Baylor vs Kansas: 2021-22 key storylines for important Big 12 matchup

When the No. 8 Baylor Bears travel to Allen Fieldhouse for a 4 pm tip-off versus the No.10 Kansas Jayhawks, it will be more than just two AP top 10 teams facing off on ESPN, but the first place in the Big 12 will be on the line.  Both teams are coming off bounce-back wins earlier in the week after suffering a loss last Saturday.

The Bears enter the game with a top 30 scoring average that sits at almost 69 points per game. which has helped them to a 7-2 conference record.  Super-sub LJ Cryer leads the team in scoring average, but his participation is unclear at the moment. Kansas’ No.10  scoring average of 80 points per game is led by Ochai Agbaji (20.9 ppg, 4.9rpg). Fortunately, Agbaji’s participation in Saturday’s contest looks promising as he has cleared all protocols

There will be no shortage of scoring opportunities on Saturday as both teams prefer to play at a pace of 70 possessions per game. A pace that would create enough excitement to compensate for the potential loss of starters. Regardless of the players on the court, first place in the BIG 12 is on the line with Texas Tech sitting in third close behind.

Head Coach Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears already have wins versus Villanova and Michigan State on their resume – and an impressive resume it is – as their worst loss has come against a top 50 team in Oklahoma -albeit at home- and they have suffered losses to Alabama and Texas Tech.

Head Coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks will look to maintain their spot atop the Big12  by adding a victory over Baylor to their wins against Texas Tech and Michigan State, a win they will need after splitting their two games with Texas Tech and losing two games ago to the Kentucky Wildcats 80-62. The hottest game on Saturday should live up to its billing as it predicts to be better than Kentucky versus Alabama and Connecticut versus Villanova.