K-State-Baylor basketball preview
Updated: 2012-02-17T22:57:44Z
Kansas State at No. 9 Baylor• WHEN/WHERE: 12:45 p.m. Saturday at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
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TV/RADIO: KMCI (Ch. 38); WHB (810 AM)
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ABOUT KANSAS STATE (17-8, 6-7 Big 12): The Wildcats are in the middle of their most difficult stretch of the season. They have lost back-to-back games against Texas and Kansas, and now must play the three other top teams in the Big 12 — at Baylor, at Missouri and home against Iowa State. … The Bears won 75-73 at Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 10. Rodney McGruder scored 30 points and K-State felt like it let that game slip away. … The Wildcats won in their last trip to the Ferrell Center, 76-74 in January 2010.
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ABOUT BAYLOR (22-4, 9-4 Big 12): The Bears haven’t been playing as well lately as they were at the beginning of the season, when they started 17-0, but Baylor is coming off a win over Iowa State and has been tough to beat at home. The Bears’ only two home losses have come against No. 4 Kansas and No. 3 Missouri. Baylor’s only other defeats were to the Jayhawks and Tigers on the road. … Perry Jones III, Quincy Acy and Quincy Miller give Baylor one of the most athletic front courts around, but they have been labeled soft by their inability to rebound. … Pierre Jackson averages 5.9 assists per game, and runs Baylor’s offense.
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RPI: K-State 53, Baylor 7
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BOTTOM LINE: If Kansas State can play with tenacity inside and out rebound Baylor by a wide margin, the Wildcats could beat the Bears in Waco. If not, K-State will need to make a lot of shots to keep up with Baylor’s offense.
Projected starters| P | No. | Kansas State | Ht | Yr | PPG |
| F | 42 | Thomas Gipson | 6-7 | Fr | 8.1 |
| F | 32 | Jamar Samuels | 6-7 | Sr | 10.0 |
| F | 22 | Rodney McGruder | 6-4 | Jr | 14.5 |
| G | 55 | Will Spradling | 6-2 | So | 10.4 |
| G | 13 | Angel Rodriguez | 5-10 | Fr | 7.4 |
| P | No. | Baylor | Ht | Yr | PPG |
| F | 1 | Perry Jones III | 6-11 | So | 14.0 |
| F | 4 | Quincy Acy | 6-7 | Sr | 12.1 |
| F | 30 | Quincy Miller | 6-10 | Fr | 12.4 |
| G | 5 | Brady Heslip | 6-2 | So | 9.0 |
| G | 55 | Pierre Jackson | 5-10 | Jr | 12.4 |
| Kellis Robinett, krobinett@kcstar.com
