K-State Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: NIT game preview, TV, time, odds and prediction

The Kansas State Wildcats will continue their season when they make their first appearance in the NIT since 2009 with a tournament game against Iowa at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, including a score prediction:

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)

TV: ESPN

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Iowa by 5.5

Over/Under: 156.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Iowa (18-14)

The Hawkeyes had NCAA Tournament aspirations until they dropped their final two games of the regular season against Illinois and Ohio State. Now they will open the postseason by hosting a NIT game. The Hawkeyes are different from most Big 12 teams in the sense that they play up-tempo and try to win with offense. They rank top 20 nationally in most offensive statistical categories. Four of their starters average more than 10 points per game.

About Kansas State (19-14)

The Wildcats were hoping for an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament until chaos broke out in conference tournaments all across the country and the bubble popped before Selection Sunday arrived. Now Jerome Tang’s team will try to regroup in the NIT. K-State enters the postseason in good form as it beat Iowa State and Texas before exiting the Big 12 Tournament in the quarterfinals. But turnovers remain a problem for the Wildcats, as they are giving the ball away on 21.3% of their possessions. K-State finished the regular season as an elite defensive team. Tylor Perry is the leading scorer.

K-State at Iowa prediction

I’m happy to share my score prediction for this game, but (be warned) this is the first time I have ever broken down a NIT matchup.

K-State hasn’t played in the NIT since 2009, so this will be a new experience for many associated with the Wildcats.

Now that the NCAA Tournament is off the table for both teams, things like focus and motivation and health become major question marks.

Will either team rest starters? Will players from either roster opt-out of this game? Will anyone inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena treat this like a must-win?

It won’t come as a surprise if Tang chooses to play a developmental rotation against Iowa. Several key K-State contributors, including Tylor Perry and David N’Guessan, have been fighting through injuries because they wanted their team to reach March Madness. Will they do the same to try and win the NIT?

Tang said on Monday that the entire K-State roster is available for the NIT and he thinks the team is healthier than it has been in a while. So maybe he will stick with his top seven guys in this game. But he also mentioned that he will be tempted to play freshmen and other young players in this game. Ultimately, he says minutes will go to the players who are most excited to be on the court.

It certainly would make sense for Tang to utilize his bench and build for the future with young players that will be back next season.

That could make this game more interesting for K-State and its fans, much like a football bowl game when relying on young players can serve as a glimpse into the future. But it could also give Iowa an advantage. We will have to wait and see how things shake out there.

Unlike the Wildcats, the Hawkeyes never truly felt like they had a great shot at reaching the NCAA Tournament. They started 5-5 and improved as the season went along. There was no major disappointment when they were left out of the field of 68. That should allow them to rather easily shift their focus to the NIT.

Iowa also runs extremely good offense, which could make it difficult for K-State to keep up. The Hawkeyes are weak defending the 3-point line, but the Wildcats are only making 32% of their shots from the outside. They may not be able to take advantage in that area.

On the plus side, Iowa doesn’t force many turnovers. That could be a relief for K-State. This could be a higher-scoring game than usual for the Wildcats.

Of course, the biggest factor of all is that the Hawkeyes will get to play this game at home on an extremely short turnaround.

All in all, Iowa feels like the pick here.

Iowa 83, K-State 75

Last game prediction: K-State 65, Iowa State 64 (Actual result: Iowa State 76, K-State 57)

Season Record: 24-9

Season Record ATS: 16-17

Season Record O/U: 22-11

This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "K-State Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: NIT game preview, TV, time, odds and prediction."

Kellis Robinett

The Wichita Eagle

Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.