Texas is dealing with their worst season in 20 years while
Baylor has perhaps fallen further than any of the teams that made some noise
last season.
While Texas’ fall wasn’t entirely surprising Baylor won 30
games last campaign and made the NCAA’s Elite Eight at tournament time. They’ve
won just 17 this campaign and figure to struggle mightily to gain a tournament
entry this year.
When I first evaluated this game I pencilled in Texas as
slight favourites. Say by a couple of points. They’ve won 4 of their last 6 at
home while Baylor has lost 4 of their last 6 when travelling. The line instead
has Baylor as 2-3 point favourites, meaning there’s an at least 5 point swing
on my reckoning- probably reason enough to pen these words.
Most importantly Texas will have the services of their star
player and elite point guard Myck
Kabongo at their disposal. In what may well be Rick Barnes’ last game in Austin as
coach he’ll surely have cause to wonder just what the Longhorn’s season could
have amounted to had the Canadian and former five star high school prospect
been available all season.
Kabongo has played in Texas’ last 6 matches where they’ve
gone 3-3 losing to three teams who’ve all had their tickets punched for the
tournament. Kabongo is averaging 17 points and five assists per game while
Texas is already running 25% of its offence thorough him.
Baylor’s season has fallen into an enormous hole in recent
times. They’ve lost 7 of their last 10 and I just can’t see how they’ve been
installed as favourites for this one. Texas at line or straight up would both
make good options.
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