K-State Wildcats vs. WVU Mountaineers: Basketball game time, TV, odds and prediction

The Kansas State men’s basketball team will try to end a six-game losing streak when it returns to the court against the West Virginia Mountaineers at 5 p.m. on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum.

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

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan

TV: CBS Sports Network

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

Betting line: K-State by 1.5

Over/under: 133.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About West Virginia (13-5, 4-3 Big 12)

The Mountaineers are coming off a home loss against Arizona State, but they have won several big games this season. West Virginia owns victories over Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas and Iowa State. Darian DeVries has WVU on pace to make the NCAA Tournament in his first season in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are at their best on defense, as they allow teams to make 28.2% of their shots from 3-point range and 46.3% from 2-point range. They also block shots on 13.4% of all possessions. Javon Small has been one of the best guards in the Big 12, as he is averaging nearly 20 points per game. West Virginia is currently playing without Tucker DeVries, who has been sidelined most of the season with an injury.

About Kansas State (7-11, 1-6 Big 12)

It’s been a while since the Wildcats won a basketball game. They have lost six in a row since they began conference play with a home victory over Cincinnati. Offense has been a challenge of late for K-State. So much so that Jerome Tang is beginning to talk publicly about trying to win games while scoring 60 points. The Wildcats have averaged 64 points in their Big 12 games. David N’Guessan is leading the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game.

K-State game prediction

Casual fans haven’t been impressed with anything that Kansas State has accomplished this basketball season. But the Wildcats have quietly played like an improving team in recent games.

Even though K-State has lost six straight games (and nine of its past 10) it has successfully covered the spread as an underdog in three consecutive games.

Over the past two weeks, the Wildcats lost by four to Texas Tech, by 10 at Kansas and by eight at Baylor.

Again, those results might not mean much to anyone outside of K-State bettors. But it shows that this team is playing hard and performing above current expectations. College basketball statistician Bart Torvik rates K-State as the nation’s No. 64 team over that three game stretch, which is a big improvement from where it was (No. 107) at the end of 15 games.

If that uptick continues it could be enough for the Wildcats to win their first game in a month when they host the Mountaineers on Saturday.

This feels like a good matchup for K-State. West Virginia is capable of beating anyone in the country, as it owns victories over Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State and Gonzaga. But it is not upset-proof. This team has also suffered losses to Pittsburgh and Arizona State.

West Virginia also plays a style that is favorable for K-State. The Mountaineers won’t try to win a shootout inside Bramlage Coliseum. They will try to win a low-scoring game with their defense. The Wildcats won’t complain about that.

It’s possible that Javon Small could take over this game the same way Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe did earlier this week against K-State. But the Wildcats will be better prepared to play against a go-to scorer after that experience.

K-State will need to make shots against one of the nation’s best defenses to win this game. But I think it happens. The Wildcats have been miserable in late-game situations all season, but they are due for some good fortune.

I like K-State to cover its fourth game in a row and get an outright win at home.

K-State 64, West Virginia 62

Last game prediction: Baylor 75, K-State 67

Actual score: Baylor 70, K-State 62

Season record: 12-6

Season record ATS: 7-11

Season record O/U: 8-10

This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "K-State Wildcats vs. WVU Mountaineers: Basketball game time, TV, 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.