam Iorio
F: #45 Matt Cimino

Go Cats!