PREMIUM
Rogers' Sat Afternoon SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) Baylor vs. Kansas State,
Point Spread: -1.50 | -106.00 Kansas State (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -1.50 | -106.00 Kansas State (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Baylor began the season unranked but a 15-0 start led to the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking, this past Monday. However, the Bears got to enjoy their first-ever No. 1 ranking for just ONE day, before getting hammered 89-68 Tuesday at No. 10 West Virginia. Now the Bears will try to avoid their first losing streak of the season when they visit Kansas State on Saturday afternoon and the 13-3 (2-2 in Big 12 play) Wildcats will not be in a good mood, as they lost 66-65 at Texas Tech on Tuesday, after sneaking into the top-25 last Monday (at No. 25), for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Baylor: The Bears were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after losing NBA first-round pick Taurean Prince and top rebounder Rico Gathers but ascended to No. 1 in the AP Monday. However, Baylor had a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss at Morgantown but despite its No. 1 ranking it really wasn't a big upset considering the Mountaineers actually went into the contest as 5 1/2-point favorites. After allowing almost 90 points to West Va, Baylor fell to No. 9 overall in points allowed (60.2 PPG) and also rank 9th in opponents' FG percentage at 38.1 (pretty good stuff). The 6-10 Motley (15.3 & 9.1), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (10.8 & 7.4) and the 6-8 Maston (8.3 & 4.7) make for a formidable frontcourt, teaming with guards Lecomte (11.8 & 4.7 APG), a Miami transfer, and Freeman (11.5).
Kansas State: With Baylor's great start, it's been easy to overlook Kansas State's surprising start. The Wildcats were projected to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 Conference but Kansas State is 13-3. All five starters are scoring in double digits, with the 6-7 Iwundu (12.5-5.3-3.3) leading the way, joined by guards Brown (12.1) and Stokes (11.4 & 4.6 APG) plus up front it's the 6-9 Johnson (11.5 & 6.4) and the 6-10 Wade (10.6 & 5.4). Add in 6-5 freshman Sneed (8.9 PPG) and Bruce Weber's got quite a team.The Wildcats are playing excellent defense as well, allowing 61.5 PPG to rank 11th.
The pick: While Baylor got thumped on Tuesday, Kansas State's loss was more heart-breaking. The Wildcats held the lead for most of the game before giving it up in the final minute. KSU had a chance to retake the lead with eight seconds remaining but Barry Brown drove to the basket and missed a layup. Niem Stevenson rebounded and was fouled. The Wildcats fell to Texas Tech 66-65. Head coach Bruce Weber noted during this week's radio show that his team is four points away from being undefeated. "There's such a thin margin of victory in this league," he said. "You've got great balance and great depth in this league." Kansas State is 9-0 SU at home this year, holding opponetst to just 58.4 PPG. Baylor loses for a second straight time. Make KSU an 8* play.
Baylor: The Bears were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after losing NBA first-round pick Taurean Prince and top rebounder Rico Gathers but ascended to No. 1 in the AP Monday. However, Baylor had a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss at Morgantown but despite its No. 1 ranking it really wasn't a big upset considering the Mountaineers actually went into the contest as 5 1/2-point favorites. After allowing almost 90 points to West Va, Baylor fell to No. 9 overall in points allowed (60.2 PPG) and also rank 9th in opponents' FG percentage at 38.1 (pretty good stuff). The 6-10 Motley (15.3 & 9.1), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (10.8 & 7.4) and the 6-8 Maston (8.3 & 4.7) make for a formidable frontcourt, teaming with guards Lecomte (11.8 & 4.7 APG), a Miami transfer, and Freeman (11.5).
Kansas State: With Baylor's great start, it's been easy to overlook Kansas State's surprising start. The Wildcats were projected to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 Conference but Kansas State is 13-3. All five starters are scoring in double digits, with the 6-7 Iwundu (12.5-5.3-3.3) leading the way, joined by guards Brown (12.1) and Stokes (11.4 & 4.6 APG) plus up front it's the 6-9 Johnson (11.5 & 6.4) and the 6-10 Wade (10.6 & 5.4). Add in 6-5 freshman Sneed (8.9 PPG) and Bruce Weber's got quite a team.The Wildcats are playing excellent defense as well, allowing 61.5 PPG to rank 11th.
The pick: While Baylor got thumped on Tuesday, Kansas State's loss was more heart-breaking. The Wildcats held the lead for most of the game before giving it up in the final minute. KSU had a chance to retake the lead with eight seconds remaining but Barry Brown drove to the basket and missed a layup. Niem Stevenson rebounded and was fouled. The Wildcats fell to Texas Tech 66-65. Head coach Bruce Weber noted during this week's radio show that his team is four points away from being undefeated. "There's such a thin margin of victory in this league," he said. "You've got great balance and great depth in this league." Kansas State is 9-0 SU at home this year, holding opponetst to just 58.4 PPG. Baylor loses for a second straight time. Make KSU an 8* play.
