You are looking live at the pre-game stretch at Bramlage Coliseum, also known as the Octagon of Doom. Kansas State is 9-1 at home this season and, quite curiously, lost in the season opener to Northern Colorado. It’s not impossible today for West Virginia, which is 2-0 on the road in Big 12 play. Only Kansas can say that!

Sometimes these little pre-game essays are difficult and sometimes they write themselves. Today is the latter: The Mountaineers rely quite a bit on the 3-point line. Eron Harris is struggling. WVU missed 15 straight 3s while falling down at home by 14 points between makes against Texas Monday. The Mountaineers finished 4-for-25 in suffering their worst loss of the season.

And then there are the Wildcats, who might have the best defense in the Big 12. Bob Huggins said Thursday that one reason Kansas State (hereafter referred to as KSU) leads the conference in scoring defense is because its offense is deliberate and plays fewer possessions than most others.

Indeed, the Wildcats play just 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes. Not quite glacial, but not quite, say, WVU, right? Well, the Mountaineers, who we say and think move faster and run and take quick shots, average 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes.

The pace thing is a valid argument, but KSU also leads the Big 12 in 3-point percentage defense and is second in field-goal percentage defense. It’s classic Bruce Weber. The Wildcats back off the perimeter and close driving lanes and shut down cutters for passes and passes for cutters. They flash out to the perimeter when someone catches it there.

WVU has to shoot open jumpers when it has open jumpers, which didn’t happen against Texas. Pump fakes from 20 feet are bad things today.

And it wouldn’t hurt the Mountaineers to make more than they miss, too.

Let’s make this blog post one not to miss, yes?