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Texas basketball must avoid a letdown early in conference play.
The Texas Longhorns are 12-1 following a huge road win over the Oklahoma Sooners. After navigating a tough nonconference schedule the team is about to face a new test altogether. Continue reading “What the next three games will reveal about Texas basketball”
Kansas State upset No. 6 Iowa, 84-83. Iowa fans’ social media reactions show that wasn’t what mattered as the game went final.
Kansas State toppled No. 6 Iowa, stunning the Hawkeyes inside Bramlage Coliseum by the final tally of 84-83.
For a moment, it looked like Iowa star big Monika Czinano would be headed to the free throw line with a chance to tie and potentially win the game as she was fouled at the buzzer. Instead, after review, the foul was deemed after triple zeroes hit the clock, and the Wildcats’ upset win remained intact. It was probably the right call, but that’s neither here nor there.
More important than any of that is Caitlin Clark’s health status. During the final play, Clark crumpled to the floor after receiving the inbounds pass. She managed to send the pass to a teammate who found Czinano underneath. Clark had to be helped off the floor.
Again, much larger than the game itself is what does the health status look like for Clark moving forward? Not to speculate on an injury too much without full knowledge, but the initial news is better than perhaps it could have been. It’s an ankle injury and not a knee.
Afterwards, Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder didn’t have an official injury update beyond the fact that Clark had twisted her ankle.
Postgame, @IowaWBB coach Lisa Bluder said there wasn’t official update on @CaitlinClark22 except she twisted her ankle, as she had in game earlier this season.
— M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) November 18, 2022
Just now, @CaitlinClark22 exited @IowaWBB locker room for long walk up Bramlage Coliseum ramp to bus at K-State. Left ankle wrapped in ace bandage, and she was walking gingerly but without any aid.
— M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) November 18, 2022
There’s no sense speculating on the injury any more than that at the moment and Iowa fans—and really every women’s basketball fan, too—is just hoping it’s nothing more than a twisted ankle and a temporary scare.
The Iowa fans’ reactions illustrate how much this fan base loves Clark. There was also a fair bit of frustration with how the game was officiated.
West Virginia vs Kansas State prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Wednesday, March 9
West Virginia vs Kansas State prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Wednesday, March 9
Date: Wednesday, March 9
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
How To Watch: ESPNU
Record: West Virginia (15-16), Kansas State (14-16)
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Kansas State vs Texas Tech prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Monday.
Kansas State vs Texas Tech prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Monday, February 28
Date: Monday, February 28
Game Time: 9:00 ET
Venue: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Kansas State (14-14), Texas Tech (22-7)
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The Wildcats continue to give it a push.
They’re struggling overall defensively, but they’re bombing away with the most threes in the Big 12 and with the best defense against the three. They always have a puncher’s chance.
This isn’t going to be a shootout – Texas Tech won’t allow it. So if Kansas State can be decent from the outside and get to the free throw line – it’s not bad when it gets its chances – it can keep this close.
Texas Tech isn’t all that strong from the free throw line, it’s not all that great from three and it’s not totally dominant at stopping the three. And …
The Red Raider defense is a rock.
No, it doesn’t shut down teams cold from the outside, but it’s always a grind to generate points against the pressure and style.
TCU was able to win 69-66 at home, but it had to hit half of its shots to do it. Oklahoma won at home against the Red Raiders a few weeks ago, but it had to make 49% of its shots to do it.
It’s possible to beat Texas Tech without going off from the field, but that’s not happening lately. It’s going to take a phenomenal shooting day for Kansas State to make this a fight.
Kansas State is the second-worst shooting team in the Big 12 making 42% of its shots.
– Top 25 Game Previews, Predictions
Texas Tech doesn’t lose at home.
It’s 5-7 on the road, but the team takes things up to a whole other level at United Supermarkets going 17-0.
These two played in mid-January up in Manhattan, and Texas Tech rolled 62-51 with the defense stopping the Wildcats from the outside. The D will come up with a big performance at home.
