The Baylor Bears are victorious in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament in a 78 to 69 win over the Syracuse Orange-men Thursday night in the west region. Both teams came out shooting lights out beyond the arch in the first half as the Bears uncharacteristically rained a barrage of 3 balls hitting 10/18 in the first half and then 5/11 in the 2nd half.
Both teams ended up with a total of 28 three-pointers made in the game, the most in NCAA history for a non overtime game. Baylor regrouped after losing four straight coming into the first round of the tournament.
Baylor guard Mario Kegler (4) and Syracuse forward Elijah Hughes (33) vie for the ball during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeff Swinger)
Makai Mason # 10 scored 20 points in the match. Ultimately the long ball was the difference and transition play by Baylor that led to easy buckets. Jim Boeheim and the Orange-men were just out hustled by the bears offense.
Baylor will face # 1 seed Gonzaga in the 2nd Round in Utah this Saturday.
With the exception of Macho Man Randy Savage, nothing says “madness” quite like the month of March.
The
best tournament in all of sports is once again approaching, and the
state of Texas will no doubt be well represented. Beginning with the Big
12, here’s a look at the locks, bubble teams and schools that will need
to win their respective conference tourneys in order to earn an invite
to the big dance.
BIG 12
LOCKS: Texas Tech, Baylor
The
Red Raiders have spent much of the season in or near the top 10 and
will be competing in the NCAA Tournament this March. Texas Tech is fresh
off of an eye-opening 91-62 win over Kansas at home and is led by
sophomore guard Jarrett Culver (18.0 points per game), who is a hometown
product from Lubbock Coronado High School.
The
Bears are Texas’ second best bet from the Big 12 to qualify for the
NCAA Tournament, as Baylor holds quality conference wins against Iowa
State (twice), Texas Tech and Oklahoma (twice). The Bears can add to
that résumé down the stretch against Texas, Kansas State and Kansas, but
they already appear to be in the field of 68.
ON THE BUBBLE: Texas, TCU
The
Longhorns have endured a roller-coaster ride this season. Head coach
Shaka Smart’s team holds impressive victories against North Carolina,
K-State, Oklahoma, Kansas and Baylor. Then again, Texas has also dropped
games to Radford, Providence and Oklahoma State. A large portion of the
Longhorns’ case could rest upon the status of suspended guard Kerwin
Roach and whether or not he is reinstated by the school.
The
Horned Frogs don’t have much in the way of non-conference wins, but
they’ve been more than competitive in a deep Big 12. TCU managed to
sweep Iowa State in a pair of meetings and has also knocked off Baylor
and Texas. Jamie Dixon, now in his third year at the helm of the
program, could be a dark horse candidate for conference coach of the
year.
Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) goes to the basket defended by Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle (21) and forward Brady Manek (35) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
LOCK: Houston
The
Cougars aren’t just a mortal lock to make the tournament, they’ll also
likely be the top seed from the entire state. Houston has dominated its
conference opponents and owned a 26-1 overall record and a lofty No. 8
ranking in the nation as of Feb. 25. The Cougars are led by the tandem
of Corey Davis Jr. (15.7 points per game) and Armori Brooks (14.1 points
per game). Houston is coached by Kelvin Sampson, who is a former
assistant with the NBA’s Houston Rockets and a former head coach at
Oklahoma.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: SMU
SEC
IN
NEED OF A MIRACLE: Texas A&M’s only shot is to win the Southeastern
Conference Tournament. Otherwise, it’s on to baseball season in
Aggieland.
BEST OF THE REST
SUN
BELT CONFERENCE: There are a few conferences with just one available
bid, and their league tournaments will determine who will advance. In
the Sun Belt, Texas State is the current leader and will be the favorite
to earn a spot in the big dance. However, a strong challenge from
George State and/or Georgia Southern is likely, and UT-Arlington is
hoping to play the role of spoiler from its fourth-place position.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
CONFERENCE
USA: UTSA has a shot to advance from Conference USA, as does North
Texas, but Old Dominion is the odds-on favorite to run the table in the
conference tournament. The Roadrunners are among a four-team pack
fighting for second place behind Old Dominion, and the Mean Green are
one of only two 20-win teams in Conference USA.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Rice, UTEP
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE: Sam Houston State has built a comfortable lead in the race for the Southland’s regular season crown and looks ready to make more noise in the league’s postseason tournament. Abilene Christian and Lamar aren’t out of the conversation by a long shot, though. Abilene Christian is already over the 20-win mark, while Lamar headed into the home stretch of its season schedule riding a five-game conference winning streak.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern appear to be the biggest roadblocks for one another in each program’s quest for the SWAC’s lone NCAA Tournament bid. Prairie View A&M looks as though it will win the regular season conference crown, while Texas Southern is hoping to turn the tables in conference tourney.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Lastly, UT Rio Grande Valley will need a miracle in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament to unseat heavy favorite New Mexico. UT Rio Grande Valley has had a respectable season and is in the middle of the pack in the league standings, but there isn’t any room for error.
