Kansas State Hosts Cincinnati in Struggling Big 12 Matchup

Wildcats and Bearcats look to end recent skids as season winds down

Feb. 11, 2026 at 3:31am

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Two struggling Big 12 teams will meet up on Wednesday night as Kansas State hosts Cincinnati in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats have dropped nine of their last 10 games and are currently tied for last place in the conference, while the Bearcats have lost four of their past six. Kansas State will lean on leading scorer P.J. Haggerty, who is averaging 23.3 points per game, while Cincinnati is coming off its best Big 12 win of the season, a 92-72 thrashing of UCF.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams desperately trying to find their footing as the Big 12 regular season winds down. Both squads have struggled mightily in conference play, and a win could provide a much-needed boost heading into the final stretch and potentially the postseason.

The details

Kansas State has dropped four straight and nine of 10 overall, putting them in a last-place tie with Utah in the Big 12 standings. The Wildcats were dealing with a flu bug during a recent blowout loss to Iowa State, but showed promise in a narrow defeat at TCU where P.J. Haggerty scored 30 points. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has lost four of six but is coming off its best Big 12 win, a 92-72 rout of UCF in which the Bearcats shot a season-best 58.9% from the field. Estonian guard Kerr Kriisa is listed as probable after missing four games with a shoulder injury.

  • Kansas State and Cincinnati will meet on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 in Manhattan, Kansas.
  • The Wildcats have dropped four straight and nine of 10 overall in Big 12 play.

The players

P.J. Haggerty

Kansas State's leading scorer, averaging 23.3 points per game.

Kerr Kriisa

Cincinnati guard who is listed as probable after missing four games with a shoulder injury.

Baba Miller

Cincinnati's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“We have to bring this kind of focus and energy to Bramlage (Coliseum). Our fans deserve that right now. ... Our fans deserve this kind of focus and energy.”

— Jerome Tang, Kansas State Head Coach

“Keyshuan's minutes in the first half were significant. He's going to be an elite college guard. Elite. I see (him) in a Final Four one day because he's got leadership characteristics. He's got the competitive edge and all the ability.”

— Wes Miller, Cincinnati Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will look to build momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season and potentially the Big 12 Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams desperate for a win as they try to turn around disappointing seasons. The outcome could have major implications for their postseason aspirations, making this a crucial Big 12 clash down the stretch.