Oklahoma State @ Kansas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 27, 2020 ) Kansas 65, Oklahoma State 50

Kansas may be on the verge of becoming the No. 1 team in the country for a second time this season, but its path to another Big 12 regular-season title is still very much up in the air. The third-ranked Jayhawks set their sights on a 13th straight victory Monday when they go for a season sweep at home against Oklahoma State.

Udoka Azubuike put Kansas on his back in Saturday's 64-61 win at top-ranked Baylor, tallying 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds to end the Bears' Big 12-record 23-game winning streak and pull the Jayhawks into a first-place tie atop the conference standings with four games remaining. “It meant a lot to our guys, a lot more than a league race. … I think Baylor is the best team that we have played against since I’ve been in the league the last 17 years," Kansas coach Bill Self said. The Jayhawks, who ascended to No. 1 just over two months ago but held that spot for only one week following a Dec. 21 loss at Villanova, have to like their chances about finishing the season strong with three of the conference's four worst teams remaining on the schedule. The Cowboys have been a handful for opponents in recent weeks, however, winning for the third time in four games following Saturday's 83-66 victory over Oklahoma.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (14-13, 4-10 Big 12): Cameron McGriff (11.4 points, 6.8 rebounds) dominated on both ends of the floor versus the Sooners, shooting 11-for-17 from the floor and matching a career high with 20 points while also serving as the primary defender on Oklahoma's Brady Manek, who scored only two points after erupting for 30 in the in-state rivals' first meeting on Feb. 1. "Cam, for the better part of a month, has been our most consistent player, quite honestly. Even in the games we haven't won, he's played the right way and the way that we need more guys to play like," coach Mike Boynton told reporters. Freshman Kalib Boone (4.5 points) provided 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench Saturday and has reached double figures in three of his last five outings after doing so only twice over his first 21.

ABOUT KANSAS (24-3, 13-1): Azubuike's 19 rebounds Saturday were the most by a Jayhawk since Andrew Wiggins collected 19 on Jan. 13, 2014, while eight of his 11 made field goals were dunks, giving him 90 slams for the season. Marcus Garrett (9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.9 steals) tallied nine points, seven assists and two steals; although the junior guard was held under 10 points for the third time in four contests, he has recorded at least six assists in three consecutive outings and multiple steals in six straight. Devon Dotson (Big 12-best 18.2 points, 2.1 steals) reached double figures for the 25th time in 26 outings with 13 points Saturday and added a pair of steals to give him 11 over his last five games and 55 for the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Garrett nearly posted only the third triple-double in school history in Kansas' 65-50 victory over the Cowboys on Jan. 27, finishing with seven points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

2. McGriff is averaging 19.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in his last three outings versus the Jayhawks.

3. In games in which he has at least five field-goal attempts, Azubuike has shot at least 80 percent from the floor 11 times this season.

PREDICTION: Kansas 74, Oklahoma State 65