Preview: Kansas State

Photo Attribution: USATSI

Vitals

Tip: 9:00 PM CDT
Location: Kansas City, MO
TV: ESPNU
Online Stream: here
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Online radio: here
Announcers: Brent Musburger and Fran Fraschilla
Line: Cats -1

Records

Cowboys – 24-7 (13-5)
Cats 26-6 (14-4)

Best win

Cowboys – Kansas (KenPom: #8)
Cats -Florida (KenPom: #1)

Worst loss

Cowboys – Virginia Tech (KenPom: #164)
Cats – Iowa State (KenPom: #35)

KenPom rank

Cowboys – #16
Cats – #31

Data nerds

[table id=105 /]

Adj. efficiency – Points per 100 possessions (adjusted for quality of opponent and site of game).
Adj. tempo – Possessions per game (adjusted for schedule and pace of other team).
Effective FG % – Takes into account extra value of 3s.

Three things to watch

1. Share! – In OSU’s loss to Kansas State in Manhattan they had a season-low six assists. In OSU’s win last weekend in GIA, they more than doubled that with 13. Hero ball worked last night against Baylor (OSU only had eight assists) but it won’t work two nights in a row.

2. Forte + Cobbins – It became pretty clear last night that when Forte and Cobbins are doing their thing, this team is one of the five or 10 best in the nation. I still don’t know what happened in the second half but I know that if #20 and #13 stay in their lanes and do #20 and #13 things, Kansas State is going to have its hands full. This is where I tell you that Forte hasn’t hit a three against Kansas State this year (which also makes them the only Big 12 team Forte hasn’t hit a three against).

3. Smart shines – He had the quietest 21-6-6 in Oklahoma State history last weekend against K-State and OSU needs it again tonight. K-State’s bigs are too good and McGruder can too easily cancel out whatever Markel does. Cowboys need (and I think will get) an all-time classic performance from this year’s Big 12 player of the year.

Last time

OSU made the finals of the Big 12 Tournament was 2005. I was in my second year of college.

Prediction

Porter: Good guys (in a classic) – 79-78
KenPom: Oklahoma State – 66-64