Preview: KU men’s basketball travels to experience No. 2 Baylor | Sporting activities
No. 9 Kansas men’s basketball will travel to Waco, Texas, to encounter off towards the undefeated and Significant 12 conference main Baylor Bears.
The Jayhawks are coming off a crushing 75-70 street reduction to Oklahoma Point out last Tuesday, and haven’t played considering that subsequent the postponement of Saturday’s game towards Iowa Condition owing to the Massive 12’s COVID-19 protocols.
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Kansas is 98-13 following a loss below coach Monthly bill Self, but the Jayhawks will however have to play their greatest sport to appear out victorious in Waco.
Baylor has been one of the most outstanding groups in the nation to start off the yr, defeating groups by an regular of 26 points — which is the most significant scoring margin in the country. The Bears presently sit at No. 2 in the latest AP Major 25 poll.
Baylor also ranks No. 9 nationally in helps per video game (18.6), No. 7 in steals for every recreation (9.5), No. 5 in a few-position share (42.3%) and No. 4 in turnovers forced (19.33 for each game).
Kansas will have to slow down Baylor’s guard trio of senior MaCio Teague and juniors Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell. Butler was named to a variety of preseason Participant of the 12 months observe lists, and he is residing up to the hype — averaging 15.6 details, 5.2 helps and 2.5 steals per activity.
Teague and Mitchell are also owning remarkable several years with a put together typical of 27.4 details and 7.3 rebounds for every game. The Bears guard enjoy can effectively score the basketball and are also really hard-nosed defenders. Kansas will have its arms full striving to slow this group down.
Baylor also has one particular of the greatest inside defenders in the country in senior ahead Mark Vital, who has 11 blocks and 15 steals so considerably this time. Essential will probably match up from Kansas redshirt freshman forward Jalen Wilson.
Junior ahead David McCormack must have a big video game for Kansas if the Jayhawks are heading to be prosperous Monday night. His matchup with Baylor junior forward Flo Thamba may be Kansas’ biggest and only matchup benefit in the beginning lineup.
“We imagined for a extensive period of time that Dave played far better against bigs,” Self claimed. “And then he experienced the actual good sport against TCU, and then followed it up with a very good recreation towards Oklahoma, and then a fantastic activity in opposition to Oklahoma Point out.”
McCormack is averaging 20.3 factors, 7. rebounds and 2.3 blocks for every activity in his past 3 game titles, together with a 24-stage, 12-rebound overall performance his last time out from Oklahoma Condition.
“I assume the reality is that Dave is just actively playing much better, regardless of if he’s likely from a certain size,” Self mentioned.
Kansas will also have to get sophomore guard Christian Braun and Wilson likely if they are to be profitable. Each gamers have struggled as of late.
Tipoff for Monday’s prime-10 matchup is set for 8 p.m. and will air on ESPN.