Comments on: Big XII Bonanza (Week One)

By: David Mihm

David Mihm — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:05:03 +0000

Nice comments, guys. I’ll say this about Baylor — they did nothing in the non-conference season to hurt themselves, and that win against Notre Dame is looking better and better all the time. Given the strength of the middle of the Big XII this year (Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Baylor), an 11-7 record (incl. B12T) will probably be good enough to make it. Beating Oklahoma in Norman on Feb. 19 would go an awfully long way. Beating TTU in Lubbock in the finale March 8 would seal the deal.

By: John

John — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:29:31 +0000

@ Jonathan Wall. I am actually a Florida Gators fan(lucky me.), but I tend to see what other teams are doing because i know the Mighty Gators(yes sounds cocky, but when you are the first repeat champs in 15 years I think I can call them that.)are going to make the tournament, so for me the season does not start until the SEC Tournament except for the two Kentucky games. Anyhow, back to your point: Yes they do need a quality road win and they will have 4 opportunities to get it, but they cannot lose games they are expected to win. Take for instance the Iowa State game. I watched that game and all I thought was if they lose, that is another strike against them. I know this may not sound fair, but considering everything that has happened I almost think the expectations should be different for them compare to the rest of the Big 12. They have some outstanding players(Jerrells, Bruce, etc.), but this is the first year in a very long time they have a legitimate chance to make the NCAA Tournament and because of that they have not been in the commitee’s mind for so long, I think the lesser games are more important so that when that chance at what you called a WOW win comes, it will mean something. Finally, and tell me if you agree with this: What your opponents do impacts your standing with the committee(i.e Notre Dame losing to Marquette hurts them.) and teams that have been in the tournament recently on a consistent basis(in the Big 12 Kansas and Texas would be the examples) have more ”credibility” in the selection room then Baylor.

By: Jonathan Wall

Jonathan Wall — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:18:11 +0000

John–
Thanks for the response. I’m happy to see some Baylor fans out there. If anyone would have told me that Baylor would have won the road game they have so far, I probably would have laughed in your face. Right now I think Baylor does stand a shot at making the tournament based on some of those road wins. However, Baylor is in the same boat as Texas A&M was three years ago when they finally made the tournament again. They are going to need to have a memorable win that makes people say WOW. A&M had it against Texas that year, and I think Baylor needs to find a game like that, that would make the tourney committee take notice. I think they have a really good shot based on their wins, but they still have a long way to go. Getting to 10-wins in conference would be huge, but I think they will need to see where they stand in terms of conference road wins about midway through conference play. If you have a few under your belt, then I think you might be able to start looking at the big dance. Regardless if they make the big tournament or the NIT, you have to give Drew and his team a lot of credit. They really are heading in the right direction.

By: John

John — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:49:57 +0000

@ Jonathan Wall. You forgot to mention the win that Baylor had over Notre Dame. That will help them a lot come tournament selection time. They need some wins in the conference, but like you said this is Baylor. If someone would have said they would have 10 wins before conference play, I think we’d all be surprised. Give Scott Drew credit. He has done a fantastic job, but when talking about whether Baylor is a viable NCAA Tournament team, we have to hold them to different standards than the rest of the Big 12 because of where this program has been in recent years. I think the commitee will put them in if they win 20 games total, 10 in the conference and a game in the Big 12 conference tournament and I think they will take into account what a great story they are. Remember, the tournament is a national event and everyone loves a story with a happy ending. That epitomizes the 2007-08 Baylor Bears. A response to this would be greatly appreciated.