Kansas State gets its next shot at a reset Friday night, and the Wildcats will need one after a rough opening to the Casey Alexander era.
K-State dropped its season opener 68-66 to South Dakota State on Tuesday, a result that came with the Wildcats favored by 11.5 points. The Jackrabbits controlled the game, and now Alexander’s team turns quickly to Cal State Northridge with a chance to steady itself at home.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Friday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
The game will air on ESPN+, with radio coverage on KFNZ (96.5 FM and 610 AM) in Kansas City and KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita. K-State is listed as a 10.5-point favorite, with the over/under at 159.5.
Cal State Northridge arrives at 0-1 after a 79-67 loss at Wichita State on Wednesday, a game in which Mikah Ballew scored 17 points and Josiah Davis added 15. The Matadors spent the week in the Sunflower State and come in off a 20-win season under coach Andy Newman. They were picked to finish fourth in the Big West preseason poll.
The probable starters for CSUN are BJ Omot, Jael Martin, Brooklyn Hicks, Josiah Davis and Mikah Ballew. For Kansas State, the expected five are Brock Vice, Isaiah Abraham, Dez Lindsay, Jaden Schutt and Brandon Rechsteiner.
K-State’s opener offered a mixed bag. The Wildcats shot just 28% from 3-point range, but Pape N’Diaye gave them a lift with 18 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Rechsteiner and Isaiah Abraham each scored 16.
The Wildcats were picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 this season, and Friday will be an early test of how they handle the first setback. The question now is whether they come out sharper against another mid-major opponent or let the issues from Game 1 linger.
There is at least one reason to think a response is coming. Belmont, where Alexander coached last season, followed its first four losses with a win last season, and most of that team’s bounce-back victories came by double digits.
K-State may not have a huge talent edge in this one, but the expectation is that the Wildcats will show up with more urgency and play at a higher level.
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