Baylor went winless (0-2) last week, which dropped them to No. 6 in the latest AP poll. That stretch included its first home loss (56-54) of the season to Kansas State, during which the Bears barely got anything going offensively as they shot a season-low 38.5 percent from the floor. They also committed 16 turnovers and didn’t capitalize on their free throws (7-for-13).
Junior forward Johnathan Motley was the only player to score in double figures for the Bears, who’ve lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. He finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, but was 6-for-17 from the field.
The Bears should be due for a bounce-back game, though. They’re far too talented to continue struggling, and plus, the Oklahoma State defense has a habit of leaving guys unguarded. The Cowboys allow nearly 80 points per game this season.
Motley, along with Manu Lecomte, can expect to see a lot of opportunities. Both currently lead Baylor in scoring, with 16.2 and 12.3 points per game respectively. The Bears are averaging 74.0 points collectively, and have won five of the last seven meetings, including the previous three, versus the Cowboys.
Betting on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (15-8, 4-6 Big 12)
Oklahoma State is the hottest team in college basketball right now. The Cowboys put together five-straight wins after topping then-No. 7 West Virginia on Saturday, 82-75.
The offense continued to click for the Cowboys, who shot at a sizzling 62.5 percent from the floor and went 8-for-13 from three-point distance. Their second-leading point-getter this season, Jeffrey Carroll (17.3), carried them with 20 points, including 17 in the first half alone, while top scorer Jawun Evans (18.3) added 18 points, marking his fourth-straight game with 16 or more points.
Phil Forte III, meanwhile, came up clutch again for Oklahoma State, scoring all of his 13 points in the second half. On the season, he’s averaging 13.9 points per game, the third-highest in the team.
The scoring prowess of Evans and Carroll and Forte’s leadership will dictate the fate of the Cowboys in this huge showdown with sixth-ranked Baylor, which won the first meeting this season in Waco, 61-57.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cowboys (-2.5) get their revenge, edging past Baylor, 81-76.
