{"id":22913,"date":"2024-12-17T13:39:06","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/?p=22913"},"modified":"2024-12-18T13:16:13","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T13:16:13","slug":"with-momentum-on-their-side-can-drake-overcome-kansas-states-home-court-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/with-momentum-on-their-side-can-drake-overcome-kansas-states-home-court-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"With Momentum on Their Side, Can Drake Overcome Kansas State\u2019s Home-Court Energy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Date:<\/strong> Tuesday, December 17, 2024<\/p>\n

Time:<\/strong> 9:00 PM ET<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO<\/p>\n

As the college basketball season heats up, fans are gearing up for an exciting matchup between the\u00a0Drake Bulldogs<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Kansas State Wildcats<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0December 17, 2024<\/strong>. This game promises to be a thrilling encounter, showcasing two teams with different styles and strengths. With both squads looking to solidify their standings early in the season, the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable.<\/p>\n

Drake enters this game undefeated at 9-0, riding a wave of momentum after a recent blowout victory over St. Ambrose. Meanwhile, Kansas State, with a record of 6-3, is eager to bounce back after a tough loss to St. John’s. The clash between these two teams is not just about pride; it’s about proving who can rise to the occasion in a high-pressure environment. So, let’s dive into what makes this matchup so compelling.<\/p>\n

Current Form: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not<\/h2>\n

Drake Bulldogs: Riding High<\/h3>\n

The Bulldogs have been on fire this season, boasting an impressive\u00a09-0<\/strong>\u00a0record. Their recent performance has been nothing short of dominant, highlighted by their recent\u00a090-35<\/strong>\u00a0victory against St. Ambrose. This win showcased their offensive prowess and defensive tenacity, as they held their opponent to just 35 points\u2014a remarkable feat in college basketball.<\/p>\n

Drake\u2019s offense has been efficient, averaging\u00a075 points per game<\/strong>\u00a0while shooting an impressive\u00a050.1% from the field<\/strong>. Led by standout guard\u00a0Bennett Stirtz<\/strong>, who averages\u00a017.8 points per game<\/strong>, the Bulldogs have shown they can score from various areas on the court. Stirtz is complemented by\u00a0Daniel Abreu<\/strong>\u00a0(13.9 PPG) and\u00a0Mitch Mascari<\/strong>\u00a0(12.2 PPG), creating a balanced attack that keeps defenses guessing.<\/p>\n

Defensively, Drake has been equally impressive, allowing only\u00a055.2 points per game<\/strong>. Their ability to force turnovers\u2014averaging just\u00a09.6 turnovers per game<\/strong>\u2014demonstrates their discipline and focus on protecting the ball while applying pressure on opponents.<\/p>\n

Kansas State Wildcats: Looking to Rebound<\/h2>\n

On the other hand, Kansas State comes into this matchup with a record of\u00a06-3<\/strong>, looking to shake off a disappointing loss to St. John’s where they fell short with an\u00a088-71<\/strong>\u00a0scoreline. Despite their recent struggles, the Wildcats have shown flashes of brilliance this season.<\/p>\n

Kansas State averages\u00a080.4 points per game<\/strong>, showcasing a potent offense led by\u00a0Brendan Hausen<\/strong>, who scores an average of\u00a015.2 points per game<\/strong>\u00a0and is known for his three-point shooting ability\u2014hitting about\u00a03.67 threes per game<\/strong>, ranking among the best in Division I basketball.<\/p>\n

Defensively, however, K-State has been inconsistent, allowing an average of\u00a069.3 points per game<\/strong>. This inconsistency could be a concern against a disciplined team like Drake that thrives on capitalizing on defensive lapses.<\/p>\n

