K-State Wildcats vs. Baylor Bears: Betting preview, lineups, time, TV, prediction

THE DETAILS

Where: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KKGQ (92.3 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Baylor by 1.5

Over/Under: 148.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Baylor (20-7, 9-5 Big 12):

The Bears are coming off an 87-71 road loss against Kansas in which they got steam-rolled despite leading by double digits in the first half. But Baylor had been red hot before dropping that one. Overall, Scott Drew’s team has won 10 of its past 12 games to keep itself near the top of the Big 12 standings. The Bears have one of the best offenses in all of college basketball, averaging 36.5% from three-point range and 51.8% from two-point range. But they are average on defense, particularly within the arc where they are allowing opponents to make 52.7% of their shots. Keyonte George is one of the best freshmen in the nation, averaging 16.6 points.

About Kansas State (20-7, 8-6 Big 12)

The Wildcats are coming off a 61-55 victory over Iowa State in which they used a new starting lineup that featured Desi Sills as an extra guard and Nae’Qwan Tomlin as the five man. Expect that to continue on Tuesday against Baylor. K-State had been struggling before its win over ISU and that change gave the team a spark. The Wildcats defeated the Bears 97-95 in overtime earlier this season. K-State has cooled off considerably since then. Expect the rematch to feature much more defense. Markquis Nowell had one of his best games of late against Iowa State, as he scored a game-high 20 points.

Prediction

K-State fans were understandably upset when Baylor was unable to protect a double-digit lead against Kansas over the weekend.

Not only did that mean the rival Jayhawks won an important Big 12 basketball game, it left the Bears angry heading into their trip to Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday. The last time Baylor dropped a game, 76-71 at Texas, it responded by absolutely crushing Texas Tech 89-62 in its next contest.

The Wildcats will need to play their best to win this game. The Bears have a high-powered offense that can shoot their way to victory in any situation. Slowing them down won’t be easy. The good news for Jerome Tang’s team is that Baylor is average, at best, on defense. The Bears don’t force many turnovers or protect the rim all that well.

Maybe Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson can each have big games. They combined for 56 points when K-State defeated Baylor in Waco, Texas earlier this season. It could happen again.

Offense hasn’t exactly been K-State’s forte lately, though. The Wildcats haven’t topped 65 points in their past three games, and that feels like a must against the Bears.

Tang has also failed to sweep any Big 12 opponents this season despite K-State getting off to a 6-1 start in conference play.

All things considered, I give the Bears a slight edge in this game.

Baylor 72, K-State 68

Last game prediction: K-State 73, Iowa State 67. (Actual Score: K-State 61, Iowa State 55)

Season record: 18-8.

Season record against the spread: 14-12.