Bears looking to sweep the Horned Frogs in their renovated arena.
Game Preview
(POST GAME ANALYSIS)
I guess we'll start by asking if all of the anti-1-3-1 zone fans were happy with the Bears going with a man look for the first 30 minutes of this game against TCU.
Of course, the fallback argument could be that some of the defensive issues that Baylor had against TCU during that elapsed time is that the Bears aren't used to playing it for that long.
Funny how that 1-3-1 works. That bread-and-butter defense for the Bears is the reason why the Bears were able to pull away from the Horned Frogs Saturday at Schollmaier Arena. I have no problem with this defense because the Bears (21-8, 10-6 Big 12) can switch by rotating different people through the top or on the wings. It can create some difficult looks for the opponent.
TCU ran into issues. Took bad shots. Turned it over. The Bears were able to use the 1-3-1 to set up their break and use a 17-7 run to turn precarious 57-55 into 86-71 at the end.
Baylor is a Big 12-best 6-2 on the road and really exposed an outmanned Horned Frog squad and swept the regular season series. Baylor has also clinched a winning record in the Big 12. The Bears are also in a three-way tie for third with Texas and Oklahoma.
However, let's take this a step further. I think we saw a period where Taurean Prince is asserting himself as the man at crunch time. When Baylor was up by 57-55, Prince had eight points (two 3-pointers) in that game-sealing run. He wanted the ball. He had every confidence that he was going to make those shots. And he did.
If that observation is correct, that's going to go a long way in Baylor making a deep postseason run. Prince's offensive game can't be argued 22 points (10-15 FG). His ballhandling and defense are issues that need to be honed. But he can fill it up. The play I liked the most was his 17-foot jumper from the baseline with about 11:45 to play. He drives from the wing, creates a little space and drains a step-back jumper. You can't defend that.
And if you haven't noticed, we have a changing of the guard with the front court. Johnathan Motley is going to remain in this Baylor starting lineup for the remainder of the season. He had his third 20-point game (22) in the last four. Rico Gathers is going to remain on the bench. Motley has earned this. He's taken the next step. His offensive game is better than Gathers. He'll be a solid rebounder. Gathers place in Baylor history will never be supplanted. Illness or no illness, the reality is that Motley gives Baylor the better chance to win.
Finally, during that deciding run you saw Lester Medford make the right pass to set up his shooters. Medford had 10 assists but also had six turnovers. But he was better in the second half. It was said best on the broadcast is that the best thing Medford does is that he just makes the required pass. He's not going to be anything that he's not.
So Baylor takes care of business. On to Norman, OK Tuesday and visit to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Game Preview
(POST GAME ANALYSIS)
I guess we'll start by asking if all of the anti-1-3-1 zone fans were happy with the Bears going with a man look for the first 30 minutes of this game against TCU.
Of course, the fallback argument could be that some of the defensive issues that Baylor had against TCU during that elapsed time is that the Bears aren't used to playing it for that long.
Funny how that 1-3-1 works. That bread-and-butter defense for the Bears is the reason why the Bears were able to pull away from the Horned Frogs Saturday at Schollmaier Arena. I have no problem with this defense because the Bears (21-8, 10-6 Big 12) can switch by rotating different people through the top or on the wings. It can create some difficult looks for the opponent.
TCU ran into issues. Took bad shots. Turned it over. The Bears were able to use the 1-3-1 to set up their break and use a 17-7 run to turn precarious 57-55 into 86-71 at the end.
Baylor is a Big 12-best 6-2 on the road and really exposed an outmanned Horned Frog squad and swept the regular season series. Baylor has also clinched a winning record in the Big 12. The Bears are also in a three-way tie for third with Texas and Oklahoma.
However, let's take this a step further. I think we saw a period where Taurean Prince is asserting himself as the man at crunch time. When Baylor was up by 57-55, Prince had eight points (two 3-pointers) in that game-sealing run. He wanted the ball. He had every confidence that he was going to make those shots. And he did.
If that observation is correct, that's going to go a long way in Baylor making a deep postseason run. Prince's offensive game can't be argued 22 points (10-15 FG). His ballhandling and defense are issues that need to be honed. But he can fill it up. The play I liked the most was his 17-foot jumper from the baseline with about 11:45 to play. He drives from the wing, creates a little space and drains a step-back jumper. You can't defend that.
And if you haven't noticed, we have a changing of the guard with the front court. Johnathan Motley is going to remain in this Baylor starting lineup for the remainder of the season. He had his third 20-point game (22) in the last four. Rico Gathers is going to remain on the bench. Motley has earned this. He's taken the next step. His offensive game is better than Gathers. He'll be a solid rebounder. Gathers place in Baylor history will never be supplanted. Illness or no illness, the reality is that Motley gives Baylor the better chance to win.
Finally, during that deciding run you saw Lester Medford make the right pass to set up his shooters. Medford had 10 assists but also had six turnovers. But he was better in the second half. It was said best on the broadcast is that the best thing Medford does is that he just makes the required pass. He's not going to be anything that he's not.
So Baylor takes care of business. On to Norman, OK Tuesday and visit to the Oklahoma Sooners.
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