Image Source: Drew Schneider
Key Takeaways:
- Kansas State is set to face UCF on January 14th, 2026, at Bramlage, with the Wildcats looking to bounce back from a loss to Arizona State.
- UCF has a strong offense, led by senior point guard Themus Fulks, and excels at pushing the pace and scoring early in the clock.
- Kansas State struggles with defensive rebounding, which could be a major issue against UCF’s strong offensive rebounding team.
- The Wildcats will need to play connected, inside-out defense to contain UCF’s offense and prevent them from dominating the paint or shooting from deep.
- Kansas State’s offense, led by PJ Haggerty, will look to control the game and slow down UCF’s fast-paced offense.
Introduction to the Matchup
The Kansas State Wildcats are set to face off against the UCF Knights on January 14th, 2026, at Bramlage. The Wildcats are coming off a loss to Arizona State and are looking to bounce back with a win against the Knights. UCF, on the other hand, has a strong offense that excels at pushing the pace and scoring early in the clock. As noted in the original article, "UCF isn’t going to overwhelm Kansas State with talent. They’re good, but they’re not BYU or Arizona good." This could be a winnable game for the Wildcats, but they will need to play smart and contain UCF’s offense.
UCF’s Offense and Kansas State’s Defense
UCF’s offense is led by senior point guard Themus Fulks, who is able to push the ball in transition and score early in the clock. The Knights have found a happy medium between pushing the pace and running a relatively efficient offense. As the article states, "UCF is interesting. In general, teams that like to push the pace on offense tend to sacrifice some efficiency, but the Knights have found a happy medium." Kansas State, on the other hand, struggles with defensive rebounding, which could be a major issue against UCF’s strong offensive rebounding team. The Wildcats will need to play connected, inside-out defense to contain UCF’s offense and prevent them from dominating the paint or shooting from deep.
Kansas State’s Offense and UCF’s Defense
Kansas State’s offense, led by PJ Haggerty, will look to control the game and slow down UCF’s fast-paced offense. The Wildcats have a number of players who can shoot from deep, including Nate Johnson and Abdi Bashir, who both shoot over 40% from three-point range. As the article notes, "Haggerty isn’t a great outside shooter, but he’s serviceable at 36%, and he’s taking off-the-dribble, high-level-of-difficulty shots." UCF, on the other hand, struggles to defend the three-ball, which could be a major advantage for the Wildcats. According to the article, "K-State Defense: 32.4 (242) – It’s never a good thing when the opponent’s strength is directly correlated with your weakness."
The Importance of the Game
This game is crucial for Kansas State’s NCAA Tournament hopes. The Wildcats’ loss to Arizona State put their odds of making the tournament under 10%, and they need to win this game to maintain a faint glimmer of hope. As the article states, "I said Arizona State was a ‘must-win’ for the NCAA Tournament. I think that loss put the Wildcats’ odds of making the tournament under 10%. They need to win this one to maintain a faint glimmer of hope." The game will be a shootout, with both teams looking to push the pace and score quickly. Kansas State will need to play smart and contain UCF’s offense if they want to come out on top.
Conclusion and Prediction
In conclusion, this game will be a high-scoring affair, with both teams looking to push the pace and score quickly. Kansas State will need to play connected, inside-out defense to contain UCF’s offense and prevent them from dominating the paint or shooting from deep. The Wildcats’ offense, led by PJ Haggerty, will look to control the game and slow down UCF’s fast-paced offense. As the article notes, "I’m going to try this one more time. KenPom likes the ‘Cats, and I like the matchup. UCF wants to play fast, and Kansas State needs to play fast." While the article expresses some doubts about the pick, stating "I have no faith in this pick, but I’m making it anyway," it ultimately concludes that Kansas State can win this game if they play smart and contain UCF’s offense. With the Wildcats’ strong offense and UCF’s struggles on defense, this could be a winnable game for Kansas State.
https://www.bringonthecats.com/kansas-state-mens-basketball/28524/kansas-state-basketball-big12-ucf-knights-preview-stats-analytics-analysis
