K-State Wildcats vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: TV, time, odds and game prediction

Kellis Robinett
·4 min read

The Kansas State men’s basketball team will try to add to its winning streak when it takes on the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday night.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati)

TV: None

Stream: ESPN+

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: Cincinnati by 3.5

Over/Under: 135.5

STARTING LINEUPS

P

No.

Cincinnati

Ht.

Yr.

PPG

F

55

Aziz Bandaogo

7-0

Sr.

7.4

F

15

John Newman

6-5

Sr.

9.0

G

41

Simas Lukosius

6-8

Jr.

10.0

G

1

Day Day Thomas

6-0

Jr.

10.3

G

0

Dan Skillings

6-6

So.

11.9

P

No.

Kansas State

Ht.

Yr.

PPG

F

20

Jerrell Colbert

6-10

So.

2.4

G

4

Dai Dai Ames

6-1

Fr.

4.7

G

24

Arthur Kaluma

6-7

Jr.

14.9

G

5

Cam Carter

6-3

So.

15.2

G

2

Tylor Perry

5-11

Sr.

15.6

About Cincinnati (16-12, 5-10)

The Bearcats have lost three straight games and are now in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. That was not expected when Cincinnati began the season at 12-2, but the Big 12 has not been kind since.

The Bearcats are hard to score against, as their defense only allows teams to shoot 46.8% from 2-point range and 32.9% from beyond the arc. Dan Skillings is the team’s leading scorer. Aziz Bandaogo is a talented forward who transferred in from Utah Valley.

About Kansas State (17-11, 7-8)

The Wildcats are back in the mix for the NCAA Tournament after consecutive home wins against BYU and West Virginia. Their offense was much improved in those games.

K-State has scored at least 80 points in back-to-back games and it has scored at least 70 points in five of the past seven. Tylor Perry has led the charge by upping his production in the past eight games. He had a season-high 29 points against West Virginia.

K-State at Cincinnati prediction

There is no overstating the importance of this game.

Both K-State and Cincinnati are fighting for a berth into the NCAA Tournament, and neither team can afford a loss as the regular season comes to an end.

“We are in the same boat that they are in,” K-State coach Jerome Tang said. “They have an advantage because they’re at home, so we have to be more desperate than they are. This is the biggest game of the year and not just because it’s the next one. This one is huge and we might as well call this a NCAA Tournament game. I think whoever wins this game is going to go the tournament.”

If that much intensity is, indeed, involved on Saturday evening then that could add a wild-card element to this game.

Perhaps the team plays with more confidence and/or reckless abandon will come out on top.

On paper, it’s an interesting matchup. Both teams play strong defense. Neither team makes many shots from 3-point range. K-State is playing better than Cincinnati at the moment. But the Bearcats get to play this game inside the friendly confines of Fifth Third Arena.

The Wildcats will really need to grow up to win this game. They have lost six straight road games and have struggled against opponents that can bring it on defense, especially within the arc.

If Tylor Perry continues his recent hot streak from beyond the arc, that will give the Wildcats a chance. If not, it could be difficult for them to score enough around the basket to win on the road.

This is a tough call, but I think Cincinnati has a slight edge because of home court.

Cincinnati 67, K-State 65

Last game prediction: K-State 77, West Virginia 67 (Actual result: K-State 94, WVU 90)

Season Record: 22-6

Season Record ATS: 13-15

Season Record O/U: 19-9