2014 NCAA Tournament Profile: Baylor Bears
By Joe Nardone
Mar 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Baylor Bears cheerleaders entertain the crowd during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the championship game of the Big 12 Conference college basketball tournament at Sprint Center. Iowa State won 74 – 65. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Baylor Bears
Record: (24-11, 9-9 Big 12)
RPI: 30
BPI: 35
Conference: Big 12
How They Qualified: At-large
It is kind of funny to look back at the anti Baylor Bears narrative from earlier in the season. Pretty much because the expectations for this team were so high that anything other than saving the world from the polar-vortex would be a letdown.
Fast-forward to today and their once thought to be bad losses aren’t as bad (most are tournament teams) and they ended up playing in the best conference in the country, the Big 12.
Baylor won six straight until falling in the Big 12 Title game.
What You Need to Know
Leading Scorer: Cory Jefferson (13.5 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Cory Jefferson (8.4 rpg)
Leading Passer: Kenny Chery (5.0 apg)
Bad Losses: Texas Tech
Good Wins: Colorado, Dayton, Iowa State, Texas
What to Expect
Baylor is playing (our secret lovers) the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their first game. To say that this is a tough opener would be an understatement, but it’s not like the Bears have not played toughed competition all year long.
It will be very interesting to see which, if any, Baylor players steps up to the mad challenge that is the month of March.
Regardless, the Baylor Bears are going dancing in the NCAA Tournament!