Baylor is again within the Related Press Prime 25 after a two-week hiatus — checking in at No. 25 — and can return to motion after greater than two-week break when the Bears host Arlington Baptist on Friday evening in Waco, Texas.
By all accounts, this must be a tuneup as Baylor prepares for Large 12 play. The Bears (7-3) will host Utah within the league opener on New 12 months’s Eve.
For Baylor coach Scott Drew, all he needs for the brand new calendar yr is a wholesome group, and the break ought to have offered loads of relaxation.
The Bears have battled a number of accidents already as Langston Love, VJ Edgecombe and Jeremy Roach are among the many notable gamers who’ve missed motion.
“We’re praying for a wholesome group so we are able to all get higher throughout this time,” Drew mentioned following Baylor’s 94-69 victory over Norfolk State on Dec. 11. “We’re simply attempting to get all people wholesome.”
Baylor has received three of its final 4 video games, together with the victory over Norfolk State by which it scored 55 factors within the second half. Edgecombe delivered the play of the evening with a thunderous two-handed dunk.
“I used to be on the bench, so I had an excellent view of it,” teammate Norchad Omier mentioned. “His head was above the rim. He does stuff like that in observe, so I wish to say I used to be not stunned, however I used to be stunned. That was loopy.”
All eyes will stay on Edgecombe going ahead, as he is arguably probably the most proficient participant on the Bears. The projected lottery choose within the 2025 NBA Draft is averaging 11.9 factors and 5.9 rebounds per recreation.
“He is good for a SportsCenter play,” Drew mentioned, referring to the dunk. “However what’s extra VJ is, you see he will get on the ground, you see he had 9 rebounds, you see he had three steals.
“Numerous elite freshmen, it is based mostly simply on scoring. Once they get to the NBA, they have max-deal guys which have been within the league for 10, 12 years. Now, what else are you able to do? That is what VJ brings is any person that does not have to attain to have an effect on the sport.”
Omier leads the Bears in scoring with a mean of 15.9 factors per recreation whereas Robert Wright III is at 12.9. Baylor is averaging a strong 96.2 factors in 5 video games at house this season.
Arlington Baptist (1-9), a Division II faculty within the Nationwide Christian School Athletic Affiliation (NCCAA), continues to grind by a troublesome stretch. The Patriots have been outscored by greater than 20 factors a recreation and are averaging 17.8 turnovers per recreation.
The newest setback was 124-120 to Howard Payne on Dec. 14. There have been some silver linings popping out of that recreation, although. Isaiah Melvo scored 30 factors and J’son Murray added 23 to go along with 18 rebounds — together with 13 offensive rebounds — to earn NCCAA DII Nationwide Pupil-Athlete of the Week honors.
In speaking concerning the Patriots’ desired model of play, coach Bubba Jennings instructed the group’s web site: “We wish to play a fast-paced recreation, pushing the ball on each possession. We may even play full-court protection, pressuring the ball and forcing an up-tempo recreation.”
–Discipline Degree Media