Keyontae Johnson compares Kentucky to TCU, West Virginia

Having only 48 hours to scout your next NCAA Tournament opponent provides limitations to every team in the postseason. Ahead of Kansas State‘s second round game against Kentucky, Keyontae Johnson revealed a couple of comparisons he noticed regarding Kentucky and a few Big 12 opponents he’s seen this season.

“They have similar players that resemble other teams. I mean, I feel like everybody plays physically, fast. They get out on fastbreak like TCU, so we know we have to limit them off that, and they rebound like West Virginia. We kind of are used to it,” Johnson said. “We know what it takes to win and what we have to do as a team to get it done.”

West Virginia out-rebounded Kansas State 79-69 during their two-game season series this season. WVU was +14 on the rebounding margin in their December meeting, but K-State was able to win the battle 33-29 when they matched up during the regular season finale. The team that won the rebounding margin lost both times and the two split the season series.

TCU was 2-1 against Kansas State this season that saw the Horned Frogs blow out the Wildcats twice, including an 80-67 win in the Big 12 Tournament. In the latest loss, TCU outscored K-State 7-0 on the fastbreak and 20-9 off points scored directly off turnovers. The Horned Frogs are ranked No. 1 in the country in fastbreak points, Kentucky is not in the top 50, but have the personnel, speed and length to get out in transition and has found success there throughout the season.

Kentucky does, however, rank No. 3 in the nation in total rebounding margin and No. 2 in offensive rebounds with 13.73 per game. No Big 12 teams ranks in the top 50, either. Kansas City University, who finished the season 11-21, is the best offensive rebounding team statistically K-State has faced this season. They rank No. 7 with 13.44 offensive boards per game and K-State actually won the offensive rebounding margin 15-13 in a blowout victory back in Novemeber.

Still, there is no Oscar Tshiebwe on Kansas City, and Kansas State haven’t seen anyone with the rebounding prowess of Tshiebwe. He hauled in 25 rebounds in Kentucky’s first-round victory over Providence — and there’s no reason why he couldn’t do the same against K-State. Johnson is their best rebounder at 7.1 per game, Tshiebwe averages 13.5.

Given K-State’s 2-3 record against the teams he compared Kentucky to, and Johnson’s overall 0-4 record against Kentucky throughout his career dating back to his Florida days attests to how difficult a matchup this could prove to be for him and his team. Through that time, Johnson averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game against Kentucky while in Gainesville.

Tip-off between the Wildcats and the Wildcats is set for 2:40 p.m. ET live on CBS. Kentucky entered Sunday as a three-point favorites over K-State. The winner will face either Marquette or Michigan State in the Sweet 16.