The postseason excitement is palpable as the BYU Cougars gear up for their first-round clash in the Big 12 Tournament against the Kansas State Wildcats. Set in Kansas City, this Tuesday night showdown promises to be an intriguing matchup, with BYU entering as the 10th seed and Kansas State as the 15th.
The Cougars come in with a solid 21-10 record, having split their conference games at 9-9. They’re riding high on momentum after a thrilling 82-76 victory over Texas Tech, who was ranked 10th at the time. That win was a much-needed boost following a tough three-game losing streak.
On the flip side, Kansas State has had a challenging season, sitting at 12-19 overall with a 3-15 conference record. Their last outing was a tough loss to Kansas, ending 104-85. The Wildcats are navigating some midseason changes, now under the guidance of Matthew Driscoll after Jerome Tang's departure.
These teams have already crossed paths this season, with BYU claiming a 10-point victory back on January 3rd in Manhattan, finishing 83-73. Historically, the Cougars hold a slight edge in their encounters, leading the series 6-5.
However, on neutral ground, Kansas State has the upper hand with a 2-1 record. Notably, this will be their first meeting in the Big 12 Tournament since BYU joined the conference three years ago.
ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives BYU a strong 84 percent chance of advancing. The stakes are high, as the winner will face the 7th seed, West Virginia, on Wednesday at 5 p.m. MST, with coverage on ESPN2.
Catch the action at 5:00 p.m. MST at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla, and Angel Gray bringing you all the play-by-play and analysis. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an electrifying start to the tournament!