Texas Longhorns at Kansas St Wildcats
Fred Bramlage Coliseum – Manhattan, Kansas
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Kansas St -5 1/2
Current Line: Kansas St -5 1/2
Opening Total: 137
Current Total: 136
Opening Money Line: Kansas St -240 / Texas +200
Current Money Line: Kansas St -230 / Texas +190
The 12-5 Texas Longhorns are 2-2 early in the Big 12 schedule. They travel to the 12-4 Kansas St Wildcats who have gotten off to a slow 1-3 start in conference play. Both teams are behind pacesetters Kansas, Missouri, and Baylor so far. Kansas St leads the series 12-9 against Texas including 6-3 in Manhattan. The Wildcats won last year in Austin 75-70 in the only meeting between the schools.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. The Longhorns have wins over Boston Univ., Rhode Island, Sam Houston St, North Texas, UCLA, Temple, Rice, Oklahoma St, and Texas A&M. The Longhorns have losses to Oregon St and NC State in a tournament in New Jersey, and at North Carolina, Iowa St, and Missouri 84-73 last Saturday.
Kansas St is coached by Frank Martin. The Wildcats have wins over George Washington, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Southern Illinois, UTEP, and Long Beach St. The latter 3 games were in a tournament in Hawaii. K-State also has a conference win over Missouri. The Wildcats have losses to West Virginia, Kansas, Baylor, and at Oklahoma 82-73 last Saturday.
Texas is outscoring opponents 76-64 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 45% from the field, and 33.8% from 3 point range. Texas makes 71.5% of their free throws. The Longhorns average 37.9 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4.3. Texas averages 13.3 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 4.1 blocks, and 7.2 steals a game. Texas opponents are shooting 38.7% from the field and 34.4% from 3 point range. The Longhorns force 14.6 turnovers a game.
Texas guard J’Covan Brown averages 19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Brown makes 39.4% from 3 point range. Sheldon McClellan averages 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a game. Myck Kabongo averages 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists to lead the team, and 1.3 steals a game. Jonathan Holmes averages 8.8 points, and 5.5 rebounds a game. Julien Lewis averages 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals a game. Clint Chapman averages 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game to lead the Longhorns in both categories.
Kansas St is outscoring opponents 75-64 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 44.6% from the field including 33.9% on 3 point shots. KSU makes 65.8% of their free throws. The Wildcats average 39.9 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +6.1. K-State averages 15.3 assists and 15.1 turnovers, 6.1 steals and 5.1 blocks a game. Kansas St opponents are shooting 39.1% from the field, including 29.5% on three pointers. The Wildcats force 16.6 turnovers a game.
KSU Guard Rodney McGruder averages 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists a game and 1.3 steals a game. he leads the team in scoring and steals. Will Spradling averages 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a game to tie for the team lead, along with 1 steals a game. He makes 40.9% of his three pointers. Forward Jamar Samuels averages 10.9 points, and 6.7 rebounds a game to lead the team, and 1.3 assists a game. Thomas Gipson averages 8.8 points, 6 rebounds a game to lead the team, and 1.2 assists a game. Jordan Henriquez averages 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks a game to lead the team. Forward James Watson is out indefinitely due to being ineligible.
Kansas St is 6-6 against the spread and the total is 7-5 this season. Texas is 3-9 ATS and the total is 5-7 this season. Kansas St is 9-1-1 ATS against Texas recently, including 4-1-1 in Manhattan. The Longhorns are 5-1 ATS as a favorite of 6.5 points or less, including 4-1 on the road, 2-7 after failing to cover, 1-5 on the road, 0-4 against teams with winning records, and overall, 0-5 against Big 12 teams, and 0-5 in road games against teams with winning home records. The Wildcats are 5-1 ATS after a straight up loss, 17-8-2 as a favorite of 6.5 points or less, including 11-4-1 at home, 2-5 at home against teams with losing road records, 2-6 in Wednesday games, 1-4 as a home favorite, and 1-5 in Big 12 games.
Kansas St is much better than their 1-3 conference mark would indicate. They have tough losses to Kansas and Baylor, who are both in the top 10 in the country, plus a win over #5 Missouri. The only inexcusable loss was at Oklahoma. However, it was costly, as it put the Wildcats in a hole. K-State can’t afford another conference loss. The Wildcats are much better at home and I like them to beat Texas and cover the number.
