The top-seeded Jayhawks seek their eighth straight win over the fifth-seeded Bears, a streak that includes two victories this season and another in last season’s Big 12 semis. Baylor limped into the tournament with losses in three of four games, but looked like the best team in the conference with Thursday’s rout of Texas.
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HOW THE BAYLOR BEARS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Baylor coach Scott Drew felt his team was playing well entering the Big 12 tournament, but the conference was so challenging this year that the Bears kept coming out on the losing end. They finally were rewarded for their solid play with a win over Texas.
You could say the odds are in Baylor’s favor to finally upend the Jayhawks. No. 1 Kansas has seven straight wins in the series, including a 102-74 win in Lawrence and a 66-60 win in Waco this season. Still, the Bears feel good about their chances.
Especially considering how they dominated Texas on Thursday with a healthy Rico Gathers, who missed two games and came off the bench in five of the last six. For weeks Gathers thought he had the flu, but he was diagnosed with, and treated for a bacterial infection. “This is the best I’ve felt since last year,” he said.
Baylor’s zone defense gave Texas fits on Thursday and the defensive pressure will have to be there against Kansas. The Bears are a top rebounding team and a healthy Gathers makes them even tougher on the boards. They need to limit second chance opportunities while capitalizing on their own.
HOW THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Kansas was all business in its first round thumping of Kansas State, leaving no doubt where the No. 1 team in the country is located. It would have been easy for coach Bill Self to limit the minutes of his starters in an attempt to rest them for the NCAA’s, but he didn’t.
That means the Jayhawks are looking to roll through the Big 12 tournament, just like they did the final 11 regular season games. Without a loss in that stretch in the toughest conference in American, Kansas is deserving of its ranking.
Two lineup changes keyed the surge that lifted Kansas from three double-digit losses in five games to the No. 1 ranking and another Big 12 regular season title. Forward Landen Lucas became a starter to solidify the post game, allowing Perry Ellis to roam freely away from the basket.
Also, the use of a two-point guard set has made the offense more efficient. Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham combined for 27 points and 15 assists in Thursday’s rout of K-State.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Baylor has the talent and depth to give the Jayhawks a run in this game. Gathers is a beast down low and will give Kansas fits with his relentless rebounding ability. Lucas and Ellis will have their hands full dealing with Baylor’s front line of Gathers, Taurean Prince and Johnathan Motley. Prince is lean, athletic swing player who can dominate at times, like he did on Thursday with 24 points and 13 rebounds against Texas. Kansas was able to clamp down on Baylor’s front line in the last meeting, holding Prince and Motley to 7 of 23 combined shooting in a 66-60 road cover win. Beating a team three times in a season is tough and that’s what Kansas is faced with in its bid to advance. The Jayhawks are playing like the No. 1 team in the country and are using the conference tournament as tune up for a long run in the Big Dance.
Kansas 82, Baylor 75
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