Texas Tech 76, Kansas State 63
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING
5: No War
1: War
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The Oklahoma Sooners beat the Kansas State Wildcats on Taylor Robertson’s three at the buzzer.
On an afternoon when the Oklahoma Sooners were honoring Sherri Coale and the 2002 final four team, the present day Sooners provided a moment to remember when Taylor Robertson drained a three at the buzzer to beat Kansas State.
𝙄𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 🐐@sherricoale's banner will hang forever in the Lloyd Noble Center!#Sooners x #ONE pic.twitter.com/yI7PIyXXp5
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) February 26, 2022
𝙏-𝙍𝙊𝘽 𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝘿 𝙂𝘼𝙈𝙀@T_Rob30 hits the buzzer beater and OU beats K-State in Norman!#Sooners x @MarchMadnessWBB pic.twitter.com/dYzpqWs8p7
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) February 26, 2022
In a game where the Sooners led by as many nine, the Wildcats battled back in the second half to make it a game late.
The Wildcats would take a 60-59 lead with just under six minutes to play, but that would be the last time the Wildcats would lead. Over the final 5:59, Oklahoma was either tied or led Kansas State, ultimately winning on Robertson’s last-second three.
For the game, Robertson was 5 of 8 from the field and 4 of 7 from three for 17 points. She added five rebounds to her stellar performance. Madi Williams led the way for the Sooners with 18 points and 10 points, going 7 of 11 from the field. Skylar Vann was the only other Sooner in double figures with 10 points off the bench to help Oklahoma win their second in a row after a three-game losing streak.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧.#Sooners x #ONE pic.twitter.com/Z7a809UX10— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) February 27, 2022
The Sooners are 22-6 on the season and third in the Big 12 with matchups against Oklahoma State and Kansas to close the season,
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Kansas State vs Kansas prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Tuesday.
Kansas State vs Kansas prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Tuesday, February 22
Date: Tuesday, February 22
Game Time: 9:00 ET
Venue: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Kansas State (14-12), Kansas (22-4)
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We did this back in late January and Kansas State gave the Jayhawks all they could handle. It might have been a 78-75 Kansas win, but the Wildcats did a great job from the field and locked down from three.
No one in the Big 12 takes more threes than Kansas State, only a few teams are better in the nation at guarding the outside, and there aren’t enough mistakes to give away easy points.
The team can bomb its way back into games and keep up with just about anyone, but …
The Kansas State interior presence isn’t there.
There aren’t any blocks and rebounding against the Jayhawks will be a massive problem. Kansas scores in bunches, it’s fantastic at coming up with easy points on the inside, and be shocked if there isn’t a massive difference in rebounding.
The offense is pumping all while the defense is playing as well as it has all season. Again, it’ll roll on the boards and it should lock down against the three – Kansas State lost even though it made ten in the first meeting. And …
– Top 25 Game Previews, Predictions
Kansas State isn’t hitting ten threes this time.
Kansas is too good from they field, Kansas State is too limited when it’s not on fire from the outside, and to hammer this home, the rebounding.
There will be too many Wildcat one-and-dones as the game starts to slip away in the second half.
Kansas 77, Kansas State 68
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING
5: Having the middle seat open next to you on a flight
1: People who put their chair back all the way
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Baylor vs Kansas State prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Wednesday.
Baylor vs Kansas State prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Wednesday, February 9
Date: Wednesday, February 9
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS
How To Watch: Big 12 Network/ESPN+
Record: Baylor (19-4), Kansas State (12-10)
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Did the Kansas State offense get better over the last few games?
The Wildcats got rocked 74-49 in late January, and they continue to be dead last in the Big 12 in scoring.
They don’t have enough of a defensive inside presence – they don’t block any shots – and they don’t get enough offensive rebounds.
Baylor doesn’t have to take too many chances. Get on the move, pick up the pace, and do what it does from the outside – and plan on getting several second chances – and there shouldn’t be too much of a problem as long as Kansas State doesn’t start getting hot from the outside.
