TCU Men's Basketball Preview: Kansas State

TCU will go to Manhattan to take on Kansas State Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. Here's the preview for the Frogs to get the win.

TCU will go to Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS, on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT to play Kansas State. The Horned Frogs (17-7, 6-5 Big 12) come into the game following an 81-65 win at home over West Virginia Monday.

The Wildcats (15-9, 5-6 Big 12) are coming off a 72-66 loss at No. 19 BYU on Saturday, February 10. With a week of rest, Kansas State is looking to improve on being ranked tenth in the conference. Jerome Tang's crew is ranked 77th in NET and 71st in KenPom, so this is definitely a winnable game for the Frogs.

Here's what we can expect to see in the contest.

Turn the Wildcats Over

TCU's Jameer Nelson Jr. going for a loose ball against West Virginia's Kerr Kriisa :: Brian McLean, On Assignment Photo/KillerFrogs

Kansas State is extremely vulnerable to turning the ball over, ranking 351 of 362 teams in the nation in turnover percentage. Specifically, their top three players, Arthur Kaluma, Cam Carter, and Tylor Perry, are all averaging at least 2.5 turnovers per game. Pressuring these players and being active in passing lanes will be crucial to getting in the fast break more often. Look for players Jameer Nelson Jr., Micah Peavy, and Emanuel Miller to be matched up with the key players for the majority of the game.

Win The Three Point Battle

TCU's Trey Tennyson shooting the ball :: Brian McLean, On Assignment Photo/KillerFrogs

One of Kansas State's biggest weaknesses is 3-point shooting, ranking 299 of 362 in the country on just 31% shooting. If TCU wants to win this game, taking advantage of this by winning the three point battle will be a major key. The Frogs have shot 38.6% from downtown in conference play, so they will look to build on this as a strength. Trevian Tennyson is the shooter to watch for the Frogs, as he is just one of two players averaging over three 3-pointers in Big 12 play (Max Abmas - Texas).

Crash The Glass

TCU's Xavier Cork reaching for a rebound :: Brian McLean, On Assignment Photo/KillerFrogs

Rebounding has been a point of emphasis from Jamie Dixon in recent games. Kansas State is not particularly a strong rebounding team, especially stopping offensive rebounds. Ever since the Texas loss, the Frogs have been much improved in this aspect, so this could be an advantage on Saturday. Along with star Emanuel Miller, players like JaKobe Coles, Ernest Udeh Jr., and Xavier Cork could play a large impact in this role. 

This is a game TCU should win if they want to stay out of NCAA Tournament bubble conversations soon. Starting a win streak here would be massive heading into the end of the year. It should be a fun one.

How to Watch, Listen, and Stream: TCU vs. Kansas State

• Tipoff - 11 a.m. CT, Saturday, February 17
• Television - ESPNU with Chuckie Kempf and King McClure
• Radio - KTCU 98.7 FM with Brian Estridge and Bingo Merriex (also available on Sirius XM Channel 83, HFTV, TuneIn, and Varsity)
• Live Stream - fuboTV (Start your free trial)

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