Key Statistics: The Numbers Behind the Teams<\/h2>\n

When we break down the statistics further, several key metrics stand out:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Effective Field Goal Percentage<\/strong>:\n
      \n
    • Drake:\u00a056%<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Kansas State:\u00a052%<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      This indicates that Drake has been more efficient in scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Turnover Rates<\/strong>:\n
          \n
        • Drake’s low turnover rate (9.6 TO\/G) gives them an advantage in maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Rebounding Percentages<\/strong>:\n
            \n
          • Kansas State holds a slight edge in rebounding with an average of\u00a040.4 rebounds per game<\/strong>, compared to Drake’s\u00a036.8 rebounds per game<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            These statistics highlight that while Kansas State may have an edge in rebounding, Drake’s efficiency and ball security could be decisive factors in this matchup.<\/p>\n

            Notable Injuries: Who’s In and Who’s Out?<\/h2>\n

            As of now, both teams appear to be relatively healthy heading into this matchup. No significant injuries have been reported that would impact team rotations or strategies for either squad. This is crucial as it allows both coaches to utilize their full roster without any last-minute adjustments or surprises.<\/p>\n

            Why I\u2019m Picking the Over at 138 Total Points<\/h2>\n

            With both teams showcasing strong offensive capabilities paired with some defensive vulnerabilities, I believe taking the over at\u00a0138 total points<\/strong>\u00a0is a smart bet for this matchup.<\/p>\n

            Scoring Potential<\/h3>\n
              \n
            1. Kansas State\u2019s Offensive Firepower<\/strong>:\n
                \n
              • K-State’s ability to score quickly and effectively means they can put up significant numbers against any opponent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Drake\u2019s Efficient Scoring<\/strong>:\n
                  \n
                • With Drake averaging 75 points per game and shooting over 50% from the field, they are well-equipped to contribute significantly to the total score.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Pace of Play<\/strong>:\n
                    \n
                  • Kansas State tends to play at a faster pace than Drake, which could lead to more possessions and scoring opportunities throughout the game.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Predictive Models Support<\/h3>\n

                    To further bolster my prediction for hitting the over, let\u2019s take a look at projections from five respected NCAA basketball prediction models:<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. KenPom Ratings<\/strong>: Projects a final score of Kansas State 78, Drake 72 (Total: 150)<\/li>\n
                    2. Bart Torvik<\/strong>: Forecasts Kansas State 79, Drake 73 (Total: 152)<\/li>\n
                    3. Sagarin Ratings<\/strong>: Suggests Kansas State 77, Drake 74 (Total: 151)<\/li>\n
                    4. Haslametrics<\/strong>: Estimates Kansas State 80, Drake 75 (Total: 155)<\/li>\n
                    5. BPI (Basketball Power Index)<\/strong>: Predicts Kansas State 76, Drake 71 (Total: 147)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      These models consistently project totals well above the set line of 138 points, indicating that both teams are likely to exceed expectations offensively.<\/p>\n

                      Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

                      In conclusion, as we gear up for this exciting clash between the Drake Bulldogs and Kansas State Wildcats, expect fireworks on both ends of the court! With both teams capable of putting up big numbers and some defensive weaknesses potentially exploited, betting on the over at 138 total points seems like a solid strategy.<\/p>\n

                      This matchup not only promises thrilling basketball but also an opportunity for fans and bettors alike to engage with two competitive programs eager to make their mark this season! So grab your snacks and settle in\u2014this is one game you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n

                      PICK: over 138 total points WIN<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Time: 9:00 PM ET Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO As the college basketball season heats up, fans are gearing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":22926,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[102],"tags":[517,592,1451,619,2857,2907,692,3123,1776,379,686,169,2352,198,1354],"class_list":["post-22913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-basketball","tag-ai-analysis","tag-ai-picks","tag-ai-sports-prediction","tag-basketball-predictions","tag-college-basketball-preview","tag-college-hoops","tag-drake-bulldogs","tag-drake-bulldogs-vs-kansas-state-wildcats","tag-game-analysis","tag-kansas-state-wildcats","tag-march-madness","tag-ncaa-basketball","tag-player-performance","tag-sports-betting","tag-various-predictive-models","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Drake-Bulldogs-vs-Kansas-State-Wildcats.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22933,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22913\/revisions\/22933"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}