K-State Wildcats vs. Cincinnati Bearcats basketball game time, TV and prediction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K‑State hosts Cincinnati at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum on CBS Sports Network.
- Cincinnati enters 0‑6 on the road despite a recent 92‑72 home win over UCF.
- K‑State health improves with McGriff return, boosting offense and win odds.
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will return to action at 8 p.m. Wednesday against Cincinnati inside Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats (10-13, 1-9 Big 12) have lost their past four games. The Bearcats (12-12, 4-7 Big 12) are coming off a win over UCF.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff:
K-State vs. Cincinnati game details
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Odds: Cincinnati by 1.5 with an O/U of 146.5.
Probable starters
Cincinnati (12-12, 4-7 Big 12)
- F (18) — Baba Miller, 6-11, Sr., 13.6 ppg
- F (52) — Moustapha Thiam, 7-2, So., 11.0
- G (2) — Jizzle James, 6-3, Jr., 11.0
- G (1) — Day Day Thomas, 6-1, Sr., 10.9
- G (32) — Jalen Celestine, 6-7, Sr., 6.7
Kansas State (10-13, 1-9 Big 12)
- C (22) — Dorin Buca, 7-2, Jr., 3.4
- F (15) — Taj Manning, 6-7, Jr., 3.4
- G (34) — Nate Johnson, 6-3, Sr., 11.3
- G (10) — David Castillo, 6-1, So., 11.7
- G (4) — PJ Haggerty, 6-4, Jr., 23.3
About Cincinnati:
The Bearcats are struggling under head coach Wes Miller. So much so, that he apologized to fans last week after Cincinnati lost a home game against West Virginia.
But his message was apparently well received, because the Bearcats bounced back from that result with a 92-72 victory over UCF over the weekend. It’s worth noting that game was played at home, though. Cincinnati is 0-6 on the road this season.
The Bearcats are a defensive-oriented team. Baba Miller and Jizzle James lead the team in scoring.
About K-State:
The Wildcats have lost four straight games as they have been dealing with a shorthanded roster. But they could a bigger rotation against the Bearcats.
Khamari McGriff returned to the starting lineup at forward over the weekend, and Elias Rapieque has been making steady progress toward his return. Even Abdi Bashir looks like he is ahead of schedule as he recovers from a broken foot. K-State could use the reinforcements as it looks for wins down the stretch.
PJ Haggerty is one of the nation’s most consistent scorers, but he needs help as the Wildcats push to move out of the Big 12 cellar.
K-State game prediction:
This could be a rare opportunity for K-State basketball fans to celebrate a victory inside Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats are getting healthier, and they are hosting an opponent in Cincinnati that hasn’t won a true road game all season.
With Khamari McGriff back in the starting lineup at forward, the Wildcats have a much higher ceiling on offense than they did in his absence. His ability to finish at the rim and to help space the floor should give K-State enough offensive firepower to eclipse 80 points against the Bearcats. If that happens, the Wildcats should win.
Cincinnati is a defensive-minded team that does an excellent job in the paint. But opponents have been able to shoot over Cincinnati’s post defenders this season. That is what the Wildcats try to do against most opponents.
K-State should feel right at home in this matchup.
Cincinnati is coming off perhaps its best game of the season, a 92-72 romp over UCF. The Wildcats will be in trouble if the Bearcats can repeat that kind of performance. But consistency has not been their strong suit lately.
K-State has lost close calls against Arizona State, Oklahoma State, TCU and West Virginia in conference play this season. Here’s guessing things break its way for a change.
K-State 81, Cincinnati 75
Last game prediction: TCU 77, K-State 72 ✅ (actual score: TCU 84, K-State 82)
Season record: 16-7.
Season record ATS: 11-12.
Season record O/U: 16-7.