Team Stats
Points Per Game	84.8	77.8
Points Against	64.6	63.2
Field Goal %	43.2	48.9
Rebounds Per Game	40.8	33.8
Assists Per Game	16.1	16.5
Blocks Per Game	5.2	2.8
Steals Per Game	10.5	8.2
Streak	W12	W3

The West Virginia Mountaineers (12-1) head into Manhattan, Kansas to face the Kansas State Wildcats (11-2) in the second game of their two-game conference opening road trip.

The Mountaineers are looking to start off 2-0 in the Big XII for the 4th time in 6 years.

West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, and has won 7 of the last 8 games.  The Mountaineers posted their largest victory in the little Apple last year, winning by a margin of 19, previous mark was 6.

Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber is in his 6^th year at the helm, and runs a motion offense, and will play man to man on defense.

Kansas State has four starters that average double figures:

Junior guard Barry Brown (6’3” 195-lbs) 14.9 ppg

Junior guard Kamau Stokes (6’0” 170-lbs) 14.8 ppg, 4.8 apg, 45.2% 3P%

Junior forward Dean Wade (6’10” 228-lbs) 14,8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 45.2% 3P%

Sophomore forward Xavier Sneed (6’5” 212-lbs) 11.4 ppg

Sophomore forward Makol Mawien (6’9” 225-lbs) 6.5 ppg

Coming off the bench for the wildcats:

Junior guard Amaad Wainright (6’2” 200-lbs) 4.1 ppg

Freshman guard Cartier Diarra (6’4” 190-lbs) 3.7 ppg

Senior forward Mawdo Sallah (6’9” 235-lbs)

With West Virginia playing a high-pressure style of defense, the Wildcats may have to go a little deeper on their bench, and you could also see sophomore guard Brian Patrick and freshman forward Levi Stockard.

Kansas State will play a tough half court man to man defense that will make it tough for West Virginia to score.  They defend the passing lanes and will make the Mountaineers work for every point.

Jevon Carter is coming off one of the worst games of his career, and I expect him to have one of his better games of the year, against the Wildcats.  It’s no secret he facilitates the Mountaineer offense and he will lead the team in scoring and assists in this match-up.

Along with Carter, Teddy Allen will continue his offensive output.  He will be able to use his size and athleticism to create offense around the paint.

Sagaba Konate has been efficient the last two games, creating his offense from offensive rebounding, getting back to his strengths.

Kansas State will clear the lane with Wade and let their guards go to work.  With Wade having the ability to hit from three, I expect the Mountaineer Forwards to switch on screens underneath.

Carter and Daxter Miles Jr will have their hands full with guards Brown and Stoke, but they will wear them down as the game goes along with their physical style of defense.

I have West Virginia winning in a physical game.

Mountaineers win 72-67.