The game of the year in college basketball is upon us. Two teams that I truly believe are number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament will do battle for the second time this season. The first meeting was all Baylor, stunning the Jayhawks inside the Phog with a 67-55 win. In that game, Baylor shot 42.1% from deep and were +9 in the turnover battle. Now they get to play Kansas at home, a game that head coach Scott Drew described as the biggest home game in his tenure at Baylor.
Last time out: Kansas
The Jayhawks are coming off of perhaps their best win of the season. They shot 56.7% from the floor in a 91-71 blowout of Iowa State. Devon Dotson led the way for Kansas, finishing with 29 points while shooting 6-8 from deep. Since the Baylor loss, the Jayhawks have won 11 games in a row and are just one game behind the Bears for first place in the Big 12.
Last time out: Baylor
Baylor put together an impressive 65-54 win over Oklahoma earlier in the week. Leading scorer Jared Butler had another great outing, scoring 22 points and hitting 5 three-pointers. Baylor’s suffocating defense that allows just 58.2 points per game was on full display in the win, stealing the ball eight times and forcing 12 turnovers. Baylor’s eye-popping win streak has now reached 23 games.
Player to Watch: Kansas
Udoka Azubuike
When Azubuike is down on the low block, he is one of the most unguardable players in college basketball. Rarely is there another player in college basketball that can check him. In the last meeting between the two teams, Azubuike was held silent, scoring just six points. He was, however, an amazing force on defense, blocking seven shots. If Azubuike can get it going offensively this afternoon, Kansas will be able to pull the upset.
Player to Watch: Baylor
Freddie Gillespie
For a guard-heavy team on offense, Gillespie is one of the best wing-compliments in America when he’s on. He is averaging 9.6 points per game but has struggled his last three games, combining for just 16 total points. Gillespie’s impact is often seen on the defensive end, but offensively he could be the reason Baylor wins or loses this game.
Prediction
I do not think that Kansas will come out as flat this time around. The game was over by halftime, with Baylor building a 37-24 lead. With that being said, the Jayhawks did outscore the Bears in the second half. Baylor now has the home-court advantage and looks like the best team in the country, winners of 23 straight. It’s hard to pick against a team that has been that dominant. But I’m going to anyway. I still think Kansas’ offense is more explosive than Baylor’s. Their defense is also just as stellar, allowing 60.7 points per game. In a rowdy environment, I like Kansas to pull away late to come away with a 72-67 win.