How do you beat Baylor? No, Kansas State doesn’t have the talent of Alabama or Kansas, but both of them were able to hit their shots. The same went for West Virginia, who lost in Waco last week, but was red hot from the field.
Baylor is in a bit of a lull defensively. It’s allowed teams to hit close to 55% from the field over the last three games, and while Kansas State doesn’t have that inside presence, it’ll slow things down and make the possessions count.
Kansas State is 7-0 when it hits 46% or more from the field. That’s not totally out of the question if Baylor is lagging with its third road game in the last four dates.
– Top 25 Game Previews, Predictions
It’s not going to be the total wipeout of the first game, but Baylor will get the job done by hitting just enough from three in the second half and cleaning up on the inside.
Kansas State isn’t a rock at home, but outside of a blowout to Texas, it pushed Kansas and Marquette in the other two losses by a combined four points.
Baylor will try to get out fast, Kansas State will slow it down. Baylor will get the burst Kansas State won’t.
Baylor 73, Kansas State 65
Line: Baylor -6, o/u: 135.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
5: Valentine’s Day big heart-shaped cookie
1: Marry Me
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Madi Williams scored 23 points, Taylor Robertson added 22 points and No. 14/19 Oklahoma topped West Virginia, 88-76, to improve to 16-2.
The Oklahoma women’s basketball team kept rolling, rallying from a halftime deficit to top West Virginia, 88-76, to improve to 16-2 overall (5-1 Big 12).
Senior Madi Williams finished with a team-high 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting and senior Taylor Robertson knocked down 5-of-10 from three-point distance to deliver 22 points.
Trailing 46-44 at halftime, OU outscored West Virginia 28-12 in the third quarter to take control. After WVU’s Esmery Martinez made a jumper to pull the Mountaineers within one point at 58-57, the Sooners closed the third on a 14-1 run to open the game up.
“What a tough game. I mean, I think obviously West Virginia is a very good basketball team. They’re very physical. I thought they pounded it inside on us. I thought they exposed us in a lot of areas and I’m really proud of our team. I thought our first quarter was pretty good and I thought that the way we came out of halftime. There were some great performances on both sides today which I think is a great game for women’s basketball,” Oklahoma head women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk said.
What exactly did spearhead that big third-quarter run for the Sooners?
“I think when we move and we play really good defense, we do a pretty nice job. I mean, we’re limited right now in terms of our inside play. We were down a point guard today, so I think we took care of the ball. I think sometimes it helps you on both ends. I’d have to go back and look, but I just think our overall energy and I thought the tempo of our game was a huge key in that third quarter,” Baranczyk said.
“I think we want to get up tempo. I mean, that’s a huge part of what we do period. Now, what I would’ve liked to have seen is not just fast break in the full court. I think in terms of up tempo, I love that in the full court. I also love it a little bit more in the half court. I think we got on our heels a little bit. Credit to West Virginia for that, especially in those second and third quarters, but, offensively, yeah, we want to be able to get out. It’s fun and I think we have a lot of people that can bring the ball up the floor. We have a lot of people that can do a lot of things. We want to be able to make reads and get up and down.”
It’s the best start for Oklahoma since the 2006-07 season. OU travels to Kansas State next where it will play the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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Oklahoma dispatched of Kansas State, 71-69, on New Year’s Day to start Big 12 play 1-0. Here’s three things that stood out.
Oklahoma started Big 12 play with a 71-69 home win over Kansas State. After OU built a 15-point first-half lead and held a 33-22 halftime lead, the Wildcats made Oklahoma earn it late.
Here are three thoughts from Oklahoma’s Big 12 opener.
K-State sophomore Ish Massoud hit a 3-pointer to tie it up at 65 apiece with 1:03 to play in the second half. Oklahoma senior guard Elijah Harkless responded with the go-ahead jumper with 35 seconds remaining and the Sooners managed to hang on to start 1-0 in Big 12 play.
Harkless connected on all four of his three-point tries and finished with 21 points to lead the Sooners in scoring.
