One of the Big 12’s most bitter rivalries is set to renew as the Kansas Jayhawks head north to take on the Kansas State Wildcats with the conference lead on the line.
The Jayhawks snapped a two-game skid in style over the weekend, rolling to a 79-63 home victory over Texas Tech. Forward Dedric Lawson contributed a double-double, putting up 25 and 10, while freshman guard Devon Dotson added a season-high 20 points in the victory.
The win brought Kansas to a 6-3 mark in Big 12 play, and they are staring directly up at the Wildcats, who hold a 6-2 mark in league play and are tied with Baylor at the top of the conference.
Kansas State was able to bounce back from a loss to Texas A&M in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge by rolling to an 18 point win at Oklahoma State on Saturday. The victory was K-State’s sixth straight in league play after starting the conference season 0-2.
Wildcats’ big man Dean Wade was pretty much flawless in Saturday’s win. Wade recorded a season-high 24 points while going 9-for-9 from the field, including a 3-for-3 mark from beyond the arc.
A big key to this matchup will be which team can establish the tempo of the game. According to the KenPom rankings, Kansas State ranks 337th in adjusted tempo, meaning they play at one of the slowest paces in the country.
If the Wildcats are able to bog down the game and limit possessions, they should be able to ride their tough defense to a victory. Kansas, on the other hand, will look to get out and build an early lead against a team that averages just over 65 points a game.
How to watch Kansas vs. Kansas State
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 5
- Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Manhattan, KS
- Venue: Bramlage Coliseum
- TV Info: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
This is the first matchup of the season between the in-state rivals. The Jayhawks beat the Wildcats three times last season, including a 70-56 victory in Manhattan on January 29th, 2018. Kansas State will make the return trip to Allen Fieldhouse on Monday, February 25th.