Gators Have Won Two in a Row
The No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats try to avoid a second straight loss when they play host to the Florida Gators in a non-conference matchup as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday. Kansas State lost on the road to Iowa State on Tuesday, dropping it into a three-way tie with the Cyclones and Texas for the top spot in the Big 12 standings. Florida has won two in a row, including a home win over South Carolina on Wednesday, and is tied with Kentucky for fifth place in the SEC. Both teams would like to get the win in this one, so before you do any betting online on this matchup, check out our in-depth preview.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Florida vs Kansas State. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Florida Putting Things Together
The Florida Gators come in on a two-game winning streak. They topped the Gamecocks by 21 points in their most recent game. The Gators are going to need some of that kind of play to get a win over Kansas State that would certainly be a solid addition to their NCAA Tournament resume.
Senior forward Colin Castleton will be a key part of any Florida effort against the Wildcats. Castleton had 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and four blocks in the win over South Carolina and leads the Gators with 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He also ranks fourth in the country with 3.15 blocks per contest.
Sophomore guard Will Richard is the only other double-figure scorer for Florida, averaging 10.2 points per game. Richard had a team-high 18 points in the Gators’ upset of then-No. 20 Missouri two weeks ago.
Senior guard Kyle Lofton will have to be solid with the ball against the Wildcats. Lofton leads the Gators with 3.2 assists per game while averaging 8.7 points and a career-low 1.2 turnovers per contest.
Johnson Ready To Lead Kansas State
When the Kansas State Wildcats hit the floor against Florida, forward Keyontae Johnson will be seeing some familiar faces. Johnson played his first four seasons for the Gators before transferring to Kansas State this past offseason.
“It’s going to be amazing just playing against the team (where) I started college basketball,” Johnson said about facing his former teammates, “and just seeing my brothers back on the court, and just having to have that feeling of a family around me again.”
Johnson has thrived with the Wildcats after playing just five games over the last two years due to a heart problem that saw him collapse on the court while playing for Florida. Johnson is averaging 18.3 points and 7.5 rebounds to lead Kansas State in both categories, shooting 54.6% from the floor.
Senior guard Markquis Nowell is also having a big season for the Wildcats, pacing the team in assists per game with 8.3, which ranks second in the country. Nowell is also 16th in the nation with 2.35 steals per contest while scoring 17.1 points per game.
Florida vs Kansas State Injuries
Florida vs Kansas State Head-To-Head
There hasn’t been much to the rivalry between the Florida Gators and the Kansas State Wildcats, with Saturday being their third matchup all time. This will be the first meeting since Kansas State won against Florida in December 2012 in Kansas City, Mo.
This will be the first on-campus matchup between the schools, with the first meeting being a Florida victory in Sunrise, Fla., in December 2010. The college basketball lines for Saturday’s renewal of the rivalry are giving the edge to the Wildcats at home.
Florida vs Kansas State Game Information
- Game: Florida (12-8) vs Kansas State (17-3)
- Location: Bramlage Coliseum
- Day/Time: Saturday, 6:00 p.m. ET
- Florida vs Kansas State Live Stream: TBS
Florida vs Kansas State Betting Lines
Florida vs Kansas State Picks & Prediction
The Florida Gators have been inconsistent, but they have the potential to pull off the upset. Still, the Kansas State Wildcats are coming off a loss and will be motivated to get the victory in this one behind the play of former Gator Johnson.
When making your college basketball picks, take Kansas State to win and cover at home.
Florida vs Kansas State Trends
Florida vs Kansas State Edge
Florida vs Kansas State Results
Florida vs Kansas State Game Summary