When you’ve won three straight Big 12 championships like Oklahoma, you’re No. 1 until proven otherwise. But the gap between Oklahoma and the rest of the conference probably shrunk this offseason. The Sooners lost a legend in 2017 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield (formerly of Lake Travis). They also must replace unanimous All-Americans in left tackle Orlando Brown and tight end Mark Andrews. It’s safe to say Oklahoma won’t lead the nation in yards per play like it has the last two years. With a defense that hasn’t ranked above 70th during the same time frame, the time is ripe for someone else to take over the throne. But the Sooners are 26-2 in the Big 12 the last three years, and a run game that returns two preseason All-Big 12 offensive lineman with a preseason All-Big 12 tailback in Rodney Anderson (who rushed for 1,079 yards in his last eight games last year) could absolutely pummel a conference that’s isn’t exactly known for its defensive physicality.
West Virginia
Having the best quarterback goes a long way in the game of football, and that’s especially true in the Big 12. The first team all-conference QB has won the league each of the last six years, and this year’s best gunslinger hails in Morgantown. Senior Will Grier averaged nine yards per attempt last year. No other returning Big 12 quarterback averaged more than 7.7. Grier also has a bevy of weapons in senior wide receiver David Sills (who led the country with 18 touchdowns last year), senior slot-man Gary Jennings (fourth in receptions with 97) and two potentially high-impact transfers in former Alabama wideout T. J. Simmons and tight end Jovanni Haskins from Miami. There are certainly questions on defense and in terms of depth, but this offense has the potential to blow the Big 12 away. The Mountaineers also benefit from getting Oklahoma at home on Black Friday in conditions that could be mighty uncomfortable for a team from the south.
TCU
After a two-year adjustment period to get used to the Big 12, TCU has shown it can win against the big boys three top-ten finishes in the last four years. Recruiting has picked up with it. After averaging a 247 composite recruiting ranking of 39 between 2013-2015, the Horned Frogs have averaged a top 25 mark the last three seasons. Head coach Gary Patterson will say he doesn’t care about star ratings, but teams that recruit better typically have an easier time reloading. TCU will start a young quarterback behind an inexperienced offensive line, but the skill position talent has never been better. Senior Kavontae Turpin and sophomore Jaelen Reagor are home run hitters out wide, and the 1-2 punch of junior running backs Darius Anderson and Dewo Olonilua could be devastating if the offensive line opens up holes. Seniors Ty Sommers (a versatile DE/LB hybrid) and Ben Benogu (16.5 tackles for a loss) return to lead a defense that topped the Big 12 in scoring and yardage last year. The unit could be bolstered further by linebacker Jawuan Johnson, a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois who made 18 tackles for a loss last season.
Oklahoma State
There’s more uncertainty than usual in Stillwater, but with three ten-win seasons in a row – and six in the last eight years – it’s hard to see the Cowboys falling too far out of contention. The offense should trend more toward the ground game with 5-foot-10 dynamo Justice Hill returning from a 1,467-yard, 15-TD sophomore season. Who starts at quarterback is anybody’s guess after Mason Rudolph (4,553 yards, 35 TDs) graduated to the NFL. But whoever wins the job will have two sure-handed targets at wide receiver in senior Jalen McCleskey and sophomore Dillon Stoner, with plenty of potential breakout stars ready to emerge alongside them from a deep position group. Head coach Mike Gundy let go of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer this offseason after ranking in the bottom half of Big 12 scoring defense for the third time in the last four years. He will be replaced by former Duke defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, whose 4-2-5 scheme may be a better fit for the Big 12.
Kansas State
Long live Bill Snyder. The old wizard is still pulling wins out of his hat at age 78. His newest trick is a two-quarterback system with sophomore Skylar Thompson and junior Alex Delton. It’s sometimes said that if you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none. But Snyder brought both to Big 12 media days and each provides a different flavor to the offense, with Thompson being the better passer, but Delton the better runner. They both had their moments last year and will be aided by an offensive line that returns all five starters, including All-American right tackle Dalton Risner, and a strong running back core led by junior Alen Barnes. For the Wildcats to really contend, however, they need to get back to playing defense. Kansas State hasn’t ranked in the top half of the country in yards per play allowed for the last three years.