“Pretty comfortable I’d say. My teammates believed in me, telling me to take those shots. When you’ve got everybody in your corner, believe in your work and everything else will take care of itself,” Harkless said of his willingness to take shots late in games.
Senior guard Umoja Gibson added 19 points, redshirt senior guard Jordan Goldwire had 11 and junior forward Jalen Hill and freshman guard C.J. Noland each scored 10.
After hitting just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first half, Kansas State knocked down 9-of-16 from long range in the second half.
Missouri transfer Mark Smith finished with 25 points to lead the Wildcats. In the process, he became the first K-State player since All-American Michael Beasley to record a 25-point, 15-rebound game.
“You’ve got to give Kansas State credit. Second half, they were on fire. Nine for 16 from three. I thought Massoud, I thought Mark Smith was outstanding. Nijel Pack. The shots they made to keep coming and not quitting, you’ve got to give them credit. They just kept on coming, making big shots, deep shots that when you think if you get a couple stops, you’ve got the game. Nine for 16 with the way we’ve been guarding,” Oklahoma head basketball coach Porter Moser said.
As Moser pointed out, a lot of it was simply great shot-making from Kansas State. It was also important that OU managed to pull this game out after seeing its 15-point lead evaporate.
“It was huge because we had a 15-point lead and they crept back in. To find a way to win that game, it was big for us because it’s going to be a grind in this league,” Moser said.
Oklahoma was without the services of three players due to health and safety protocols, including its leading scorer and rebounder in senior center Tanner Groves.
Groves came into tonight averaging 14.3 points and six rebounds per game. The Sooners were also minus junior forward Jacob Groves or freshman guard Bijan Cortes.
Moser was happy with how his team responded to being shorthanded against Kansas State.
“I think the biggest thing was coming back from Christmas you know the fatigue is always going to be an issue that first game and then all of a sudden we find out we’re going to be three down. We had a lot of guys have to play a lot of minutes that they haven’t played before. To guard Kansas State, their movement, their slips, their flares. They’re hard to guard. All of a sudden that’s one of the most minutes we’ve played all year. A lot of minutes because we’re shorthanded, but we found a way to win,” Moser said.
Oklahoma enters this week set to square off against a pair of top-10 opponents. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., OU travels to Waco to battle defending national champion and No. 1 Baylor. Then, the Sooners will host No. 8 Iowa State on Saturday inside the Lloyd Noble Center at 5 p.m.
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Three immediate takeaways from Oklahoma’s 62-57 upset loss to Kansas State on Tuesday night in Manhattan.
The No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners were back on the road Tuesday night in another place they hadn’t won in a while when they went to Manhattan to take on Kansas State.
Similar to the Iowa State game in Ames on Saturday, the Sooners were given all they wanted from an opponent who had not had a great season – but this time they didn’t come out on the right side of the scoreboard.
It looked for all the world that Oklahoma was going to absorb the Wildcats best shot and escape the Little Apple after they took a six-point lead with just under four minutes to go. But alas, Mike McGuirl got hot and Kansas State finished the game on a 15-4 run to pull off the road stunner.
The loss drops the Sooners to 14-6 on the season and gives them what has to be considered easily their worst loss of the season. Here are three immediate takeaways from the game:
This is a pretty bad loss for Oklahoma both in terms of the opponent and also the way it unfolded. This game was not as much of an easy win as it was likely viewed by many given Kansas State’s record, as they are still a tough team playing with confidence off of a win and were on their home floor.
But, the Sooners did beat them by 26 points the first time and held a 6-point lead late in this one. This is a game they should have had.
Oklahoma has done a terrific job of taking advantage of the bottom of the conference this season, but they didn’t take care of their business this time.
Teams lose to teams they are better than all the time in all sports, but especially in college basketball. It happens. This team has done a fantastic job avoiding this kind of thing all season long.
There isn’t any evidence to think this isn’t simply an aberration, but how they respond on Saturday for Bedlam will be highly interesting.
