Three Things to Know Before Oklahoma State’s Road Game at Kansas State

It’s been three weeks since the Cowboys earned their first Big 12 win against the Wildcats. Now they have a chance to complete the regular season sweep in the Little Apple.

Let’s take a look at how K-State had fared since the two teams met in Stillwater and pinpoint three things to know before Wednesday night.

1. Fresh Off an Upset

The Wildcats’ loss to OSU was just the second game of a losing streak that would extend to six and see them go nearly a month without a win. But that all changed Saturday when the Wildcats took down No. 23 West Virginia in Bramlage Coliseum. That crowd should be primed to make it two in a row.

Although they were on unenviable skid, it’s not like the Wildcats were not improving. They played tough on the road in the previous two games before that win, losing at Baylor by eight and at No. 9 Kansas by 10. All that being said, the Cowboys and Wildcats both find themselves at 2-6, in a logjam tie just above 0-8 Colorado. Both need wins in the worst ways.

2. Better Look for a Fast Start

When the Cowboys beat the Cats in Stillwater, they outscored then by 19 in the first half, including finishing the half on a 15-0 run. That proved too deep a hole for the Cats to paw out of. When K-State finally snapped its losing streak, it was due to a 42-18 first half against WVU. The Wildcats started the game on a 19-2 run.

It may seem overly obvious, but neither one of these teams has made a habit out of taking a big lead into halftime. The Cowboys especially had success with Abou Ousmane against K-State’s frontcourt. He stared 6-for-6 from the field. He finished with a season-high 27 points against K-State. He’s scored in double digits the last four games coming in, so look for Steve Lutz & Co. to lean into a potential mismatch with Ousmane down low.

3. A Familiar Face on K-State’s Bench

Former Cowboy Tyreek Smith was announced as a midseason transfer on Friday. He will not play in 2024-25 but is able to practice and travel with the team.

Smith started his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Oklahoma State where he played for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. He averages 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds over his two years in Stillwater. He last played at SMU in 2023-24, where he averaged a career-best 8.2 points and 5.4 boards.

The Cowboys and Wildcats will tip off at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Bramlage Coliseum. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.