The Kansas State men’s basketball team will face of its hardest challenge of the young season when it takes on Mississippi State in a Hall of Fame Classic game at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at T-Mobile Center.
K-State (4-0) hasn’t played a game away from Bramlage Coliseum yet. It also hasn’t faced a team with as much talent as Mississippi State (2-1).
The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they reached the NCAA Tournament. They are once again expected to contend for March Madness with Josh Hubbard leading the way as a junior guard.
Can the Wildcats win their most impressive game of the season and stay undefeated? Or will the Bulldogs send them to the third-place game of this early season tournament in Kansas City?
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff…
K-State vs. Mississippi State: Game details
When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City
TV: Peacock
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Odds: Mississippi State by 1.5 with an O/U of 161.5.
Probable starters
Mississippi State (2-1)
- F (99) — Achor Achor, 6-9, Sr., 5.3 ppg
- F (15) — Quincy Ballard, 7-0, Sr., 4.7
- G (2) — Ja’Borri McGhee, 6-2, Sr., 9.3
- G (5) — Shawn Jones, 6-6, Sr., 11.7
- G (12) — Josh Hubbard, 6-0, Jr., 22.3
Kansas State (4-0)
- F (21) — Khamari McGriff, 6-9, Sr., 13.5
- F (0) — Elias Rapieque, 6-9, Jr., 2.8
- G (34) — Nate Johnson, 6-3, Sr., 14.0
- G (1) — Abdi Bashir, 6-7, Jr., 12.0
- G (4) — PJ Haggerty, 6-4, Jr., 26.0
About Mississippi State:
The Bulldogs have two players who will look familiar to K-State basketball fans. Achor Achor played briefly for the Wildcats last season. But he elected to leave the team early in the season. He ultimately transferred to Mississippi State. Former Wichita State forward Quincy Ballard is also now wearing maroon.
But the real player to know is Josh Hubbard. He is averaging 22.3 points per game and figures to be a contender for SEC Player of the Year honors. Mississippi State’s only loss came against Iowa State. The Bulldogs are strong on the glass, as they grab an offensive rebound after 40.2% of their misses. They also defend the 3-point line well, holding teams to 24.2% shooting from the perimeter.
About K-State:
The Wildcats are off to a 4-0 start with a pair of exciting wins over California and Tulsa. PJ Haggerty has been putting up All-America numbers with his new team, averaging 26 points per game. He had 31 points and 10 rebounds against the Golden Hurricane.
K-State has been shooting the ball well all season. It has made 45.7% of its shots from 3-point range. Jerome Tang has a 2-1 record in the regular season at T-Mobile Center. The wins came against Nebraska and Wichita State. The loss came against Drake.
K-State game prediction:
It will be interesting to see how K-State handles a big, strong and athletic opponent like Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs don’t have as much offensive firepower as the Wildcats. But they do attack the glass, play hard on defense and run shooters off the 3-point line.
In other words, they are the type of team that could pose problems for K-State, especially if the Wildcats aren’t making shots.
These teams should play an interesting contrast of styles. K-State will want to run and shoot. Mississippi State will look to win with rebounds and defense.
Which style will win?
Iowa State was able to score 96 against Mississippi State last week in a game that it won easily. Perhaps K-State can do the same with Abdi Bashir making outside shots and Haggerty scoring off the dribble.
Or maybe Mississippi State learned from that experience and will be better prepared Thursday. Could Hubbard match Haggerty score for score?
It’s hard to predict how this game will play out. There’s a reason the oddsmakers have essentially made it a pick ‘em.
But I give K-State a tiny edge. The Wildcats should be up for the challenge and make enough plays to win another close game.
K-State 85, Mississippi State 83
Last game prediction: K-State 100, Tulsa 85 ✅ (actual score: K-State 84, Tulsa 83)
Season record: 4-0.
Season record ATS: 3-1.
Season record O/U: 4-0.
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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.
