It looks like another battle between Kansas and Baylor Basketball for the Big 12 regular-season title. Here’s why the Bears have the advantage between the two.
Over the past decade, the Big 12 has been dominated by primarily Kansas. There are number two contenders that come and go, but none that are consistently near the top. Texas Tech looked to be on that trend over the past few years but was slightly underwhelming last season.
The new candidate to fight with Kansas at the top is Baylor Basketball. The rise last season up the rankings to #1, where they held that spot longer than any other team over the course of the season. The Bears relied on many things last season and had a rather spontaneous group of guys.
From a few four-star HS recruits to multiple D1 transfers. To their leading rebounder and starting center being a former D3 role player. Scott Drew truly did a masterful job with the formation of his team and the spots he put them in, in order to be successful.
Baylor used a smaller lineup, with playing 6-4 Mark Vital at the 4 and 6’10 Freddie Gillespie at the 5. The Bears beat you with above-average defense at all levels of the floor and the quickness to accelerate past defenders. A big part of their success.
The Bears took down Kansas in Lawrence and had the game of the year in their return contest in Waco. Kansas did a fantastic job last season in Waco of getting Udoka Azubuike the ball and Devon Dotson being healthy and being more of a threat sure helped the Jayhawks.
Although we as a society, are unsure what is to come of the rest of 2020, heading into 2021, it is still exciting to look at anticipated matchups. This one between the Bears and Jayhawks should live up to the hype that last year’s brought. The Bears, however, have the upper hand, and here are three reasons why.