Baylor vs. Oregon: 3 key storylines to watch in the matchup

TULSA, OK - MARCH 17: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts in the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

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PROVIDENCE, RI – MARCH 17: Makai Mason #11 of the Yale Bulldogs shoots the ball in the second half against the Baylor Bears during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Dunkin’ Donuts Center on March 17, 2016 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

Both teams are finally getting healthy

One thing that has made it tough to get a read on both teams early on is the fact that they both have not been at full strength for one reason or another and are just now seeing what they look like with a full complement of players.

For Baylor, Makai Mason is a graduate transfer from Yale and missed the first three games of the season with an ankle injury. Since returning to the lineup he has scored at least 10 points in five of his six games and at least 18 in three of them, including a 22-point seven rebound effort in a win over Arizona.

Fellow guard and first-year transfer Mario Kegler also missed the first six games of the season due to a violation of team policy. Since making his season debut, the 6-7 transfer from Mississippi State has averaged 12 points and six rebounds.

Oregon has also been without a first-year player until recently as well. Highly-touted forward recruit Louis King missed the Ducks’ first seven games of the year with a knee injury. The 6-9 King has been shaking off the game rust in his first three games, in his debut he scored 11 against Omaha, but has struggled in his two games since, scoring seven points going 2-10 from the field.

Just as Oregon gets King back, they have lost freshman star Bol Bol to a foot injury, with a timetable for his return uncertain.

This will be the toughest test for both teams and with both as healthy as they have been since the beginning of the season, now we might be able to start figuring out what the Bears and Ducks will look like going forward.

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