#12 Houston looks to continue their win streak, with their first road matchup at Kansas State in almost 55 years. Keep reading for the Houston vs Kansas State prediction and preview.
General Information:
Teams: Houston (11-3, 3-0) and Kansas State (7-7, 1-2)
Tip-off: 5 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KPRC 950
Latest on Kansas State basketball:
The Wildcats have been struggling as of late, having lost five of their last six games. Kansas State’s last win was over Cincinnati at home, 70-67 on Dec. 30, 2024. The Wildcats lost their most recent game at Oklahoma State 79-66 where senior forward Coleman Hawkins scored a team-high 18 points on more than 50% shooting along with five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals. Hawkins ranks third in scoring for Kansas State with almost 11 PPG and leads them with 1.4 blocks per game.
“He’s a point-forward,” Kelvin Sampson said. “A very high basketball IQ and excellent playmaker. He requires your attention. Their most dangerous player is most certainly Hawkins.”
Graduate wing David N’Guessan leads the Wildcats in scoring with just over 13 PPG and almost 8 RPG. N’Guessan put up a 12-point and 12-rebound double-double in the loss to the Cowboys.
Head coach Jerome Tang is in his third season coaching Kansas State and fourth overall. Tang is 0-1 vs Houston and Kelvin Sampson in his career with that previous meeting being the last time these two teams met. The Cougars won 74-52 last January. Overall, the Wildcats lead the overall series 5-4. Houston has won two out of the last three games however with the last meeting in Manhattan being in 1971. Kansas State is 5-2 at home this season.
Latest on Houston basketball:
The Cougars enter this game as winners of seven straight. UH has held their previous seven opponents to 55 points or under, which is the first time that has been done in the program since 1948. Houston now leads the country as the top defense, #1 in scoring (54 PPG), field goal percentage defense (34%), and scoring margin (+22). The Cougars won their last game 65-46 over TCU on Monday as Emanuel Sharp scored a team-high 14 points along with four threes. Graduate forward J’Wan Roberts added 12 points.
This game will be Roberts’ 150th start, which sets the Houston career record. Sharp and graduate guard LJ Cryer give Houston one of the top three-point shooting backcourts, as Houston is the only team in the Big 12 with two top-six leaders in three-point field goal percentage and makes per game.
Houston vs Kansas State Prediction: Cougars by 17
Even though Kansas State plays well at home, Houston is coming in with all the momentum. The Cougars defense continues to impress, this time on the road and the offense continues to improve for UH.
[…] #3: Struggles continue for Kansas State […]