Big 12 Tournament: Kansas State vs BYU Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 10)
- The Wildcats completed the regular season with interim coach Matthew Driscoll.
- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa landed on the Big 12’s Freshman of the Year this season.
- This marks the 12th all-time matchup between the two Big 12 squads.
The Big 12 will be due for an intriguing matchup on March 10 when the Kansas State Wildcats take on the BYU Cougars in the first round of the conference tournament. The latter comes out as the solid favorite, presenting challenges for Kansas State to overcome throughout the evening.
How to Watch
- When: Tuesday, March 10, 7 pm ET
- Where: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | -110 | +10.5 | O168.5 |
| BYU | -110 | -10.5 | U168.5 |
Game Preview
The Wildcats (12-19, 3-15 Big 12) have finished the regular season with Matthew Driscoll as their interim head coach. Kansas State has already clinched the No. 15 seed, needing to begin their journey in the first round. PJ Haggerty is averaging 23.3 points per game on 49.3 percent (263-of-534) shooting, including 34.5 percent (38-of-110) from 3-point range, with 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. On another note, Nate Johnson will seek to have a big night with averages of 12.5 points, five rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest.
The Cougars (21-10, 9-9 Big 12) had a solid campaign as they finished in the top half of the conference standings, taking the seventh seed. BYU has one of the most prolific offenses in the country, ranking 23rd in the nation and second in the Big 12 in scoring offense (84.3 pp.). They are also in the top 50 in field goal percentage (47.7), blocks/game (4.5) and fouls/game (15.7). AJ Dybantsa is averaging 24.7 points on 51.2% shooting with 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, winning the Big 12 Freshman of the Year Award. He is joined in double figures by All-Big 12 Third Team selection Robert Wright III (18.6 ppg.). Senior Keba Keita leads the Cougars in rebounding (7.1 rpg.) and blocks (50), while Wright is tops in assists (142).
Kansas State vs BYU Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 11 meetings in their history, and the result is 6-5 for the Cougars. The last matchup was in January this year when BYU won 83-73 on the road.
Kansas State vs BYU Predictions
The winner of Tuesday’s first-round matchup will face 7-seed West Virginia (18-13, 9-9 Big 12) in the second round on Wednesday night at 6 p.m., CT. Kansas State will need a huge performance from PJ Haggerty to keep up with BYU’s firepower offense. However, if they can’t limit AJ Dybantsa’s production on the court, expect the Cougars to go to the second round. Our betting pick here is the Cougars to cover a 10.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â BYU Cougars -10.5
