Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas State Wildcats Picks and Predictions March 5th 2025

Cincinnati Out to Even Season Series vs. Kansas State

With the Big 12 tournament looming, both Cincinnati and Kansas State enter Wednesday’s matchup looking to build momentum as they close out the regular season.

Cincinnati Hoping to Rebound After Loss to Houston

The Bearcats (17-12, 7-11 Big 12) are coming off a 73-64 loss at then-No. 4 Houston on Saturday. They jumped out to a 10-2 lead, only to watch Houston go on a 14-0 run and outscore them 35-15 to close the half.

Despite the setback, Cincinnati has turned its season around after a 2-8 start in conference play. They have won five of their last eight games, keeping their postseason hopes alive heading into their final two matchups.

Head coach Wes Miller has been adamant about his team’s mindset—win the next game and let the rest take care of itself.

“You’ve just got to win the next game,” Miller said. “I think you win the next game and see where you’re at. One of the things that was frustrating for our players eight games ago was everybody told them they had no chance to even be in consideration for the tournament.

“I told them that’s a bunch of BS. Just take care of the next day. Then you looked up and all of a sudden people were considering you again. I think we need to do the same thing. Just win the next game and see what happens from there.”

Cincinnati will also be looking to avenge its 70-67 loss to Kansas State back on Dec. 30 in Manhattan, Kan., a game that opened the Bearcats’ first Big 12 campaign.

Jizzle James, Cincinnati’s leading scorer at 12.8 points per game, will be a key factor as the Bearcats attempt to avoid a season sweep.

Kansas State Aiming for Another Win After Snapping Losing Streak

The Wildcats (14-15, 8-10 Big 12) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 65-56 home win over Colorado on Sunday.

They were led by David N’Guessan, who scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Dug McDaniel contributed 10 points and seven assists.

Kansas State played without Coleman Hawkins and Mobi Ikegwuruka, both out with injuries. Their availability for Wednesday remains uncertain.

Head coach Jerome Tang has been vocal about his frustrations with officiating, particularly a controversial rule allowing goaltending calls to be reviewed only at the next media timeout.

“It’s absolutely stupid,” Tang said. “They have to fix it. They need to go review it right away. That way, they can give us back the basketball rather than review it at the next media timeout and then we lose the points, and we lose the ball. That’s ridiculous.”

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What’s at Stake?

For Cincinnati, this game is a must-win if they want to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive and carry momentum into the Big 12 tournament.

For Kansas State, a win would solidify their mid-tier standing in the conference while potentially earning a higher seed for the Big 12 tournament.

With both teams desperate for a strong finish, expect a hard-fought battle in Cincinnati as the Bearcats look to even the season series against the Wildcats.