The Longhorns open as five point favorites for this battle with the Wildcats, and that number has moved up to 5.5 in the past few hours. Both squads are very evenly matched and are both jostling for positioning within one of America’s deepest conferences.

For Texas, this is an important game as they have to play at Baylor and home to Kansas in the next two. They enter this game coming off an impressive showing in a home victory over Iowa State on Saturday, and that should provide them momentum here.

Each of Texas’ previous two wins (and four of their last five outings in total) have come against up tempo teams. The Longhorns are an athletic defense with sound guard play. They enjoy getting out in transition and making things happen.

Kansas State comes to town with a vastly differently approach. They, too, are built on defense and interior power. But they prefer to slow games down and grind teams out, utilizing a motion style offense that has been typical of Bruce Weber during his career.

One key to watch for is Kansas State’s ability to play the type of defense we are accustomed to from them without getting into foul trouble. Texas is 59 nationally in FTA/FGA. Kansas State has been a top 15 defense all year, but they have had issues in getting into foul trouble and allowing opponents to get to the line.

This season has been perhaps Rick Barnes’ best work during his tenure in Austin. He has a team that understands what he wants, and they are willing to attack the basket and put pressure on the opposition. They are also much better on the offensive glass than is Kansas State in defending their boards, and that should likely come into play here as well.

Texas -5