By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor's defense is going to be good enough to play for a second consecutive national championship. Just ask offensive juggernaut No. 6 Villanova what it faced Sunday.
The Wildcats feature the nation's 4th-best offense at better than 78 points per game. A overwhelming defensive performance by the Bears made every possession a struggle. Baylor held the Wildcats to 41 points below their average and 22 percent shooting in a 57-36 victory at the Ferrell Center.
A deafening crowd in the Ferrell Center was exceptional. The Bears extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15. The rematch of the Sweet 16 meeting from March wasn’t much of one.
Baylor should return to the top of the polls Monday. No. 1 Purdue lost on a buzzer beater at Rutgers on Thursday.
Arizona transfer guard James Akinjo led the way with 16 points and five assists. This was never close after the opening moments. The closest Villanova ever got was when the Wildcats ever got was 27-19 in the opening minutes of the second half. That was it.
Baylor concentrated on closing out shooters, erasing quality looks with good help side defense and contested just about every shot. The Wildcats were so frazzled that they missed some of the easy looks they occasionally had. They had just 12 made field goals. Baylor also induced 13 turnovers. Villanova only averages 8.7.
Leading scorer Collin Gillespie (17.3) was held to six points on two 3-pointers late in the first half. Guard Justin Moore was the only bright spot as he had 15.
The Bears weren't great offensively either. They shot just 39 percent 25 percent from long distance.
Adam Flagler added 10, while Jeremy Sochan chipped in with nine. For the first time this season, freshman phenom Kendall Brown looked like a freshman as he finished with four.
Baylor travels to Oregon next Saturday night.
____________________________________________________________
By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
After a month of pretty much having their way with their first eight opponents, No. 2 Baylor meets up with an old friend and worthy adversary in No. 6 Villanova at the Ferrell Center at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
There’s also a little historic value to it. This is the first Top 6 non-conference matchup in the history of the program.
But a win could also mean a return to No. 1. After Purdue lost at Rutgers Thursday on a buzzer beater, the Bears will vault to the top spot.
There’s also a lot of professional attention for this game. There are 35 scouts from 26 NBA teams who plan to attend.
“It’s great for the fans, to have a non-conference game like this,’’ Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “And it’s great for our players, because when you get into Big 12 play and you have those rivalries and you have the packed houses, this prepares you for that. So, it’s great all the way around.”
This is the third time in as many seasons these teams have met. They met for the Myrtle Beach Championship in November, 2019. Baylor. They met in the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA tournament. Baylor won en route to the national title.
And honestly, that game against Jay Wright’s Wildcats was the toughest test. Baylor rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to win 62-51.
This one should be equally intense. While Villanova has lost twice, it hasn’t ducked anyone. The Wildcats lost at UCLA in overtime and then Purdue.
Conversely, the Bears have won eight of their games by an average of 27.6 points. The timing of this game could be ideal.
“You get ready for playing tough games,’’ point guard James Akinjo said. “Obviously, in conference, there are going to be a lot of tough games. Postseason, there’s going to be a lot of tough games. So, it’ll prepare you, and you can see where your team’s at and you leave this game knowing what we need to work on and what we need to get better at, even in a win.”
Baylor’s two dynamic freshman Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan have been as good as advertised. Brown is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 72 percent from the field. Sochan is at 7.9 and shooting 45 percent.
But the kick start has come from LJ Cryer who is off to a blistering start leading the team in scoring (15.4) and 3-point shooting (47.9).
Villanova is coming off a tough 67-53 win over Syracuse at the Jimmy V Classic on Wednesday. They have won their last four.
Super senior Collin Gillespie is having his best year at 17.3 points and shooting 45 percent from 3-point.
Junior guard Justin Moore is a physical presence at 6-4 averaging 15.7 points. Villanova has five players averaging 9.6 points or better. This is going to be about taking care of the ball. Baylor opponents have turned it over an average of 20 times. But the Wildcats have done it only 8.7 times.
The great thing about this is that neither team’s NCAA tournament chances are impacted by the result. Both should be playing in March.
“I feel super-excited, honestly,’’ Cryer said. “Last year, we didn’t really have fans because of COVID, so this is my first time playing in front of an arena like that. So, I’m real excited for it.’’
