Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

By Jason Kinander

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears talks to his players at a time out during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on December 29, 2017 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 77-53. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears talks to his players at a time out during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on December 29, 2017 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 77-53. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

8. Baylor Bears (7-4)

Heading into the 2018-19 season, it was fairly obvious that Baylor wouldn’t be much of a threat in the Big 12.

Early losses to Texas Southern, Ole Miss and Wichita State had upheld that belief, but as of late, despite a loss to Stephen F. Austin, Baylor might be surging.

The Bears pulled off an impressive 10 point win at home over Oregon, who was ranked to begin the season. While the Ducks have fallen off a bit as of late, the win over a power conference opponent is certainly impressive, especially by a ten point margin.

While the win over Oregon is nice, Baylor has a lot of work to do. The Bears have a really difficult month of January coming up, starting with their Big 12 opener against TCU on the road, followed by games against Iowa State and Kansas.

Yale transfer Makai Mason has been a huge contributor for Baylor since returning from injury, averaging 14 points per game. Mason will need to continue his high level production for Baylor, as guard Jake Lindsey is out for the remainder of the season.

This year’s Baylor team is much different from in past years. This team is young, and are built off of the play of their guards rather than the customary big man-heavy production in past years.

Baylor will have a tough time finding its way out of the bottom of the Big 12 regardless of what Mason can do, but if they can find some sort of consistency, maybe the Bears can surprise some people.

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