Kansas State vs Baylor: Open Game Thread

Well, that was fun. For the first time in the 2020-21 season, it looked like the Kansas State Wildcats were a complete team. Sure, a team that had it’s flaws, but a team nonetheless. It’s sorely needed progression for a Wildcats team that started the season so poorly. The game against Milwaukee showed that this was a possibility, but the game against the Cyclones showed that Bruce Weber might have found a winning formula for this season.

Of course, more growth is needed. Lots of turnovers and a cold-shooting second half from deep show just how far this team still has to go, but it looks like the formula is there, the pieces necessary to turn this Wildcats squad into something that is going to pull back in the beleaguered fan base.

But it may not be today that the fans are pulled back in. The Baylor Bears are in manhattan today, and even with a couple weeks off due to COVID issues, the Bears are still ranked near the top and Scott Drew’s bunch represents the antithesis to the Wildcats—veteran, and lots of time together. While the time off for the Bears should present an opening for the Wildcats, it’s still going to be a huge challenge for the young WeberCats.

If an upset is going to happen for K-State, this is about as prime an opportunity as they are going to get. But it’s still most likely the Bears head back to Waco undefeated.

In a first for the 2020-21 season, we’ve got a mid-afternoon tip-off from Bramlage today. The 3:01pm CT start that can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) on the call.

If you haven’t subscribed to ESPN+ (and you can do so right here), you can listen to Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) call the game on much of the K-State Sports Radio Network, and also available online via the TuneIn App and at K-StateSports.com, and satellite radio on XM 387.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State Wildcats (3-4)

G: #24 Nijel Pack
G: #00 Mike McGuirl
G: #2 Selton Miguel
G: #3 DaJuan Gordon
F: #21 Davion Bradford

Baylor Bears (4-0)

G: #12 Jared Butler
G: #31 MaCio Teague
G: #45 Davion Mitchell
G/F: #11 Mark Vital
F: #0 Flo Thamba

Go Cats!