Publisher
Baylor's defense is going to be good enough to play for a second consecutive national championship. Just ask offensive juggernaut No. 6 Villanova what it faced Sunday.
The Wildcats feature the nation's 4th-best offense at better than 78 points per game. A overwhelming defensive performance by the Bears made every possession a struggle. Baylor held the Wildcats to 41 points below their average and 22 percent shooting in a 57-36 victory at the Ferrell Center.
A deafening crowd in the Ferrell Center was exceptional. The Bears extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15. The rematch of the Sweet 16 meeting from March wasn’t much of one.
Baylor should return to the top of the polls Monday. No. 1 Purdue lost on a buzzer beater at Rutgers on Thursday.
Arizona transfer guard James Akinjo led the way with 16 points and five assists. This was never close after the opening moments. The closest Villanova ever got was when the Wildcats ever got was 27-19 in the opening minutes of the second half. That was it.
Baylor concentrated on closing out shooters, erasing quality looks with good help side defense and contested just about every shot. The Wildcats were so frazzled that they missed some of the easy looks they occasionally had. They had just 12 made field goals. Baylor also induced 13 turnovers. Villanova only averages 8.7.
Leading scorer Collin Gillespie (17.3) was held to six points on two 3-pointers late in the first half. Guard Justin Moore was the only bright spot as he had 15.
The Bears weren't great offensively either. They shot just 39 percent 25 percent from long distance.
Adam Flagler added 10, while Jeremy Sochan chipped in with nine. For the first time this season, freshman phenom Kendall Brown looked like a freshman as he finished with four.
Baylor travels to Oregon next Saturday night.
____________________________________________________________
By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
After a month of pretty much having their way with their first eight opponents, No. 2 Baylor meets up with an old friend and worthy adversary in No. 6 Villanova at the Ferrell Center at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
There’s also a little historic value to it. This is the first Top 6 non-conference matchup in the history of the program.
But a win could also mean a return to No. 1. After Purdue lost at Rutgers Thursday on a buzzer beater, the Bears will vault to the top spot.
There’s also a lot of professional attention for this game. There are 35 scouts from 26 NBA teams who plan to attend.
“It’s great for the fans, to have a non-conference game like this,’’ Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “And it’s great for our players, because when you get into Big 12 play and you have those rivalries and you have the packed houses, this prepares you for that. So, it’s great all the way around.”
This is the third time in as many seasons these teams have met. They met for the Myrtle Beach Championship in November, 2019. Baylor. They met in the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA tournament. Baylor won en route to the national title.
And honestly, that game against Jay Wright’s Wildcats was the toughest test. Baylor rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to win 62-51.
This one should be equally intense. While Villanova has lost twice, it hasn’t ducked anyone. The Wildcats lost at UCLA in overtime and then Purdue.
Conversely, the Bears have won eight of their games by an average of 27.6 points. The timing of this game could be ideal.
“You get ready for playing tough games,’’ point guard James Akinjo said. “Obviously, in conference, there are going to be a lot of tough games. Postseason, there’s going to be a lot of tough games. So, it’ll prepare you, and you can see where your team’s at and you leave this game knowing what we need to work on and what we need to get better at, even in a win.”
Baylor’s two dynamic freshman Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan have been as good as advertised. Brown is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 72 percent from the field. Sochan is at 7.9 and shooting 45 percent.
But the kick start has come from LJ Cryer who is off to a blistering start leading the team in scoring (15.4) and 3-point shooting (47.9).
Villanova is coming off a tough 67-53 win over Syracuse at the Jimmy V Classic on Wednesday. They have won their last four.
Super senior Collin Gillespie is having his best year at 17.3 points and shooting 45 percent from 3-point.
Junior guard Justin Moore is a physical presence at 6-4 averaging 15.7 points. Villanova has five players averaging 9.6 points or better. This is going to be about taking care of the ball. Baylor opponents have turned it over an average of 20 times. But the Wildcats have done it only 8.7 times.
The great thing about this is that neither team’s NCAA tournament chances are impacted by the result. Both should be playing in March.
“I feel super-excited, honestly,’’ Cryer said. “Last year, we didn’t really have fans because of COVID, so this is my first time playing in front of an arena like that. So, I’m real excited for it.’’
