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United Bank Playbook: K-State Preview
January 20, 2017 04:21 PM | Men's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men’s basketball team gets back on an airplane to fly out to Manhattan, Kansas, for an early Saturday evening clash against the Kansas State Wildcats in Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats improved to 14-4, 3-3 following Wednesday night’s 96-88 victory at Oklahoma State.
K-State got 22 points from sophomore guard Barry Brown and 18 points and six rebounds from rapidly-improving senior forward D.J. Johnson.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said he is extremely impressed with what he’s seen on tape of the Wildcats this year.
“They have everybody back,” Huggins said. “They were a terrific team defensively a year ago. They are much improved offensively. They’re shooting the ball so much better. Their guards are making shots on the perimeter. They go to the free throw line and make free throws and I think D.J. Johnson is the most improved guy in the league.
“He’s a force in the low post.”
All five probable K-State starters listed on the Wildcats’ pregame release are averaging double figures - Brown (12.7), Johnson (12.3), guard Kamau Stokes (11.3), guard Wesley Iwundu (12.1) and forward Dean Wade (10.1).
The one question mark is Stokes, a sophomore point guard, who turned his ankle late in the Oklahoma State game and is listed as questionable against the Mountaineers.
With or without Stokes, K-State is going to be a big handful regardless.
“Their guys have taken the next step,” Huggins said. “There will be 13,000 people who will be a whole lot more enthusiastic about us coming in and we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Kansas State is 9-1 in games played at Bramlage Coliseum this year with its only loss coming in its most recent game there against Baylor last Saturday, 77-68.
K-State trailed by one at halftime but wilted when Baylor shot a torrid 55.6 percent in the second half. Johnson was the top point-man for the Wildcats in that game with 20.
Kansas State’s other league victories have come against Oklahoma, minus senior guard Jordan Woodard who lit up West Virginia for 20 points including the game-winning shot in overtime, and Texas.
West Virginia is going to need effort like this from senior Nathan Adrian to knock off Kansas State in Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday. All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo
West Virginia (15-3, 4-2) saw its 15-point, second-half lead erased in a matter of about five minutes when the Sooners repeatedly beat the Mountaineer’s full-court pressure and either scored layups or alley-oop baskets.
Still, West Virginia could have locked the game up in overtime if it had been more successful from the free throw line. The Mountaineers made just four of nine in the extra sessions, and 18 of 29 for the game, to allow the Sooners to sneak out of Morgantown with just their second conference win of the season.
Jevon Carter scored a season-high 23 points while Nathan Adrian contributed 14 and Elijah Macon came off the bench to add 13 in the loss.
West Virginia has won the last two times it has played in Bramlage, 65-59 last year and 87-83 in double overtime two years ago.
“It’s one of the hardest places in the league to play,” Huggins said.
Saturday’s game will be the 11th meeting in series play that dates back to 1949. WVU has won the last five meetings and is now 5-2 against K-State since joining the Big 12 in 2012.
The contest will tip off at 6 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 (Mark Neely and Mark Plansky).
The Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG’s coverage on stations throughout West Virginia and online via leanStream and the mobile app TuneIn will begin at 5 p.m.
College Basketball Crown Recap
Thursday, April 16
Ross Hodge, Honor Huff & Brenen Lorient | Oklahoma Postgame
Sunday, April 05
Ross Hodge, Treysen Eaglestaff & Brenen Lorient | Creighton Postgame
Saturday, April 04
Ross Hodge & Honor Huff | Stanford Postgame
Thursday, April 02
