Kansas Basketball: Jayhawks on pace for their 13th straight Big 12 title with win over Baylor

Kansas basketball snagged their second straight win over a top 10 team on Wednesday evening as they knocked off Baylor at home.

Who would’ve thought that Kansas would knock off two top-five teams without one of their key bigs, Carlton Bragg Jr.?

Well, that’s exactly what the Jayhawks did despite playing a Kentucky team that featured Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo and a Baylor team that has the strongest front line in the Big 12.

On Wednesday evening, the Jayhawks defeated the Bears in a top three showdown at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, beating Scott Drew’s team by five. Kansas is now 20-2 overall and has lost just one game (at West Virginia) in the Big 12 Conference.

The suddenly red hot, Josh Jackson, led the way for Kansas on Wednesday, as he chipped in 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Frank Mason III had an off-game (3-of-12 shooting), but finished with 19 points and made all 12 of his free throws.

While Jackson was terrific defensively, especially in the second half when he helped body up Johnathan Motley and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Landen Lucas served as the Jayhawks’ X-factor.

More from Baylor Bears

Kansas’ lone true big man who played major minutes scored just five points, however, he grabbed 11 rebounds and most importantly, stayed out of foul trouble while being physical and tough in the post.

That’s huge because the biggest mismatch in this match-up was Baylor’s loaded front line (Motley, Lual-Acuil and Terry Maston) versus Kansas’ thin lineup. Thanks to Lucas, Jackson and Dwight Coleby (six rebounds in six minutes), the Jayhawks were able to finish even on the glass and record five blocks.

But thanks to Lucas, Jackson and Dwight Coleby (six rebounds in six minutes), the Jayhawks were able to finish even on the glass and record five blocks. They also shut down Motley in the second half — he scored just two points — and Lual-Acuil shot just 4-of-11 from the field for just 10 points.

The Jayhawks minimized their biggest disadvantage with a zone defense that carried over from their win over Kentucky. Self didn’t play the 2-3 zone all night but he mixed it in consistently to help keep Lucas out of floor trouble and hide their lack of rim protection.

And then there’s Jackson, who keeps plugging along as one of the hottest players in the Big 12.

In his last three games, Jackson is averaging 22 points, eight rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 9-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Jackson’s play is important because there is a ton of pressure on Mason and Devonte’ Graham’s shoulders. With just a seven-man rotation, the Jayhawks need balance within their starting lineup and multiple options to keep defenses off-balance. Add in the fact that Jackson creates mismatches and provides the Jayhawks with more space when he plays at the four, and you can see how valuable his presence is.

These developments (Lucas and Jackson’s terrific play) have Kansas on pace to win their 13th straight Big 12 title. It’s almost a foregone conclusion at this point, especially given the fact that Kansas has lost only nine games at Phog Allen Fieldhouse with Self as the head man.

But that shouldn’t discount what Baylor has done this season and what they did on Wednesday night. The Bears had a chance to tie this game on their final possession and they played Kansas wire-to-wire on the road. The Bears have the best resume in the country and have been consistent since the beginning of the season. That’s a recipe of a team that has the potential to do damage in March as a potential two or three seed.

Next: Top 25 features upsets galore

Kansas won this game and they have the upper hand on the conference title, but Baylor impressed as well. If you don’t think the Bears are the real deal, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your stance.

Home/Baylor Bears