Baylor Bears
Big 12 (27-7, 12-6)
Baylor did not lose many games, but they did lose both regular season matchups against Missouri and Kansas. And of those four losses, only the Bears home game against Missouri was really close. Coach Scott Drew has a very talented team on his hands that can make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, but wins against San Diego State and Saint Mary’s early in the year may not give this group much confidence once the going gets tough in the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.
Big Wins: 11/15 San Diego State (77-67), 12/22 vs Saint Mary’s (72-59), 2/20 at Texas (77-72)
Bad Losses: 1/21 Missouri (88-89), 2/8 Kansas (54-68), 2/18 Kansas State (56-57)
Coach: Scott Drew (9 seasons at Baylor)
Why They Can Surprise:
Few teams in the nation can match Baylor’s frontcourt. Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller and Quincy Acy form a big, dynamic group that can do it all. Jones III is the best scorer on the team. At 6-11 and 235 pounds, the sophomore is a big body in the paint, but offensively he is so much more. Jones III can step outside and knock down the long ball or score with his back to the basket. He is also a beast on the glass. Speaking of rebounding, Acy is very strong in that department. Acy is a consistent scorer under the basket, but his work on the other end of the floor makes Baylor tough to beat. He always hits the glass hard and is a big shot blocking threat. Miller is just a freshman and is getting better every day. At 6-9, he is a big small forward and that causes a lot of trouble for opposing defenders. Miller will not shoot too many three-pointers, but he can knock them down. Miller is more apt to use his size and quickness to finish above the rim. The bench even has Anthony Jones and Cory Jefferson when the starters need a rest. Jones used to be a starter and has a great looking long range shot for a 6-10 forward. Jefferson adds another shot blocking threat to the team when Coach Drew needs to go that far down the bench.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Turnovers have been a problem for the Bears, but it is hard to blame Pierre Jackson. The junior college transfer has done an amazing job transitioning to this level of play. He is a great outside shooter and sneaky passer. When the backcourt needs somebody to make a play, Jackson is the guy. A.J. Walton, the starting point guard last year and part of this season, will spend some time on the floor with Jackson and take over the point guard duties himself. With both of them on the floor, Baylor has two fine playmakers and Jackson can spend time off of the ball and making shots. Brady Heslip is the starting shooting guard and he can knock down the three-point shot with great consistency. Unfortunately, that is about all he does, but he does it extremely well. The turnover problem goes far, far beyond the backcourt. Jackson and Walton can lead this team and get the ball into the scorers. They just need to put the big guys in better positions to not turn the ball over.
Probable Starters:
Pierre Jackson, Junior, Guard, 13.3 ppg, 5.8 apg
Brady Heslip, Sophomore, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 1.0 apg
Quincy Miller, Freshman, Forward, 11.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Quincy Acy, Senior, Forward, 11.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg
Perry Jones III, Sophomore, Forward, 14.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Deuce Bello, Freshman, Guard, 3.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Cory Jefferson, Sophomore, Forward, 3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Anthony Jones, Senior, Forward, 5.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg
A.J. Walton, Junior, Guard, 4.0 ppg, 2.8 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 74.5 (39th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 63.6 (83, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.2 (35, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.7 (52, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.8 (104, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.5 (28, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.9 (26, 2)
Rebound Margin: 4.9 (37, 3)
Assists Per Game: 15.0 (35, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.1 (228, 10)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
Baylor 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Sam Houston State
Baylor 2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Old Dominion
Baylor 2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over St. Mary's
Baylor 2010 NCAA Regional Final loss to Duke
Baylor 2009 NIT First Round win over Georgetown
Baylor 2009 NIT Second Round win over Virginia Tech
Baylor 2009 NIT Quarterfinal win over Auburn
Baylor 2009 NIT Semifinal win over San Diego State
Baylor 2009 NIT Final loss to Penn State
Baylor 2008 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Purdue
Baylor 2001 NIT First Round loss to New Mexico
Baylor 1990 NIT First round loss to Mississippi State
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
