Baylor vs Virginia: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
Two of the best defensive teams in the country face off in the Continental Tire Tournament in Baylor and Virginia. Who’ll move on to the finals?
TV schedule: Friday. November 18th, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN2
Arena: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
When it comes to the four-team non-conference tournaments, the Continental Tire Invitational has to be the best. It features four ranked programs, including UCLA and Illinois, as well as this matchup of Virginia and Baylor.
These are two of the more recent national champions, with respective head coaches, Tony Bennett (Virginia) and Scott Drew (Baylor), becoming two of the best in the game. This is also the first real test for both sides in this early part of the season.
Baylor (3-0) dominated Mississippi Valley State, Northern Colorado, and Norfolk State, averaging just under 100 ppg in all three games. Outside of center Flo Thamba, the other four starters for the Bears are averaging at least 14.0 ppg, with Adam Flagler leading the way with 17.3 ppg and 7.7 apg. Five-star freshman guard Keyonte George has been just as impressive so far, producing 16.0 ppg and 6.7 apg in three games.
Their next opponent will be much tougher in Virginia (2-0) who has a pair of double-digit victories over NC Central and Monmouth. Their offensive isn’t as explosive as Baylor’s but their defense can certainly match and their ability to slow the pace makes them incredibly dangerous. They’re a fairly balanced unit, with eight players averaging at least 8.0 ppg.
Armaan Franklin leads the way with 14.5 ppg while shooting 55% from three-point range. The former transfer from Indiana had a disappointing first season with the Cavaliers but is off to a much better start. He’s part of a veteran core of starters, including guards Reece Beekman and Kehei Clark, as well as forward Jayden Gardner.
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Virginia missed the NCAA Tournament last season, a rare occurrence for them since Coach Bennett arrived. Meanwhile, Baylor was a 1 seed after winning the national championship the year prior. From a momentum standpoint, the Bears have the advantage but all it takes is just one win by the Cavaliers to turn things around. Will it happen in this matchup? I can’t see it since Baylor has too many weapons in the backcourt. But look for it to be a fun game, even if it’s low scoring.
Prediction: Baylor 65, Virginia 55