Men's College Basketball
Preview
Kansas State at Baylor
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Where: Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas

Despite its five-game losing streak, Kansas State feels confident heading into Wednesday's Big 12 Conference road game against Baylor in Waco, Texas.

Wildcats coach Jerome Tang, who spent 19 years as an assistant for Baylor coach Scott Drew, feels like his team is close to turning things around. That better happen soon if the Wildcats (7-10, 1-5) have any postseason hopes.

"We don't have guys who hang their heads," Tang said after a 10-point loss at then-No. 9 Kansas on Saturday. "These are high-character dudes. Our last two practices were the best two practices of the year, and I expect the next ones to be better than the ones before. We're just going to keep building and keep getting better."

The Wildcats fell behind 14-0 at the start of the game before rallying to cut the deficit to just six on multiple occasions in the second half.

"I felt like they were in full speed, and we weren't yet," Tang said. "Once we were able to get our legs under us, things settled down. We just can't have that (kind of start)."

David N'Guessan averages 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to lead the Wildcats, who have swept the last three meetings against the Bears.

Baylor (11-6, 3-3) comes into the game a little angry after blowing a seven-point halftime lead at home to TCU on Saturday, the Bears' second straight defeat and first home loss of the season.

After leading 56-47 with less than 12 minutes remaining, the Bears made only four of their last 18 shots, allowing TCU to gain its first lead since the early moments of the game.

The Horned Frogs won 74-71 on Brendan Wenzel's corner 3-pointer with six seconds remaining.

"I thought down the stretch, they were playing free, and we were playing not to lose," Drew said. "These are games where when you can separate, you've got to separate. And if you don't, this is what happens."

The Bears have five players averaging in double figures, led by Norchad Omier with 15.8 points per game.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Neutral Day Night Conf
Kansas State 7-10 L5 5-3 0-5 2-2 2-4 5-6 1-5
Baylor 11-6 L2 8-1 1-4 2-1 3-2 8-4 3-3
Last Meeting
Kansas State Baylor
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
1/16/24 BAY 64 KSU 68 68 39 40.7 64 43 32.9
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Kansas State C. Carter 18 50.0 2
Baylor L. Love 15 42.9 0
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Kansas State A. Kaluma 10 0 10
Baylor Y. Missi 11 7 4
Assists Player  
Kansas State T. Perry 4
Baylor R. Dennis 8
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Kansas State D. N'Guessan 214 64.7 37
Baylor N. Omier 268 59.9 52
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Kansas State D. N'Guessan 123 52 71
Baylor N. Omier 168 61 107
Assists Player  
Kansas State C. Hawkins 72
Baylor R. Wright III 82
Quickchart Matchup
blue bar Kansas State Off vs  red bar Baylor Defense
blue bar 73.2 Points For
red bar 69.5 Points Against
blue bar 45.1 FG%
red bar 44.6 FG%
blue bar 29.6 Reb
red bar 30.2 Reb
red bar Baylor Off vs  blue bar Kansas State Defense
red bar 79.1 Points For
blue bar 71.9 Points Against
red bar 46.3 FG%
blue bar 45.0 FG%
red bar 32.7 Reb
blue bar 31.9 Reb