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There are two buildings sponsored by T-Mobile hosting first round power conference action on Wednesday, but only one of them is in Las Vegas. The silver medal of these destinations is the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City, still a lovely town that’s hosting the 2021 Big 12 Tournament.
How loaded is the Big 12? We’ve got a team that’s a stone-cold lock to make the field of 68 competing in a play-in game today. Let’s take a look at today’s two matchups.
No. 8 TCU vs. No. 9 Kansas State: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Point Spread: TCU -4
Point Total: 128.5
Kansas State on the season has made just 29.5% of their three-pointers, and has turned it over on 22.3% of possessions. That’s really bad. A lot of teams went more than seven weeks between wins this season, but most of them were on a pause for COVID-19: K-State just lost 13 conference games in a row instead. But they finished the year winning three of four, including over Oklahoma 62-57 on February 23rd.
The Frogs have lost six of seven, with the only win being over Iowa State (more on them shortly, and yikes.). RJ Nembhard has to shoot a lot, because no one else can make anything. The Wildcats are the in-form team here, and even if they don’t win today they can keep it within a possession.
The winner should pack on the way to the arena tomorrow however, as they’ll be playing Baylor
The pick: K-State +4
No. 7 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Iowa State: 9:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Point Spread: Oklahoma -11.5
Point Total: 140.5
Oklahoma was the hottest team in America for about six weeks from mid-January to late February. But they’ve lost four straight, including to K-State 62-57 to open the skid. They can score, but often struggle to get stops.
Iowa State makes James Naismith roll over in his grave. There are some other college basketball teams that haven’t won a game in 2021, but they’re mostly in the Ivy League and canceled their season. The Cyclones are 2-21, 0-18 in the Big 12, and make less free throws per point scored than any team not playing on cement. But they don’t get blown out every night, by the advanced stats have been a bit unlucky, and lost 79-72 and 66-56 to OU this year. That’s less than 12 in both cases.
Ugh. Are we really going to do this?? We are!!
The pick: Iowa State +11.5
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