Baylor would love to grab a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament a week from now.
Kansas State just wants to be part of the 68-team field on Selection Sunday.
Given the high level of motivation for both teams, the meeting Thursday in Kansas City of third-seeded Baylor and sixth-seeded K-State may be the most intriguing opening matchup in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, which runs Wednesday through Saturday.
Currently projected as a second seed in the NCAA tournament by ESPN and a third seed by CBS, Baylor probably needs a win or two at the minimum in Kansas City to secure a No.