Kansas State vs Kansas: Big 12 Tournament Open Game Thread

The Kansas State Wildcats all but secured its NCAA Tournament hopes with an overtime 66-64 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. But it was a bit of a pyrrhic victory, as it appears as though Wildcat star Dean Wade sustained an injury and will miss at least tonight’s game “as a precaution”.

I guess we’re just not allowed to have nice things. Welcome to Weberville,

The Kansas Jayhawks, who were finally able to dispatch the Oklahoma State Cowboys in their third meeting of the year, are also down a major presence as Udoka Azubuike is sitting out the entire tournament with an MCL sprain. It should have made things a bit easier for the Wildcats, but without Wade, any advantage is basically lost.

Either way, this should be an interesting game. The first meeting ended with a missed last-second shot by K-State, the second was a bludgeoning by KU, hopefully the third time is the charm for the Wildcats.

This evening’s game, scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CST tip-off, will be on ESPN/ESPN3, and you will be treated again to Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) on the call. Be sure and check out Jon Morse’s full How To Watch post for more details.

The game can be heard over-the-air on the K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) on the call (you can also listen online for free at TuneIn.com or at KStateSports.com). Satellite radio is available on Sirius 145, XM 199, and “Internet” 953.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (22-10, 10-8 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #3 Kamau Stokes
G: #5 Barry Brown Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #14 Makol Mawien

Kansas (25-7, 13-5 Big 12)
G: #2 Lagerald Vick
G: #4 Devonte’ Graham
G: #10 Svi Mykhailiuk
G: #14 Malik Newman
F: #44 Mitch Lightfoot