Texas Tech basketball: Scouting the Kansas State Wildcats

KSU is the lowest-scoring team in the conference

If you have been frustrated with the Red Raider offense in the last two games, be thankful that you are not a KSU fan.  That’s because the Wildcats have been unable to score against just about anyone this year.

At 64.6 points per game, they are last in the Big 12.  That’s almost 10 points per game less than Tech is averaging thus far in 2019-20.

Only three times this year have the Cats surpassed the 70-point mark.  The three opponents in those games?  Try Monmouth, Alabama State, and Florida A&M.

Against teams from a major conference, they are averaging just 58.3 points.  What’s more, in their last two conference games, they’ve failed to surpass 57 points.

Thus, it’s not surprising that they shoot just 41.5% as a team from the floor.  That’s second-worst in the conference.

What’s more, they are shooting just 29% from 3-point range in conference play.  Unfortunately, so are the Red Raiders.

Two familiar faces pace their offense.  Though they lost most of their regulars from last year’s team, holdovers Xavier Sneed and Cartier Diarra are back and are the only players scoring in double digits.

Sneed is putting up 14.6 p.p.g. while Diarra (a 6-foot-4 junior guard) is contributing 12.1.  They are primarily scoring off the dribble or in the mid-range as Sneed is just a 33% shooter from deep while Diarra is just 27%.

The one threat to really be concerned with when he lines up a 3-pointer is Mike McGuirl.  The 6-foot-2 junior is shooting 45.5% from behind the arc but he’s attempted only 44 3’s this year.  Meanwhile, Sneed has hoisted 91 and Diarra has let it fly 72 times despite being far less effective shooters.

In this game, the Red Raider guards must be capable of cutting off dribble drives.  Forcing the Wildcats to live from outside is going to be a key because they simply do not look like a team equipped to win a game with their jump-shooting prowess.