Baylor and Arkansas meet in Dallas for a highly anticipated battle in the opening weekend. Can the Bears get back on track or do these new-look Razorbacks pick up a great early victory?
TV schedule: Saturday, November 9, 7:30 pm ET. ESPNU
Arena: American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
It’s another season with high expectations for Baylor (0-1), though this program is surely hoping opening night was not a harbinger of things to come. The Bears brought in some very talented players in the offseason and have a roster that can win a lot of games in the Big 12, but Gonzaga really took them to town on Monday night. Fortunately, this game is a chance for the Bears to put that performance quickly in the rearview.
The top performer in that opening night stinker was Norchad Omier, the Miami transfer forward who had 15 points and 9 rebounds in his debut with the Bears. Freshman Robert Wright (12 points, 6 assists) also had decent numbers in his Baylor debut, though the Bears really struggled shooting from long-range. Another important transfer to keep an eye on is Jeremy Roach, the former Duke guard who had just 9 points on Monday.
Baylor opened the year at 8th in the AP Top 25, but they’ll certainly fall regardless of what happens on Saturday because of the blowout in Spokane. In fact, they’re down to 26th on KenPom and have already seen their defensive numbers tank. Gonzaga scored 101 points and opened the paint; clearly the Bears have a lot to work on in the early going of the season, but have the potential to right this ship.
Meanwhile, it’s a new era of basketball for Arkansas (1-0) under John Calipari and it’ll be very interesting to see how this first season progresses. Nearly every face in the Razorbacks’ lineup is new, with a few following Calipari from Kentucky in recent months. They didn’t play a perfect game, but survived a strong mid-major foe in Lipscomb, securing a 16-point win back on Wednesday.
Talent both young and old factored into their opening salvo, with elite freshman Boogie Fland leading the way with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win. Another very notable addition was Johnell Davis, the Florida Atlantic transfer who had 15 points and 6 rebounds and put a great first step forward as an SEC guard. Among a slew of talent, another name to keep an eye on is 7’2 menace Zvonimir Ivisic, who put up 12 points and has real potential in this lineup.
Arkansas starts the season at #16 in the AP Top 25, though the analytics aren’t quite as high on the Razorbacks, sitting just 28th in KenPom. Much like recent Calipari teams in Lexington, there’s a significant amount of talent assembled here, and the potential for an elite defense, but it’s all about how they come together. Night one showed promise, though there’s a lot more needed from a few of those offseason additions.
This neutral-site matchup is a great opportunity for both teams very early in the season. Baylor desperately needs a palate cleanser after their abhorrent performance in eastern Washington. If they can hit shots and play stiffer defense, then they can get that reversal of fortune, though this is another tough matchup. A win for the Razorbacks would be an immense confidence boost for this new rotation, especially after Jonas Aidoo and a few other players didn’t really factor in.
It’s also impossible to imagine a repeat dud from the Bears, though this Arkansas team is far from a slouch. This should be a great, competitive game in Dallas. Momentum rests with the Razorbacks, though it’s hard to claim sustainable momentum at this point in the season. There’s talent on both sides, but we’re leaning on Baylor’s experience and attitude for a nice comeback to get them in the win column this season.
Prediction: Baylor 78, Arkansas 75