Baylor Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Bears to defeat Villanova

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) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears pats Mark Vital #11 in the final moments of their 83-71 loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

3. Jared Butler continuing his stellar play

If the Big 12 had to name a Player of the Year after just five games, sophomore guard Jared Butler would be the frontrunner. He leads the team with 18.8 ppg, 3.6 apg and two steals a night on 55% shooting from the field. The 6’3 guard has made 17 of 32 three-point attempts and has yet to miss a free throw this season (15/15). The shooting numbers are going to dip but not by much, as the rising star has taken the reigns of the team and ran with it.

The key matchup in this game will be at the point guard position between Baylor’s Butler and Villanova’s Collin Gillespie. He produced 18 points and nine assists in 37 minutes and likely will play a similar amount of minutes. Five-star freshman guard Bryan Antoine, who recently has been cleared to play for the Wildcats, played less than a minute against Mississippi State last time out. It’s likely that head coach Jay Wright won’t have him out there in a big matchup like this one as he’s trying to incorporate the young guard into the rotation.

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Does Butler have tp put up 20+ points in order for the Bears to win? No. But he does have to have a positive impact on the game, both offensively and defensively. If he can produce double-digits efficiently while holding Gillespie to a subpar game on the other end, I would predict that the Bears end up with the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship.

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