By KEVIN LONNQUIST
Publisher
It's the middle of February, so it's appropriate to call this the stretch run of the 2014-15 basketball season.
No. 20 Baylor (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) isn't going to win the Big 12. Well, no has for the last 11 years because Kansas has owned that hardware for that timeframe. But as the Bears hit this stretch, this is the opportune time to examine the last five games and predict what Baylor's final record will be before the conference tournament.
Feb. 21 - Kansas State (noon, Ferrell Center): Baylor lost the first meeting Jan. 17 in Manhattan, KS, 63-61, when Kenny Chery's runner in the lane missed. Of course, had the Bears done anything around the rim that afternoon, they probably would have been able to steal that game. But what's done is done. The Bears face a team missing reserve Malek Harris, who has been suspended for violating team rules. However, leading scorer Marcus Foster (14.0) returned for the 59-56 upset of Oklahoma on Feb. 14 and will be ready for this one. The Bears can draw upon history from the last meeting at the Ferrell Center. They rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to win in double overtime, 87-73. The win Baylor rallying to make the NCAA tournament.
Prediction: Win
Feb. 25 - at Iowa State (8:00 pm, Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA): Fighting the Cyclones in Hilton is like fighting the Romans in Rome. Iowa State will carry 21-game home court winning streak into this game. However, the Bears might be catching the Cyclones at the right time because they will be coming off a two-game road trip to Oklahoma State and Texas. The question will be if the Baylor 1-3-1 zone can frustrate ISU in its open floor game. Baylor won the first meeting, 74-73, Jan. 14 in Waco.
Prediction: Loss
Feb. 28 - vs. West Virginia (3:00 pm, Ferrell Center): The Mountaineers are really an odd team. They were completely overwhelmed by the Bears in the Feb. 7 meeting in Morgantown, 87-69. Yet they turned around and upset conference leader Kansas this past Monday. Baylor easily broke the press and needs to have quality guard play from both Kenny Chery and Lester Medford to sweep the season series. This is West Virginia's last trip to the state of Texas but it's the first of a two-game road swing between Baylor and Kansas. The Mountaineers will look to try and get this one.
Prediction: Win
March 2 - at Texas (8:00 pm Erwin Center, Austin): The Longhorns have pretty much collapsed during the Big 12 season. Following their loss in Norman on Feb. 17, they are 6-7. They haven't had consistent play from pretty much everywhere on the floor. What's surprising is that Rick Barnes teams are usually known for their defense. The Longhorns earn the edge only because it's in Austin. Plus, Baylor will have some games where it throws out high turnover performances every now and then. Despite its inconsistencies, Texas is very talented with freshman likely one-and-done center Myles Turner and point guard Isaiah Turner. This is really a 50-50 game.
Prediction: Loss
March 6 - vs. Texas Tech (8:00 pm Ferrell Center): Yes, that's a Friday. It's also senior night. The Bears have a chance to take momentum into the Big 12 tournament with a win against the Red Raiders who struggle to score from just about anywhere. Baylor should handle the Red Raiders and send the program's only two seniors (Chery and Royce O'Neale) out with a good feeling.
Prediction: Win
If this holds true, then Baylor should finish at 22-9 and 10-8 in the league. Given the logjam in the standings, it's anyone's guess as to what kind of seed the Bears will have in the Big 12 tournament March 11-14 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. But the Bears should be able to avoid the first round which features the 7-10 and 8-9 games. Even if the Bears stumble there, the body of work and the Big 12's national reputation should safely return this program to the NCAA tournament the following weekend.
This post was edited on 2/18 6:14 PM by K Lonnquist
Publisher
It's the middle of February, so it's appropriate to call this the stretch run of the 2014-15 basketball season.
No. 20 Baylor (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) isn't going to win the Big 12. Well, no has for the last 11 years because Kansas has owned that hardware for that timeframe. But as the Bears hit this stretch, this is the opportune time to examine the last five games and predict what Baylor's final record will be before the conference tournament.
Feb. 21 - Kansas State (noon, Ferrell Center): Baylor lost the first meeting Jan. 17 in Manhattan, KS, 63-61, when Kenny Chery's runner in the lane missed. Of course, had the Bears done anything around the rim that afternoon, they probably would have been able to steal that game. But what's done is done. The Bears face a team missing reserve Malek Harris, who has been suspended for violating team rules. However, leading scorer Marcus Foster (14.0) returned for the 59-56 upset of Oklahoma on Feb. 14 and will be ready for this one. The Bears can draw upon history from the last meeting at the Ferrell Center. They rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to win in double overtime, 87-73. The win Baylor rallying to make the NCAA tournament.
Prediction: Win
Feb. 25 - at Iowa State (8:00 pm, Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA): Fighting the Cyclones in Hilton is like fighting the Romans in Rome. Iowa State will carry 21-game home court winning streak into this game. However, the Bears might be catching the Cyclones at the right time because they will be coming off a two-game road trip to Oklahoma State and Texas. The question will be if the Baylor 1-3-1 zone can frustrate ISU in its open floor game. Baylor won the first meeting, 74-73, Jan. 14 in Waco.
Prediction: Loss
Feb. 28 - vs. West Virginia (3:00 pm, Ferrell Center): The Mountaineers are really an odd team. They were completely overwhelmed by the Bears in the Feb. 7 meeting in Morgantown, 87-69. Yet they turned around and upset conference leader Kansas this past Monday. Baylor easily broke the press and needs to have quality guard play from both Kenny Chery and Lester Medford to sweep the season series. This is West Virginia's last trip to the state of Texas but it's the first of a two-game road swing between Baylor and Kansas. The Mountaineers will look to try and get this one.
Prediction: Win
March 2 - at Texas (8:00 pm Erwin Center, Austin): The Longhorns have pretty much collapsed during the Big 12 season. Following their loss in Norman on Feb. 17, they are 6-7. They haven't had consistent play from pretty much everywhere on the floor. What's surprising is that Rick Barnes teams are usually known for their defense. The Longhorns earn the edge only because it's in Austin. Plus, Baylor will have some games where it throws out high turnover performances every now and then. Despite its inconsistencies, Texas is very talented with freshman likely one-and-done center Myles Turner and point guard Isaiah Turner. This is really a 50-50 game.
Prediction: Loss
March 6 - vs. Texas Tech (8:00 pm Ferrell Center): Yes, that's a Friday. It's also senior night. The Bears have a chance to take momentum into the Big 12 tournament with a win against the Red Raiders who struggle to score from just about anywhere. Baylor should handle the Red Raiders and send the program's only two seniors (Chery and Royce O'Neale) out with a good feeling.
Prediction: Win
If this holds true, then Baylor should finish at 22-9 and 10-8 in the league. Given the logjam in the standings, it's anyone's guess as to what kind of seed the Bears will have in the Big 12 tournament March 11-14 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. But the Bears should be able to avoid the first round which features the 7-10 and 8-9 games. Even if the Bears stumble there, the body of work and the Big 12's national reputation should safely return this program to the NCAA tournament the following weekend.
This post was edited on 2/18 6:14 PM by K Lonnquist
