K-State Wildcats vs. Baylor Bears: Basketball game time, TV, odds and prediction

The Kansas State men’s basketball team will next be in action against the Baylor Bears at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, including a score prediction:

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas

Stream: ESPNU

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Baylor by 12.5

Over/under: 145.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Baylor (11-6, 3-3 Big 12)

The Bears have lost back-to-back games and are coming off a home defeat against TCU. Those setbacks have dropped Baylor out of the top 25 and into the middle of the Big 12 standings. Scott Drew’s team will look to get back on track against the Wildcats.

Baylor is a gifted team on offense. Four of its starters are averaging more than 10 points per game behind leading scorer Norchad Omier. The Bears make 35.6% of their shots from 3-point range and 53.3% from 2-point range. They struggle at times on defense. Opposing teams are making 38% of their shots from beyond the arc against Baylor.

About Kansas State (7-10, 1-5 Big 12)

Things keep getting worse for the K-State men’s basketball team. The Wildcats have lost five straight games and eight of their past nine. They are coming off an 84-74 loss against Kansas.

K-State will look to end its skid on the road against Baylor. Wildcats coach Jerome Tang has won all three of his matchups against his former team, but this will be his first trip to Baylor’s new arena.

The Wildcats are struggling the most on defense, as they are allowing teams to shoot 36.3% from 3-point range and 49.1% from 2-point range. David Castillo and Ugonna Onyenso have given the Wildcats solid minutes in recent games. They could see extra playing time this week. David N’Guessan leads the team in scoring.

K-State game prediction

This game could feature a large amount of 3-pointers.

Both Baylor and K-State rank outside the top 300 nationally when it comes to 3-point defense. That means the Wildcats could break out of their recent shooting slump if Brendan Hausen or Max Jones have strong games from the perimeter. The Bears and their roster of quality shooters may also benefit.

A high-scoring game figures to favor the Bears.

K-State has attempted to play a slow pace since the start of Big 12 play. It would prefer to try and win a rock fight against Baylor than a shootout. But the Wildcats may be able to dictate more than expected about this game. Tang has a perfect 3-0 record against Drew and he will not be intimidated about anything he encounters in Waco.

Baylor has not played up to expectations in recent games. If that trend continues, K-State will have an opportunity to steal this game on the road.

But the Bears have been good against bad teams, especially at home. Baylor beat Utah 81-56 and Cincinnati 68-48 earlier this month in Waco.

That is not good news for the Wildcats, who have lost 14 straight road games.

But K-State has covered the spread in back-to-back contests. It won’t be a surprise if it is once again able to keep this game close.

Baylor 75, K-State 67

Last game prediction: Kansas 78, K-State 60

Actual score: Kansas 84, K-State 74

Season record: 11-6

Season record ATS: 6-11

Season record O/U: 8-9

This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

Kellis Robinett

The Wichita Eagle

Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.