K-State 10-13 (1-9)
Kansas State still sits in a tie for last place in the Big 12, and its brutal conference road schedule won’t get any easier in Houston. The Wildcats have held late leads in some games, but have not been able to finish on top. K-State will be very lucky if it is within reach of the Cougars at the end of the game.
Nate Johnson has experienced an up-and-down season for the Wildcats, but has played well recently. The senior Akron transfer is active on defense and loves to run in transition when he gets a steal. Johnson is an underrated three-point shooter and will need to hit contested shots against a pressing Houston defense.
David Castillo has stepped up and been a scorer for K-State, which has taken some needed pressure off of P.J. Haggerty. The sophomore standout has taken massive leaps in his game, especially during his second season in Manhattan on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Castillo is undersized, but his matchup, Kingston Flemings, is as well, and that should help the Wildcats’ best defender.
No. 3 Houston 21-2 (9-1)
Last weekend, Houston went on the road and took down BYU in impressive fashion. Since joining the Big 12, Houston has consistently been one of the best teams in the nation. The Cougars play tenacious defense, rebound well, but have periods of time where they go dead on offense. K-State will need that and much more to be competitive on Saturday.
Kingston Flemings has been amazing for Houston this year as a true freshman. Even with a loaded freshman class, Flemings has shone just as much as the top freshman in the country. The 6-foot–3 guard can get downhill and finish well around the rim, while also being capable of hitting both midrange and three-point shots as well. Flemings this season had an outburst of 42 points against Texas Tech, becoming the fifth freshman in Big 12 history with 40 points in a road game.
Emanuel Sharp has been a consistent player for Houston, getting better each season. The redshirt senior is a three-point specialist but has improved his offensive game to become an all-around player. Sharp is also the Cougars best defender and is a great contributor in that category, causing K-State to look for guys other than P.J. Haggerty to score.
