Wichita State Gets Chance To Break Even in Conference Play
The third-ranked Houston Cougars will meet the Wichita State Shockers for the first time this season when the two compete Thursday night.
Houston leads the American Athletic with an 8-1 record. Temple got the better of the Cougars three games ago. The Cougars won their next two, but with the Owls now a half-game behind, the pressure is on for Houston to keep its place on top.
Wichita State has won three of its last five, leaving the Shockers tied at sixth in the league with a 4-5 record. The Shockers will be aiming to even their conference record while also picking up a top-five win.
According to college basketball odds, Houston (+600) has the best odds to win the national title. The Cougars (-1200) also have the best odds to win the American Athletic Conference while the Shockers (+10000) have the seventh-best odds to win.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Houston vs Wichita State. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Houston Seeks Defensive Win
The Cougars have been one of the top-performing defensive units in the country. However, they needed more offense to earn their last two wins.
Houston is third in the country in points allowed, allowing teams to average 54.9 points. The Cougars are also first in the conference in rebounds, averaging 39.2 boards a game. Though they are typically solid on defense, the Cougars weren’t their strongest on that end in their past two games, as teams averaged 70 points against them.
In their recent win over Cincinnati, the Cougars needed an 11-point comeback to get the victory. The Bearcats shot the ball well in the first half, hitting shots at a 60.7% clip to take a 43-36 lead at the break. Houston was able to turn it around in the second half, holding the Bearcats to 3-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc and 30.3% scoring overall.
The Cougars finished the game shooting 56.6% from the field, and freshman Jarace Walker was also key in the win, scoring 25 points and pulling in seven boards. He was big in Houston’s prior win as well, scoring 17, and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points a game.
The Cougars are fourth in the American Athletic in scoring and second in shooting percentage, averaging 75.4 points on 47.1% shooting.
Though Houston’s offense is solid, it’ll need its defense to take the lead against another strong defensive team in Wichita State.
Wichita State Gets a Test
The Shockers have won two of their last three games, and their offense has started to show improvement.
Wichita State is last in the American Athletic Conference in scoring, averaging 68.3 points, though the Shockers have improved upon that number recently. In their last three games, the Shockers have averaged 82 points a game.
The Shockers have also had trouble shooting, as they are eighth in the conference in field-goal percentage and last in 3-point shooting. Wichita State shoots 42.5% from the field and 29.9% from 3. Just as with scoring, those numbers have also improved, as the Shockers have shot 46.7% from the field and 31.3% from 3.
However, despite Wichita State’s improved numbers, they also came against three of the worst defenses in the conference. East Carolina, SMU and Tulane all rank in the bottom four in the conference in field goal percentage allowed while SMU and Tulane are also in the bottom three in points allowed.
The Shockers will be getting a bigger test when they face the top-ranked Houston defense, with the Cougars first in the conference in scoring defense. The last time Wichita State met a solid defense was Memphis, who is third in the conference in field-goal percentage allowing 39.1% shooting. The Shockers did well, shooting 44.6% and 37.5% from 3, but fell 88-78.
Wichita State will need to continue its offensive improvement when the Shockers play host to a strong Houston team.
Houston vs Wichita State Game Injuries
Houston vs. Wichita State Head-to-Head
Thursday’s game will be the first of two times Houston and Wichita State play this regular season. The two have met 35 times previously dating back to 1949, with the Shockers leading the series 18-17.
The Cougars are on a two-game win streak and have won eight of the last nine in the series. The last meeting between the two was an exciting double-overtime finish in February 2022 in Kansas, which Houston won 76-74.
Houston vs. Wichita State Game Information
- Game: Houston (20-2, 8-1 American Athletic) vs Wichita State (11-10, 4-5)
- Location: Charles Koch Arena, Wichita, KS
- Day/Time: Thursday, Feb. 2, 9 p.m. ET
- Houston vs Wichita State Live Stream: TBS.com
Houston vs Wichita State Betting Lines
Houston vs Wichita State Picks and Prediction
Thursday’s game will be between two of the top defenses in the American Athletic Conference, so expect a tough matchup.
Houston used its strong offense and defense to mount a comeback against Cincinnati last week. Wichita State, meanwhile, has improved its last-place offense recently but has yet to face a defense the caliber of the Cougars.
The game should be close most of the way, and the Shockers should get some help being on their home floor, but the Cougs’ stronger shooting efficiency should help them outlast Wichita State.
The Houston Cougars are listed at -780 in our college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Cougars, you have a chance to win $13. The Wichita State Shockers are +530, offering a chance to win $530 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Houston Cougars an 88.64% chance to win, with the Wichita State Shockers at 15.87%.
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