Baylor Basketball: Why Bears get so many shots blocked in 2019-20

Baylor Basketball: Why Bears get so many shots blocked in 2019-20 season

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 11: Mark Vital #11 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears congratulate MaCio Teague #31 after a basket during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 11, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

WACO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 15: Tristan Clark #25 of the Baylor Bears (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Conclusion

Baylor’s high offensive block rate is more of a curiosity than a real problem for Baylor this season. If it IS a bit of a concern, it’s that the blocks are contributing to the team’s 258th-best 2-point percentage (47.4%).

In terms of evaluating WHY the Bears have the block rate they do, I don’t have access to all the stats that would make this analysis easier. It’d be nice to know, for example, the exact number of shots that each Baylor player has had blocked this season. We have to work with what we’ve got, however.

Despite Houston’s “high offensive rebounding rate-low block rate,” combination, the contested putbacks following Baylor’s offensive rebounds are likely contributing to the block rate. Additionally, while its players deserve a ton of credit for their play this season, they’ve simply been susceptible to having their shots blocked.

Big 12 power rankings. dark. Next

This has been partially due to factors like limited size and athleticism. But when it comes to “limited athleticism” players like Butler and Teague, their skill and “functional athleticism” more than makeup for it. And when it comes to “limited size” players like Vital and Gillespie, it’s partially their size that enables them to be as versatile as they are defensively.

Home/Baylor Bears