The last time Baylor turned in a performance like that, they were 17-0 and about to rise to No. 3 in the polls. Then this happened.
So how will the No. 9 Bears respond this time around?
A 77-48 win Monday against Texas Tech was their best offensive (1.22 PPP) and defensive (.764) outing since drilling Oklahoma State on Jan. 14. It showed everything observers love about the Bears, too. Perry Jones III posted a quiet, yet effective double-double (15 and 10), Quincy Acy ran through defenders (12 points on 7 shots) and the defense was great.
But it was against Texas Tech, a team with one conference victory, and came on Senior Night, a time when pretty much every home team is more amped to play than usual.
So. Again. What to make of Baylor?
Are the Bears (25-5, 12-5) capable of replicating the run of the 2009-10 when they were a few possessions away from beating Duke and reaching the Final Four? Or are they simple a good, not great team that’ll end up in the Sweet 16?
Not that the Sweet 16 a failure. Given how far the Bears have come in the last decade, it’s a feat. But this team will forever be dammed by its impressive start and its NBA talent. Until it turns in a night like Monday against an elite team, it’ll remain one of those good, not great teams.
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