Kansas State looking to launch turnaround at Baylor

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