Photo UT Athletics
Texas
Texas is one of those blue blood programs that’s always one good coaching hire from being great. Is Tom Herman the guy? Some of the best coaches from the last 20 years made significant jumps in their second seasons at programs with similar stature to Texas. Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, Pete Carroll and Nick Saban (at Alabama) went a combined 27-22 in their inaugural campaigns before going 50-4 in year two and embarking on dominant runs. For Texas to make that leap, it’ll have to replace some key players on a defense that carried a laggy offense to seven wins last year. But the Longhorns always have some talented dudes. Senior defensive end Breckyn Hager (from Westlake) and senior cornerback Kris Boyd both made the preseason All-Big 12 team. The offensive line was a disaster last year but will be helped by potential NFL left tackle Calvin Anderson, a graduate transfer from Rice (and formerly of Westlake). I’ll bet anybody sophomore Sam Ehlinger is the opening day starter at QB. He’s a better fit for Herman’s offense with his power running style, and if he cuts down on the turnovers, it could go a long way in Texas flipping its 1-4 record in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Texas Tech
One of the biggest surprises from the preseason All-Big 12 team was seeing three Texas Tech players on defense in senior linebacker Dakota Allen, junior nickelback Justus Parker and senior safety Jah’Shawn Johnson. But the Red Raiders were better than usual on defense last year and could improve further with 20 of 22 players returning on the two-deep. Texas Tech had a revolving door at defensive coordinator for a while (six in six years) before settling on David Gibbs in 2015. After two tough years of implementing his system and building a culture, Gibbs’ unit finally moved the needle in year three and could be poised for even better things this fall. The offense must figure out who it’s quarterback and wide receivers are, but that’s never been a problem in Lubbock. With an offensive line that returns all five starters, Texas Tech fans are optimistic their team could pull off it’s first winning record in conference play since 2009.
Iowa State
Iowa State shocked everybody with upsets of Big Championship Game participants Oklahoma and TCU on its way to an 8-5 record – its best mark since 2000. Can the Cyclones keep it going? According to Pro Football Focus, junior David Montgomery has the highest elusive rating of any returning running back in the country. Quarterback Kyle Kempt was granted a sixth year of eligibility after completing 66.3 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions last year. But he’ll miss playmaking wide receiver Allen Lazard, who graduated after making back-to-back All-Big 12 first teams. Iowa State caught the Big 12 off guard when it switched to a 3-3-5 defense right before conference play. The scheme was a better fit for their personnel and helped the Cyclones hold their league opponents an average of two touchdowns below their season scoring averages. Get that kind of production again, and last year can definitely be repeated.
Baylor
Even though I have them ranked No. 9, I actually think Baylor has a lot of promise. If I were to separate the Big 12 into tiers, I would have OU/WVU/TCU as the contenders, Kansas as the lone punching bag, and the other six programs battling it out in a solid middle class. With good health, a few friendly bounces, and maybe some atrocious Big 12 officiating that works in its favor, I could see this team sneaking into the top half of the conference. I feel this way because quarterback Charlie Brewer played magnificently for a true freshman. The Lake Travis product completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 1,562 yards (7.7 yards per attempt) with 11 touchdowns and four picks. He’s arguably the second-best returning QB in the league. I also believe in head coach Matt Rhule’s ability to develop players, especially on defense. In his last two years at Temple, he had six players selected in the NFL draft, and five of those came from the defensive side. That’s more than any Big 12 member produced from its defense during that time.
Kansas
The Jayhawks haven’t won more than one conference game since 2008. Of their last 66 Big 12 contests, they’ve lost 63 of them. They lost every game against FBS competition last year by double-digits. The average scoring margin in their nine Big 12 losses was 32.1. Head coach David Beaty inherited a dumpster fire when he stepped in before the 2015 season. Previous coach Charlie Weis’s reckless plan to invest heavy on junior college players backfired and left Beaty with only 38 returning scholarship players. Beaty’s been playing catch-up from day one and is, unfortunately, running out of time. Coaches typically don’t make it past year four without significant improvement and Kansas just hired a new athletic director who might want to bring in his own guy. If Beaty does save his job, it’ll be because an experienced squad that returns 91 percent of its production (second in the country) gels together and does much better in the turnover department, where its -17 mark was worst in Power Five last year.
