COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 370-183 (17^th year)

at K-State: 57-28 (3^rd year)

1. Baylor: 2-2

 

Baylor: Scott Drew (Butler ’93)

Overall: 237-164 (13th year)

At Baylor: 217-153 (12th year)

1. K-State: 7-9

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (10-7, 3-1 Big 12)

G – #1 Jevon Thomas (6.1 ppg., 3.7 apg.)

G – #2 Marcus Foster (13.7 ppg., 2.1 rpg.)

G – #25 Wesley Iwundu (5.4 ppg., 3.4 rpg.)

F – #11 Nino Williams (10.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg.)

F – #42 Thomas Gipson (11.4 ppg., 4.5 rpg.)

 

22/23 Baylor (13-3, 2-2 Big 12)

G – #1 Kenny Chery (10.4 ppg., 4.1 apg.)

G – #11 Lester Medford (8.1 ppg., 1.7 rpg.)

F – #00 Royce O’Neal (9.9 ppg., 6.1 rpg.)

F – #2 Rico Gathers (10.3 ppg., 11.6 rpg.)

F – #35 Johnathan Motley (10.3 ppg., 4.9 rpg.)

 

INSIDE THE SERIES

Overall: K-State leads 16-14 (K-State leads 14-13 in Big 12 era)

In Manhattan: K-State leads 9-6 (L, 74-76, 3/8/2014)

In Waco: Baylor leads 6-5 (W, 87-73 in 2 OTs, 2/5/2014)

Last Meeting: Baylor, 76-74, 3/8/2014 (Manhattan, Kan.)

Weber vs. Baylor: 2-2 (1-1 at home)

Drew vs. K-State: 7-9 (3-5 on the road)

Weber vs. Drew: Tied 2-2 (1-1 at home)

 

LAST GAME SUMMARY

K-State 58, Texas Tech 51

Game 17  *  Bramlage Coliseum  *  January 14, 2015

Kansas State used a stellar defensive effort to outlast Texas Tech, 58-51, for its third-straight win on Wednesday in front of 12,264 at Bramlage Coliseum. Up 49-46 with 3:05 left to play in the contest, the Wildcats locked down on the defensive end, holding the Red Raiders to only five points on 2-of-6 shooting for the remainder of the game, while tacking on nine points of their own to seal the victory. Free throw shooting keyed the Wildcats on offense, as they connected on 21-of-26 with Marcus Foster (6-of-8), Justin Edwards (5-of-5), Thomas Gipson (4-of-5) and Wesley Iwundu (3-of-4) all having strong days at the line. K-State, which held Texas Tech to an opponent season-low 33.9 percent shooting for the game, has held opponents to under 65 points or less in 10-straight contests. Foster had team-highs in points (14), rebounds (5) and assists (4).

 

GAME 18 – QUICK HITTERS

• Kansas State (10-7, 3-1 Big 12) continues its homestand on Saturday, as the Wildcats host No. 22/23 Baylor (13-3, 2-2 Big 12) at 2 p.m. CT. The game will air nationally on ESPNU with Mitch Holthus (play-by-play) and Reid Gettys (analyst) on the call.
• Saturday’s contest could begin one of the most daunting stretches in school history, as the Bears could be the first of 5 consecutive ranked foes for the Wildcats, which would be a first. The longest previous streak is 3, which has been done multiple times, including twice in 2012.
• K-State holds a 16-14 edge in the all-time series with Baylor, including 14-13 in the Big 12 era. The series is tied 12-all during the regular season, including 6-6 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Bears were the only Big 12 school to sweep the Wildcats in 2014, winning 87-73 in 2 OTs at home on Feb. 14 before handing them their only Big 12 home loss, 76-74, on March 8.
• K-State has won 10 of its last 13 home games vs. ranked opponents, including 5 in a row, dating back to 2010. Overall, the Wildcats are 28-47 all-time vs. Top 25 foes at Bramlage Coliseum, including 13-7 since 2008. The last loss came to No. 3 Kansas (59-55) on Jan. 22, 2013.
• Head coach Bruce Weber is 40-5 at home in his tenure, including 18-2 in Big 12 play. The 5 losses (Northern Colorado, Kansas, Baylor, Texas Southern and Georgia) have come by a grand total of 14 points. He is also  6-1 vs. ranked teams at home (last loss to No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 22, 2013).
• K-State has won 3 straight in Big 12 play since the loss at Oklahoma State in the opener on Jan. 3. The Wildcats have done it on the defensive end, holding these 3 Big 12 foes to 55.7 points on 38.4 percent shooting, including 28.2 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks 2nd in scoring defense (57.0) in the Big 12, while is 2nd in turnovers forced (53).
• K-State has held 10 consecutive opponents to 65 points or less, which is the longest such streak in school history since the Wildcats did it in 18 straight games from Nov. 27, 1982 to Jan. 29, 1983.
• After allowing 71.8 points on 49.1 percent shooting in the first 6 games, the Wildcats have been much improved on defense in the last 11 games, allowing just 57.4 points on 42 percent shooting from the field.
• K-State is averaging 72.9 points on 50.4 percent shooting, including 43.3 percent from 3-point range, with 15.9 assists in its 10 wins and 55.4 points on 38.3 percent shooting, including 27.3 percent from long range, with 10.3 assists in its 7 losses.

 

THE OPPONENT: 22/23 BAYLOR (13-3, 2-2 Big 12)

• No. 22/23 Baylor enters Saturday’s game with a 13-3 record after rebounding from 2 losses to start Big 12 play to pick up back-to-back wins in overtime at TCU (66-59) and at home to No. 11/13 Iowa State (74-73)… The Bears won 11 of their 12 games in non-conference play… The squad is 4-2 away from home this season, including 3-1 in true road games.
• The Bears are averaging 69.1 points on 42.5 percent shooting, including 37 percent from 3-point range, on the season with 41.4 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.2 blocks per game… They are allowing opponent 57.3 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting, including 28.8 percent from beyond the arc… The team is shooting 64.7 percent from the free throw line.
• Baylor ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding, rebounding margin (+10.3), offensive rebounds (16.3) and 3rd in scoring defense and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2).
• Baylor has one of the most balanced scoring teams in the Big 12 with 6 players averaging more than 8 points per game, including 4 in double figures led by junior Taurean Prince (11.6 ppg.)… Senior Kenny Chery is 2nd in scoring at 10.4 points to go with 4.1 assists, while redshirt freshman Johnathan Motley (10.3 ppg.) and junior Rico Gathers (10.3 ppg.) also average in double figures… Gathers is the only Big 12 player averaging a double-double with his conference-leading 11.6 rebounds per game… He also has a team-tying 23 steals… Junior Lester Medford (57) and senior Royce O’Neale (53) have 50+ assists.
• Baylor returns 5 lettermen, including 2 starters, from a team that went 26-12 and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2013-14.
• Baylor is led by 12th-year coach Scott Drew, who has a 217-153 record in his tenure… He has transformed the program from single-digit win totals his first 3 seasons to 20+ wins 6 times in the last 7 seasons, including 2 Elite Eight appearances in 2010 and 2012… Overall, he has a 237-164 mark in his 13th season as head coach, which includes one year at Valparaiso (2002-03).
• Scott Drew is 7-9 all-time vs. Kansas State, including a 3-5 mark at Bramlage Coliseum.