K-State Wildcats vs. Baylor Bears: Basketball lineups, TV, time, score prediction
The details
When/where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
TV/radio: ESPN+ (online streaming service, subscription required); KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita, KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City.
About No. 4 Baylor (17-2, 5-2 Big 12): The Bears have been better than expected this season after losing several key starters from their national championship squad from last year. Baylor opened with 15 straight victories before losing consecutive home games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. But it bounced back with wins over West Virginia and Oklahoma. They are once again a balanced team. The Bears make 36.6% of their three-pointers and 54.8% of their two-pointers while also ranking 11th nationally in defensive efficiency. LJ Cryer leads the Bears with 13.9 points per game. James Akinjo is one of the best facilitators in the conference, averaging 5.6 assists.
About Kansas State (10-8, 2-5 Big 12): The Wildcats are coming off a 78-75 loss against rival Kansas in which they blew a 17-point lead in the second half. But they have still won two of their past three games thanks to victories over Texas Tech and Texas. Nijel Pack has become one of the Big 12’s top scorers and is now averaging 16.7 points per game. He erupted for 35 points against the Jayhawks. Markquis Nowell leads the team in both assists and steals. Mark Smith and Mike McGuirl are both coming off quiet performances. The Wildcats could use big games from both of them against Baylor.
Projected lineups
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 21 | Davion Bradford | 7-0 | So. | 4.3 |
G | 3 | Selton Miguel | 6-4 | So. | 8.2 |
G | 13 | Mark Smith | 6-4 | Sr. | 10.8 |
G | 24 | Nijel Pack | 6-0 | So. | 16.7 |
G | 1 | Markquis Nowell | 5-8 | Jr. | 12.3 |
P | No. | Baylor | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 0 | Flo Thamba | 6-10 | Sr. | 4.9 |
G | 2 | Kendall Brown | 6-8 | So. | 10.1 |
G | 24 | Matthew Mayer | 6-9 | Sr. | 9.8 |
G | 10 | Adam Flagler | 6-3 | Jr. | 12.4 |
G | 11 | James Akinjo | 6-1 | Sr. | 13.2 |
Prediction
One thing you can count on from Kansas State this season is a close game.
Aside from a 70-57 loss against Texas in which the Wildcats only had seven scholarship players because of COVID issues within their roster, they have been competitive in all 18 of their contests. Their four other Big 12 losses came by a combined total of 11 points.
But the experts think this game could get away from the Wildcats. Ken Pomeroy and Bart Torvik both favor the Baylor Bears at home by 14 points. That would be the most lopsided defeat of the season for K-State if it happens.
Those projections make some sense. Baylor beat K-State like a drum (100-69 and 107-59) in their two regular-season meetings last season. And the Bears are once again one of the best teams in the country.
Still, this game seems unlikely to follow that same script. The Wildcats are playing at a high level on defense. They have also stood strong against quality opponents all season and have held leads in the second half of six straight games.
K-State will need another special game from Pack or Smith to beat Baylor on the road, but even an average effort from the Wildcats should be enough to keep the score close.
Baylor 68, K-State 62.
