:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68464583/937484550.0.jpg)
Well, a win is a win, right? It’s something, at least, for a young Kansas State squad that desperately needed something good to happen after starting the season 0-2. Sure, UMKC isn’t a power team by any means, and the Wildcats struggled through chunks, but they still won and that’s all that really matters.
And now they move on to their next winnable game. UNLV comes into tonight’s contest at 0-4 on the season, including getting blown-out at home by Montana State to open the season. This same UNLV squad* lost to K-State last year in Las Vegas, and even at that point last year it was clear K-State was going to have issues. And UNLV appears to have taken a step back this season, even though they have played a tough schedule to open up and have added former Iowa State guard Caleb Grill. *To be fair, it’s not really the same UNLV squad, as the Runnin’ Rebels returned about as many as K-State did in 2020.
This is a game that, at least on paper, K-State should win. But nothing is given in 2020, and Bruce Weber will need another strong game from Nijel Pack and DaJuan Gordon, and a continued move towards the defense that K-State teams are known for. But it won’t be easy, and UNLV is just as ready to end their losing streak as K-State was just a few days ago.
Lets just hope it’s a good night for the good guys.
We’ve got another prime-time tip-off from Bramlage today, with a 7:01pm CT start that can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Ben Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) on the call. This will be the first game back with fans for the men’s basketball team, so it should feel a bit more like home court environment than the first three games.
If you haven’t subscribed to ESPN+ (and you can do so right here), you can listen to Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Matt Walters (analyst) call the game on much of the K-State Sports Radio Network, and also available online via the TuneIn App and at K-StateSports.com, but no satellite radio.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State Wildcats (1-2)
G: #24 Nijel Pack
G: #00 Mike McGuirl
G: #3 DaJuan Gordon
F: #11 Antonio Gordon
F: #1 Kaosi Ezeagu
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (0-4)
G: #3 Caleb Grill
G: #5 David Jenkins Jr.
G: #13 Bryce Hamilton
G: #31 Marvin Coleman
F: #34 Cheikh Mbacke Diong
Go Cats!
Bring on the Cats has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Bring on the Cats and SB Nation may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our guiding principles.