The most frustrating thing about this defeat for K-State is that the Wildcats played well enough to win for much of the afternoon. But they fell behind 14-0 in the opening moments and were unable to cut the deficit closer than six the rest of the way.

The Kansas Jayhawks (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) will host their in-state and conference rivals, the Kansas State Wildcats (7-9, 1-4 Big 12) this Saturday in a must-win game. The game is set to tip off at 12 p.m. CT in Allen Fieldhouse.

The No. 9-ranked Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team is set to play in-state rival Kansas State on Saturday. Both teams are coming off losses: K-State fell to Texas Tech on Tuesday and KU stumbled at Iowa State on Wednesday.

The Kansas Jayhawks are coming off a loss to arguably their biggest rival in the Big 12, only to face their in-state rival in the Kansas State Wildcats. But with the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse waiting,

Jerome Tang and the Wildcats will catch a break without KJ Adams in the lineup as he recovers from an injury. But he is only averaging 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds this season. KU can probably get by with a next-man-up approach in this game.

KU plays host to rival K-State at noon Saturday in the first Sunflower Showdown of the 2024-25 college hoops season.