Baylor coach Scott Drew is selecting to take the optimistic outlook along with his up-and-down group forward of Saturday’s Massive 12 Convention dwelling sport towards UCF in Waco, Texas.
The Bears (14-8, 6-5) have performed shorthanded over the past 10 video games, the period of time guard Langston Love has missed with an ankle harm. As well as, Duke switch Jeremy Roach simply returned from concussion protocol after lacking 4 video games, whereas VJ Edgecombe sat out Tuesday’s 73-59 loss at No. 13 Texas Tech with an ankle harm.
“On this league, it is laborious once you’re taking part in six, seven guys,” Drew mentioned. “Hopefully, we get VJ and Langston again, and that can actually assist with issues. Us coaches, our performs actually work loads higher when we’ve extra gamers.
“I do not know if anybody’s gone via what we have gone via with the harm bug.”
Nonetheless, Baylor is in place to earn an NCAA Event berth with a powerful end. The Bears are led by ahead Norchad Omier (15.4 factors, 10.4 rebounds per sport), who recorded his 79th profession double-double with 16 factors and 12 rebounds towards the Pink Raiders.
In the meantime, the Knights (13-9, 4-7) are coming off a 93-83 setback at dwelling Wednesday night time to Cincinnati that prolonged their dropping streak to a few video games. They have been gashed inside, permitting a whopping 56 factors within the paint.
“We now have to get again to understanding what the priorities are defensively,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins mentioned. “That is defending our paint and understanding that guys must be the place they’re speculated to be. We all know what our assignments are … that is consideration to element.”
The Knights have allowed 79.4 factors per sport, almost 5 greater than another Massive 12 group, and have permitted league opponents to make 48.4 p.c of their subject objectives. That is additionally the worst mark within the Massive 12.
Keyshawn Corridor leads the assault with 18.3 factors per sport whereas Darius Johnson chips in 15.0 per sport.
Baylor earned a 77-69 win final season in Orlando within the groups’ first-ever assembly.
–Area Stage Media