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Big 12 Basketball: Buy or sell Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, Texas and TCU?

By Tristan Freeman

Jan 11, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Baylor Bears guard Keyonte George (1) talks with forward Josh Ojianwuna (15) during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Baylor Bears guard Keyonte George (1) talks with forward Josh Ojianwuna (15) during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big 12 Basketball Baylor Bears forward Josh Ojianwuna Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Big 12 Basketball Baylor Bears forward Josh Ojianwuna Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports /

Baylor Bears

Now that we’ve taken care of the at-large hopefuls, now let’s discuss the teams looking to make a deep run in March. Baylor is used to that, recently winning the 2023 national championship. Their hope is that they can replay the recipe for success, having a trio of All-American caliber guards to lead the way.

But something was wrong with the Bears for about a month. After a few suspect performances, they lost three straight to open Big 12 Basketball play. Two of them were decided in the last seconds but giving up 88 points to TCU and 97 in overtime to Kansas State at home was quite concerning.

The good news is that Baylor has since won five straight games, giving up 74 points or fewer in four of them. The most recent one was at home over No. 9 Kansas, with LJ Cryer scoring 22 points. With him, Adam Flagler, and star freshman and leading scorer Keyonte George, this team has the best trio of guards in college basketball.

And that’s why you can’t doubt them. The defense isn’t the same without the injured Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, though he could return at some point in February. Forwards Jalen Bridges and Caleb Lohner are inconsistent and relying on a freshman hasn’t been the recipe for success with many teams. But head coach Scott Drew has too much talent not to turn this team back into a national contender, something he already may be in the middle of doing.

Buy

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