Jerome Tang has a problem. Honestly, if you’ve been watching the Wildcats lately, you know exactly what it is. The team is fighting for its life in the Big 12, and the upcoming kansas state game time against Utah on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, feels less like a mid-season matchup and more like a line in the sand.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum.
You can catch the action on CBS Sports Network. If you’re a radio person, the K-State Sports Network will have the call as usual. But the "time" everyone is really worried about isn't just the clock on the wall; it’s the ticking clock on a season that is dangerously close to slipping away.
The Stillwater Heartbreak and What It Means for Utah
Coming off an 84-83 loss to Oklahoma State just yesterday—a game where the Cowboys hit three free throws with 2.8 seconds left—the energy in Manhattan is... well, it’s tense. That loss dropped K-State to 9-9 overall and a staggering 0-5 in Big 12 play.
0-5.
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That is the first time the Wildcats have started league play with five straight losses since the 1996-97 season. The kansas state game time against Utah isn't just about showing up; it’s about stopping a historical slide. Utah comes into the Octagon of Doom looking to capitalize on a defense that has been, frankly, a bit leaky.
Breaking Down the Matchup
K-State’s offense isn't the issue. They just dropped 83 points in Stillwater and shot 50% from the floor. Junior P.J. Haggerty is playing like an All-American, logging all 40 minutes against the Cowboys and putting up 21 points. He’s scored in double figures in every single game this season.
The problem? Turnovers and defense.
- 16 turnovers against OSU led to 26 Cowboy points.
- They are allowing nearly 88 points per game in conference play.
- Opponents are feast-moding in the paint.
Utah isn't a team that lets you off the hook for those mistakes. If the Cats don't tighten up the interior by the time the kansas state game time rolls around Tuesday night, it's going to be a long evening in Manhattan.
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Looking Ahead: The Sunflower Showdown Looming
If the Utah game is the "must-win," then the following Saturday is the "everything" game. On January 24, 2026, the kansas state game time against the Kansas Jayhawks is locked in for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Think about the stakes. If K-State loses to Utah, they go into the Sunflower Showdown 0-6 in the conference. That’s a nightmare scenario. The Jayhawks are, as usual, sitting near the top of the rankings. Bramlage will be rocking, but the pressure on Tang’s squad will be suffocating.
Upcoming Schedule for K-State Men's Basketball:
- Jan 20 vs. Utah: 8:00 p.m. CT (CBS Sports Network)
- Jan 24 vs. Kansas: 7:00 p.m. CT (ESPN/Big 12 Now)
- Jan 27 at West Virginia: 7:30 p.m. CT
- Feb 1 vs. Iowa State: 1:00 p.m. CT
Don't Forget the Women's Team
While the men are struggling, Jeff Mittie’s crew is out here doing the opposite. They just pulled off a massive upset against 17th-ranked Texas Tech in Lubbock. If you’re looking for a kansas state game time for the women's team, they host Houston on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Tess Heal and Gina Garcia are a backcourt duo you actually need to see. Heal has 1,655 career points now. That’s elite. They are playing with a grit that the men's side is currently trying to rediscover.
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How to Prepare for Game Day
If you’re heading to Bramlage, show up early. The doors usually open 90 minutes before tip. Given the 0-5 start, the crowd needs to be the "six-man" more than ever.
- Check the Clear Bag Policy: It’s still in effect. Don't be the person sent back to their car.
- Parking: The lots around the stadium fill up fast for Big 12 play, especially with Utah being a relatively new conference foe that people are curious about.
- Tickets: Believe it or not, despite the record, tickets are still moving because of the Utah/KU back-to-back home stand.
Basically, the season is at a crossroads. We’ve seen Jerome Tang pull off late-season magic before, but the margin for error is gone. The kansas state game time on Tuesday is the start of a make-or-break week that will define whether March is for dancing or just for reflecting on what went wrong.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Khamari McGriff. He was in foul trouble and only played 14 minutes against OSU, but his presence in the paint is non-negotiable if they want to stop Utah’s bigs. If he's limited, the Wildcats are going to have to shoot the lights out from deep—something Abdi Bashir Jr. is luckily capable of doing.
Watch the clock. 8:00 p.m. Tuesday. See you at the Bram.