Game Three of the Big 12 Tournament is is set to get underway tonight. No. 10 BYU takes on No. 15 Kansas State on Tuesday, March 10th at 6:00 PM CT. BYU has safely secured its spot in the NCAA Tournament, while Kansas State is out of the conversation, but is hoping to play spoiler and go on a run. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.
BYU vs. Kansas State Basketball Updated Odds
The BYU Cougars opened as a 10-point favorite in Kansas City, with an over/under of 168 total points. The line has moved by Tuesday afternoon to BYU as a 11.5-point favorite, and an over/under of 169.0 total points.
Key Storyline: One Game, or One Run
It’s no secret that Kansas State fired head coach Jerome Tang part of the way through the season after failing to live up to contract expectations and calling out select players on his squad. Since then, the Wildcats have been hoping to speed run the remainder of the season to jump into the coaching carousel and make an agreement with the future of K-State Basketball. Should BYU win this one, K-State is onto the next era of Wildcat basketball. If not, the Tang/Driscoll era lasts a little bit longer.
Match Up to Watch: BYU Offense vs. K-State Defense
To put it simply: Kansas State can’t stop anybody, and it’s nearly impossible to slow down BYU. That should be all you need to know here. In the first matchup between the two programs, the Wildcats gave up 83 points to BYU, which is actually pretty solid, but still lost by 10. I don’t expect this one to be the same. BYU’s offense should get the best of K-State and put up nearly 100 points against a group that’s allowing the 15th-most points scored in the 16-team Big 12.
Prediction: BYU 102, Kansas State 76
Unless PJ Haggerty drops 45+ points, K-State isn’t winning. BYU has advantages across the board, even without Richie Saunders, and AJ Dybantsa was borderline unstoppable in the first trip to Manhattan. That game was also the opening night of Big 12 play, and he’s gotten even better since then. K-State doesn’t play defense, and isn’t very good at rebounding, which also cuts in BYU’s favor going into this game, as the Cougars are in the Top 3 in the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding in the league. Meantime, Kansas State jumps into the coaching market, and the Cougars advance to face No. 7, West Virginia.
