Arizona State vs Kansas State Prediction and Preview

Read more for a full Arizona State vs Kansas State prediction and preview.

Arizona State and Kansas State match up on Tuesday night at Desert Financial Arena in a game between two teams trending in different directions. It will be the second all-time meeting between the two sides, with the Sun Devils winning the first contest 92-90 in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2017.

General Information:

Teams: Arizona State (12-9, 3-7 Big 12) and Kansas State (10-11, 4-6 Big 12)

Tip Time: 10 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN+

Listen: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (KMVP)

Latest on Kansas State basketball:

The Wildcats had a dismal start to the season, going 6-5 in non-conference play. However, they have turned it around with a 4-6 showing in Big 12 play, winning their past three games.

Kansas State’s most notable victory came last Saturday, with an 80-61 road victory against then-No. 3 Iowa State. It became the first below-.500 team in AP Poll history to win by 15+ points on the road against an AP Top 5 opponent, according to ESPN.

“All season long, we’ve gone through some rough things, but our guys have honored God with their actions and their words, and our staff has done the same thing.” Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang told reporters after the upset win. “This win at Iowa State is obviously huge.”

Every Wildcat starter landed in double figures. Junior guard Dug McDaniel led the way with 20 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds. Senior wing Coleman Hawkins, who was on the court for 39 minutes, followed with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Tang’s leading scorer, senior wing David N’Guessan, had 10 points.

Another matchup against a team named the Wildcats means the Sun Devils will once again be facing a stout defense, as Tuesday’s visitors have the 14th highest defensive rating according to KenPom.

Latest on Arizona State basketball:

The Maroon and Gold once again had a week where they won a Tuesday game on the road before dropping a Saturday game at home. Last week, that included a 70-68 road victory over Colorado before losing 81-72 to No. 20 Arizona. Saturday’s loss to the team from Tucson was another defeat where Arizona State led in the second half before succumbing to a late run.

As expected in a rivalry, tempers flared, especially between Arizona’s fifth-year guard Caleb Love and Arizona State’s senior guard/forward BJ Freeman. After words were exchanged, Freeman head-butted Love, leading to both players being ejected. Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley then told his players to go back to the locker room after the game ended and not shake hands with the opposition.

“It was relentless, constant chatter from a couple of the Arizona players that was not being policed properly,” Hurley told reporters after the game. “They’re gonna be happy with winning, but it was done with no class in my opinion.”

“I can tell you this. I do get a vote for all-conference and I can tell you who’s not getting a vote,” Hurley said in reference to Love, who finished the game with 27 points.

Despite having a healthy lineup, Hurley decided to stick with the seven-man rotation, leaving freshman guard/forward Amier Ali, who played 26 minutes against Colorado, on the bench. Senior guard/forward BJ Freeman, who only played three minutes against the Buffaloes, led the Sun Devils with 19 points.

Redshirt senior guard Adam Miller, followed with 18 points. However, he wants good performances to turn into wins for his team.

“I’m at a point in my career where I gotta be able to win and lead, you know what I’m saying, because I’m older now,” Miller said. “In my college career, I’ve had great coaches and great leaders…I’m gonna sit my teammates down, and we’re gonna have a (players-only) meeting…The same thing I said to y’all, I’m gonna say to them.”

Arizona State vs Kansas State prediction: Sun Devils by 8 (72-64)

While the Sun Devils have picked up four conference losses at home, they should pull a different result on Tuesday night. Kansas State, despite boasting a three-game win streak, could struggle against an Arizona State side that is hungry for a victory, and to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive.