Baylor Bears
Big 12 (26-4, 15-3)
Scott Drew has done a phenomenal job since arriving at Baylor in 2003. The Bears have been to four Sweet Sixteen’s and two Elite Eight’s under Drew, but this year’s squad is his best team yet. The highest seed Baylor had received under Drew was a 3-seed until earning a 1-seed in 2020. The Bears have three of the best defenders in the country and a lead guard that can score 20+ points in any game. Baylor has not been a fluke throughout the regular season and their success should extend into the NCAA Tournament.
Big Wins: 11/24 vs Villanova (87-78), 1/11 at Kansas (67-55), 2/15 West Virginia (70-59)
Bad Losses: 11/8 vs Washington (64-67), 2/29 at TCU (72-75), 3/7 at West Virginia (64-76)
Coach: Scott Drew
Why They Can Surprise:
Baylor’s superlative season has been driven by their outstanding defense. Davion Mitchell, Mark Vital and Freddie Gillespie are three of the best defenders in the nation at their respective positions. Mitchell can lockdown an opponent’s lead guard while Gillespie protects the paint and Vital does a little bit of everything on the defensive end of the floor. The trio have led the Bears to a top-5 defensive efficiency rating while allowing just 60.1 points per game. Baylor doesn’t only have to rely on their defense to win them games. Jared Butler is an all-Big 12 caliber guard who averages 16.0 points per game, which includes a pair of 22-point outings against Villanova and Kansas. Baylor is a balanced offensive team with eight players averaging at least four points per contest and four players shooting above 35.5% from three. If a shot fails to go in though, the Bears average nearly 13 offensive rebounds per game, a top-15 mark in the country.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Admittedly, it is difficult to poke holes in Baylor’s performance this year. One area they have struggled with all season is getting to the free-throw line and making shots when they get there. The Bears are 242nd in the nation in free-throw percentage, and they average just 18.3 attempts per game, which is 233rd in the nation. NCAA Tournament games often come down to the final minute and if the Bears fail to convert from the charity stripe, it could lead to a loss. The Bears have also struggled to shoot the ball well from the field, especially in conference play. In Big 12 games, the Bears are shooting just 46.4% from two and 33.4% from three. Offensive rebounding has always been an elite skill for Baylor, but their reliance on second chance points could hurt if they are matched against a team similarly skilled at grabbing rebounds.
Probable Starters:
Davion Mitchell, Sophomore, Guard, 9.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg
Jared Butler, Sophomore, Guard, 16.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg
MaCio Teague, Junior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.6 rpg
Mark Vital, Junior, Forward, 6.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg
Freddie Gillespie, Senior, Forward, 9.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Jared Butler, Sophomore, Guard, 16.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg
MaCio Teague, Junior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.6 rpg
Mark Vital, Junior, Forward, 6.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg
Freddie Gillespie, Senior, Forward, 9.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Key Role Players:
Devonte Bandoo, Senior, Guard, 7.6 ppg, 1.5 apg
Tristan Clark, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Matthew Mayer, Sophomore, Forward, 4.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Flo Thamba, Sophomore, Forward, 2.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Tristan Clark, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Matthew Mayer, Sophomore, Forward, 4.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Flo Thamba, Sophomore, Forward, 2.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.1 (175th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 60.1 (7, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.9 (221, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.7 (26, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (135, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.1 (87, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.0 (242, 5)
Rebound Margin: 3.5 (75, 3)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (119, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.9 (67, 2)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Syracuse |
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Gonzaga |
| 2018 | NIT | First Round win over Wagner |
| 2018 | NIT | Second Round loss to Mississippi State |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over New Mexico State |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over USC |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to South Carolina |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Yale |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Georgia State |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Nebraska |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Creighton |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Wisconsin |
| 2013 | NIT | First Round win over Long Beach State |
| 2013 | NIT | Second Round win over Arizona State |
| 2013 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Providence |
| 2013 | NIT | Semifinal win over BYU |
| 2013 | NIT | Final win over Iowa |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over South Dakota State |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Colorado |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Xavier |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Kentucky |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Sam Houston State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Old Dominion |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over St. Mary's |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Duke |
| 2009 | NIT | First Round win over Georgetown |
| 2009 | NIT | Second Round win over Virginia Tech |
| 2009 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Auburn |
| 2009 | NIT | Semifinal win over San Diego State |
| 2009 | NIT | Final loss to Penn State |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Purdue |
*all team stats through 3/8
