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Oklahoma State looks to end its four-game losing streak when they host No. 2 Baylor on Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Cowboys (9-7, 0-3 Big 12) have lost four straight and four of their past six with one win against lowly Southeastern Louisiana in the mix. OSU has yet to win a conference game this season and enter the game against the Bears as major underdogs.
The Bears are one of the best teams in the country having reeled off 13 straight victories, including a 67-55 win at No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 11.
Who: No. 2 Baylor (14-1, 4-0, KenPom No. 3)
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, OK
When: 11 a.m. | Saturday, Jan 18
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: Watch ESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network / TuneIn
Live stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
ESPN Favorite: Baylor 64.9%
All-time series: OSU leads 30-20
Tickets: Stubhub for as low as $15
Projected Starters
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The Opponent
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To say Baylor and Oklahoma State are trending in polar opposite directions would be a drastic understatement. The Bears find themselves 14-1 on the season and haven’t lost since November 8th against Washington, 67-64 on a neutral floor. During their 13 game winning streak, they’ve defeated 5 ranked teams including Arizona, Butler, at Texas Tech, and most impressively, at Kansas where they beat the Jayhawks by 12. Without a doubt, they’re one of the hottest teams in the country, and they Cowboys will be in for their greatest challenge so far this season.
Jared Butler leads the way for Bears, averaging 16.7/2.9/2.9 per game while shooting 44.4% from the field, including +40% from deep. The sophomore from Reserve, Louisiana scored his season high of 30 in their first game of the year against Central Arkansas and has been one of the most consistent scorers in the Big 12 so far. MaCio Teague also scores well at 14.6 points per game.
Let’s be honest. A win here would be nothing short of a massive upset for the Cowboys, and one that they could potentially use to catapult them through the rest of the season. The more likely result is a fifth straight loss with a trip to Ames on the horizon. Every game from this point forward should be treated as must-win, but this one is going to be on the toughest to get.