Baylor Basketball’s second half adjustment leads to victory over Villanova
By Andrew Tineo
![MORGANTOWN, WV - MARCH 02: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears and Jared Butler #12 celebrate a onetime and conference regular season championship after a college basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum on March 2, 2021 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) MORGANTOWN, WV - MARCH 02: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears and Jared Butler #12 celebrate a onetime and conference regular season championship after a college basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum on March 2, 2021 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8ed3b72555bbbb729d2070b2b13b0a1015f1f631ea654dae6ac35bbbb5d56308.jpg)
1. Scott Drew was able to out-coach Jay Wright in the second half
The worst three-point shooting game of the season has hampered the Bears this season. 6/26 and 6/28 clips against Kansas and Oklahoma State have lead to the two losses. However, Baylor had a different scheme for the second half.
Instead of shooting more three’s, Baylor challenged Villanova’s length down low by winning with guard’s speed and points off turnovers.
Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague had multiple scores from driving and having enough speed and length to finish. The way the guards adjusted to a new style of play, for a team that has relied on the three-ball all season long, shows signs of maturity and versatility.
Davion Mitchell too smooth 🔥@BaylorMBB #MarchMadness #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/0xCpqYeT7T
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2021
It was among the worst nights shooting of the year for the frontcourt, with multiple misses from a few feet out. Thamba and Tchamwa Tchatchoua did a solid job on defense, however, with limiting Robinson-Earl and keeping the Wildcat forwards from feasting.
Baylor had to play a different style, with the three-point shot being completely taken away. Even with that, Baylor adjusted and found a way to win. If that’s a sign for their potential when they are on, they are the biggest threat of taking down Gonzaga.