Kansas State Wildcats vs Arkansas-pine Bluff Golden Lions Picks and Predictions December 1st 2024

Kansas State Eyes Rebound After Paradise Jam Setback

The Kansas State Wildcats (5-2) return home Sunday with a chance to bounce back from a frustrating semifinal loss at the Paradise Jam tournament. Facing the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-7), who are mired in a six-game losing streak, the Wildcats have an opportunity to fine-tune their game before the heart of the season.

“We have to embrace being in the fire,” Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang said after the narrow 67-65 defeat to Liberty in the Paradise Jam semifinals. “This is where growth happens, and we’re here to learn.”

Kansas State settled for third place in the tournament, defeating Longwood 80-64 in the consolation game. Despite the bounce-back win, the Wildcats are still searching for consistency as they head into a matchup against a win-starved Golden Lions squad.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Road Woes Continue

The Golden Lions are no strangers to adversity, having played all but one game on the road this season. They have suffered seven losses, all by double digits except for their most recent outing, a 83-71 defeat at Pacific.

Despite their struggles, Arkansas-Pine Bluff showed flashes of competitiveness against Pacific, holding a halftime lead before being outpaced in the second half.

Top Performers for the Golden Lions:

• Christian Moore: 12.1 PPG, 3.6 APG
• Dante Sawyer: 12.0 PPG
• Klemen Vuga: 11.1 PPG
• Robert Lewis: 6.3 RPG

For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, maintaining energy and focus for 40 minutes has been a challenge on their grueling road schedule.

Kansas State: Key Players and Areas of Focus

Kansas State’s offense runs through Brendan Hausen and David N’Guessan, who share the team lead at 13.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Coleman Hawkins leads on the boards with 7.4 rebounds per game, and Dug McDaniel orchestrates the offense with 5.2 assists per contest.

The Wildcats are looking to sharpen their execution after a string of missed opportunities cost them against Liberty. Despite trailing late, Kansas State had three chances to tie or win the game in the final 10 seconds but came up empty.

“We’ll take those shots every time,” Tang said, reflecting on the late-game looks. “This is about growing and preparing for tougher games ahead.”

Wildcats vs. Golden Lions

1. Defensive Intensity: Kansas State has the size and depth to disrupt Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s offense, which averages just over 60 points per game.
2. Capitalizing on Turnovers: The Golden Lions are prone to miscues, providing the Wildcats with opportunities to score in transition.
3. Balanced Scoring: Kansas State needs contributions beyond Hausen and N’Guessan to build momentum heading into the conference schedule.

For the Golden Lions, staying within striking distance will depend on minimizing turnovers and maintaining offensive discipline against Kansas State’s pressure defense.

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Wildcats Prevail at Home

While Arkansas-Pine Bluff has shown glimpses of resilience, their road-heavy schedule and inability to sustain strong play for 40 minutes make this a tough challenge against a Kansas State team eager to rebound.

Final Score Prediction: Kansas State 85, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62