Jayhawks turn to Baylor after big home victory over Iowa State: prediction, odds
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas hosts Baylor Friday at Allen Fieldhouse; KU favored by 6.5 points.
- Baylor brings elite offense and glass-cleaning but lacks bench depth and turnovers.
- Kansas defense and transition offense should force tempo and cover the spread.
Get ready for a rare Friday night KU men’s basketball game as the Jayhawks play host to Baylor Bears.
Kansas (12-5) upset Iowa State on Tuesday, while Baylor beat Oklahoma State.
Here is more about Friday’s game, including a scouting report and prediction:
Kansas basketball vs. Baylor: Game details
When: 7 p.m. Central on Friday, Jan. 16
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: FOX
Opponent’s record: 11-5
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 40
Betting line: KU is an 6.5-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats include only Division-I competition.
Baylor Strengths
- Glass cleaners: Baylor ranks No. 4 in offensive rebounding percentage (40.5).
- Long-ball hitters: The Bears are shooting 36.7% on 3-pointers, ranking No. 46 nationally.
- Elite offense: Baylor ranks No. 14 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (123.6), which measures the number of points scored per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.
Baylor Weaknesses
- Lack of bench trust: Baylor ranks No. 350 in bench minutes percentage (22.8).
- Free-throw struggles: The Bears rank No. 149 in team free-throw percentage (73.1).
- Struggle to generate turnovers: Baylor is No. 237 in opponent turnover percentage (16.2).
Baylor Name to Know
6-foot-5 sophomore guard Cameron Carr (No. 43)
+ Great scorer (20.3 points per game)
+ Elite from deep (41.9% on 3-pointers)
+ Good rebounder (5.1 per game)
- Okay free-throw shooter (76% at the line)
- Not much of a passer (2.3 assists per game)
- Turnover prone (1.8 per game)
Kansas-Baylor game prediction
After getting back on track and playing great defense against a tough Iowa State squad, it doesn’t get much easier for the Jayhawks.
The Bears’ offense is elite. Baylor has scored over 100 points multiple times this season and just dropped 94 on Oklahoma State. Kansas coach Bill Self was quick to mention that on Thursday.
Baylor has three players who average double-digit scoring, so KU can’t hyper-focus on just one player. Expect KU to switch less against the Bears, as that worked well against Iowa State.
Another thing: KU big man Flory Bidunga will likely stay near the paint, as his presence there is major disruption for opposing players attempting to drive to the rim.
On the other end, KU’s offense has a clear advantage. The Bears aren’t a great defensive squad and struggle to force turnovers, so KU should push the pace when it can in order to take advantage of a defense that likely won’t be set.
I like the Jayhawks to win and cover the spread in this one.
Prediction: Kansas 73, Baylor 62
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-6.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 13-4
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 11-6
KU Player to Watch: Melvin Council Jr.
Melvin Council Jr. (alongside Tre White) is proving to be one of the best transfer-portal pickups KU has had.
He is a great defender and is unafraid to attack the rim. Now that his shot has started to fall, that’s huge.
He will likely guard Baylor’s Cameron Carr Friday. He’ll no doubt try to force Carr to take some bad shots and perhaps force a few turnovers.
