Early Thoughts on the Baylor Bears

Saturday's game against Texas Tech was fun and all, but the current goal is and will always will be one thing: Big 12 Championship.  Wednesday the Jayhawks take their next step towards what we all hope will be their sixth straight regular season Big 12 title.  They do so by welcoming into the (not so) friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse, the Baylor Bears.  So let's do just as head coach Bill Self's boys and continue full steam ahead through this sixteen game marathon that we call the Big 12 conference schedule.

Would you believe me if I told you that Baylor has size this year?  Not just a tall guy, but depth, too?  It's definitely not what they are known for.  Two years ago, they had the ump-teen headed monster of guards (Bruce, Jerrells, Dunn, Dugat and Carter)  Last year, it was the same group sans Bruce.  This year, Dugat is graduated and gone.  Slowly but surely, they have shifted from fun-and-gun team that runs up and down on you all day shooting threes at an alarming rate, to a more regular style of play.  A style of play more on par with the general philosophy of basketball.

• A point guard with a high assist-turnover ratio.
  
• A 6'4" two guard that can hit shots from anywhere on the floor.
• A swingman that can not only score, but rebound.
• Three 6'10"+ big bodies to rotate in and out.

Check.  Check.  Check.  And, check.

After taking a closer look at them, Baylor really does look to be a "contender" and not so much a "pretender" anymore.  Scott Drew deserves some sort of  special award for what he has done with that program since taking over after the atrocity that Dave Bliss had turned it into.  Baylor is just one of those teams that I can't help but root for when I see them playing anybody not named Kansas.  They certainly look to be a tournament team.  Hopefully they can make it to 10-6 or 11-5 and help us by knocking off Texas in Waco.  Wishful thinking, I know, but it could happen.

Record: 14-2 (2-1)

Best Win(s): Xavier, @Arizona State, @South Carolina

Worst Loss(es): @Colorado

Informative Baylor Links

• KenPom Page
• Oklahoma @ Baylor Recap
• Baylor @ Colorado Recap
• Oklahoma State @ Baylor Recap
• Also, this blurb from their Yahoo! Sports team page, titled Strategy and Personnel
  

Season Recap: The impression made by Baylor has not been something achieved exclusively at home. The Bears sent a message to the rest of the Big 12 with back-to-back road wins in the SEC at Arkansas and at South Carolina. By opening with a decisive 31-point romp against Oklahoma, the Bears look for real, with strength at all positions thanks to the addition of F Ekpe Udoh, a Michigan transfer who’s been a force at both ends.

Player Rotation: Usual Starters—F Ekpe Udoh, F Anthony Jones, C Josh Lomers, G LaceDarius Dunn, G Tweety Carter. Key Subs—F Quincy Acy, G A.J. Walton.

More Baylor preview coverage to come within the week.