Kansas State @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2020 ) Texas Tech 77, Kansas State 63

Texas Tech looks to bounce back from its first loss in four games when it hosts Big 12 rival Kansas State on Wednesday night. The Red Raiders had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 73-70 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday, while Kansas State comes into this contest having dropped five in a row - the latest a 68-57 setback at TCU.

The Wildcats are having trouble scoring, failing to record more than 67 points in a Big 12 contest since Jan. 18 and ranking ninth in the league at 64.6 per game. Senior swingman Xavier Sneed leads the way for coach Bruce Weber, averaging 14.2 points, while junior guard Cartier Diarra contributes 13.1 points per game primarily coming off the bench. Texas Tech has one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in guard Jahmi'us Ramsey, who leads the team with 15.8 points per game. The Red Raiders don't lack in scoring threats, with three other starting guards averaging in double figures - including junior Davide Moretti, who scores 13.3 points per contest.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (9-16, 2-10 Big 12): The Wildcats could be in a very tough position against the Red Raiders, who feature two of the top six 3-point shooters in the conference in Ramsey (45.5 percent) and Moretti (39.9). Kansas State is coming off a game against TCU in which it allowed 15 3-pointers, tying the most by an opponent in school history. The Wildcats are holding opponents to 32.9 percent from beyond the arc and Texas Tech is the top 3-point shooting team in the Big 12, but Weber will certainly be on his team to watch the Red Raiders' top shooters.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (16-9, 7-5): The Red Raiders have been playing a four-guard lineup for much of the season, and they rank fourth in the Big 12 in rebounds allowed to opponents (33.2). But in the loss to Oklahoma State over the weekend, Texas Tech was outrebounded by 15, which is the number of offensive rebounds the Cowboys snared - leading to 12 second-chance points by the Cowboys. Fortunately for the Red Raiders, while they rank eighth in the league at 34.1 rebounds per game, Kansas State is ninth at 33.3.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kansas State is forcing 16.3 turnovers per game, including a league-best 8.5 steals per contest.

2. Texas Tech leads the Big 12 in assists, dishing out 15.8 per game led by Chris Clarke's 5.0 per contest.

3. The Wildcats' current five-game losing streak ties the most consecutive losses for the team under Weber in his eight seasons at the helm.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 78, Kansas State 65