Kansas State Basketball Double Header Part Deux : Open Games Thread

We’re going back to high school again tonight with a women’s and men’s basketball double header on a Friday night (though the Kansas State Wildcats will be each facing different opponents). It’s our second double-header in a week, matching last Friday’s season-opening action in Bramlage Coliseum.

WBB

As with last Friday, and is common for double-headers, the women play first, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30pm against the Florida A&M Rattlers. We won’t get into too many particulars here, because Jon has you covered for the How To Watch for both games tonight, but the game can be seen live (and for free) on K-StateHD.TV, as Brian Smoller (play-by-play) and Kristin Waller (color analyst) will have the call.

This is the first-ever meeting between K-State and Florida A&M, but the Cats are 3-1 all time against schools from the MEAC. This will be the second Big 12 road game for Florida A&M, as the Rattlers were down in Lubbock on Wednesday where they lost to Tech 63-82. Last time out for the Cats, head coach Jeff Mittie got production from all over the court, led by freshman guard Rachel Ranke’s 20 points. She was joined in double figures by junior guard Kayla Goth and senior forwards Kaylee Page and Shaelyn Martin. Martin was just shy of a triple-double with 12 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in the Cats 81-60 win over Nebraska-Omaha last Monday.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (2-0)
G: #12 Rachel Ranke
G: #10 Kayla Goth
F: #50 Shaelyn Martin
F: #1 Kaylee Page
F: #11 Peyton Williams

Florida A&M (0-1)
G: #2 Dawn King
G: #11 Florence Ouattara
G: #12 Ama Arkorful
F: #14 Mikayla Thomas
C: #40 Shalaunda Burney-Robinson

MBB

The men will be facing a bit stiffer challenge tonight than they’ve seen through five games (three exhibitions and two “real” games) this season. The UC Irvine Anteaters won the Big West last season and are preseason favorites to win it all again this year. Tonight’s matchup, which is set for an 8pm tip (or 30 minutes following the women’s game, whichever is later), is the opening game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational for the Cats and the Anteaters. As part of the tournament, the Cats will also host Northern Arizona on Monday, before heading west to Las Vegas to take on Arizona State and then either George Washington or No. 15/17 Xavier. This will be the first meeting between the schools on the hardwood, but K-State is 15-4 all time against the Big West, and 9-2 at home.

Last time out the Cats were led by Barry Brown’s 14 points, while Dean Wade (11 points/8 rebounds) and Mawdo Sallah (11 points/9 rebounds) each nearly recorded a double-double. First game surprise star Makol Mawien had an off night, and it appears as though coach Bruce Weber will start who ever had the hot hand at the “5” in the previous game. This should be a much better test for the Cats, and may produce a slightly closer ballgame than the last two.

Interestingly, the Cats and the Anteaters are very similar teams in that both have one or fewer seniors, and feature a large group of freshman (true and redshirt) with 9 for the Cats, and 11 for UC Irvine. Lets hope the Cats slight experience edge helps out.

Again, check Jon’s post (linked above) for the full details, but the game is scheduled for an 8:10 pm tip, and can be seen on FOX Sports Kansas City, K-StateHD.TV [free], and ESPN3 with Ben Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) on the call. And since Stan is still here that means that over on the K-State Radio Network you’ll get Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Matt Walters (analyst) on the call.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (2-0)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes
G: #5 Barry Brown Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #1 Mawdo Sallah

UC Irvine (2-1)
G: #2 Max Hazzard
G: #14 Evan Leonard
F: #11 John Edgar Jr.
F: #42 Tommy Rutherford
F: #5 Jonathan Galloway

Go Cats!