ESPN Big Monday part II: Baylor versus Texas

THE STORY: The loss was particularly costly for Texas, which needs all the wins it can get as it pursues a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. A resume-boosting upset of the Bears on national TV would go a long way towards helping the Longhorns’ case.

TV: 9 p.m. ET; ESPN

ABOUT BAYLOR (22-5, 9-5 Big 12): On Saturday, for the first time this season, the Bears fell to a team other than Missouri or Kansas. In a grinding defensive slugfest, Baylor lost 58-57 to Kansas State despite having multiple chances in the final minute to win the game. The close setback was out of character for the Bears, who have excelled in tight contests this season with a 7-2 record in games decided by five points or less. Sophomore Perry Jones III will look to bounce back from a four-point, four-rebound performance in which he fouled out.

ABOUT TEXAS (17-10, 7-7 Big 12): If the Longhorns hope to make the NCAA Tournament, they have to pick up a marquee victory. A trip to Kansas will close the regular season, but this matchup seems like a much more likely chance at a win. J’Covan Brown, the Big 12’s leading scorer, had 32 points in Texas’ last meeting with Baylor, a 76-71 loss. Including that game, Brown is averaging 21.6 points over a seven-game stretch, and freshman point guard Myck Kabongo is coming off a career-high 22-point outing.

TIP-INS:

1. Baylor is 4-0 against Big 12 schools from the state of Texas this season.

2. The Bears are 20-0 when leading at halftime.

3. Since this series began in 1906, these schools have met each year except 1908, when Texas didn’t field a team.

Related posts:
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NCAAF - Newly ranked Baylor worth look vs. Longhorns (James Payton) 0
NCAAB - ESPN Big Monday Part II: Jayhawks versus Cowboys (Tony Finn) 0
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