Know Your Enemy: Baylor University

 

Remember back with me to last year during the Sweet Sixteen in Atlanta. Are you there in your mind yet? No? What about now? Still no? Now? Yes? Okay, good. Remember that adorable group of people using neon shirts as a buddy system so they wouldn’t lose each other? I thought it was a big family reunion. Turns out, those were Baylor fans! Makes a lot more sense now, doesn’t it?

 

Baylor comes into Rupp Arena sporting a 4-2 record and is fresh off a home loss to perennial college basketball powerhouse College of Charleston. Even Billy Gillispie thinks that was a bad home loss. To say Baylor is coming in with a lot of momentum would be a blatant disregard for fact.

 

Location:

Baylor University is located in the sprawling metropolis of Waco, Texas.  It is a common vacation destination for our former coach, as the Dr. Pepper Museum is located in Waco.  Waco is considered the “Dr. Pepper Capital of the World.”

I’m not sure what else you could hope to learn today.

How about this? Jennifer Love Hewitt and Steve Martin were born in Waco. On different days, of course. Both quickly moved away after birth. I can’t blame them.

 

Notable Alumni:

 

Willie Nelson- The “Red Headed Stranger” lives in Maui. Because if you could, why wouldn’t you?  His music is almost as legendary as his pigtails and pot smoking.  He is a true American icon.

 

Michael Johnson- Once known as the fastest man in the world, Johnson ran track for Baylor.  After leaving Baylor he won 4 Olympic gold medals and wore some fancy gold shoes while doing so.

 

Robert Griffin III- Seen here “Griffining”, RG3 was a Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor and was the 2nd pick of the 2012 NFL draft for the Washington Redskins. He is an exciting player who is not scared to take a hit. Almost to a fault.

 

Cheerleading Scouting Report:

 

Out of all the things done well at Baylor, their ability to assemble an attractive group of girls to lead cheers is second to none. If I had a stamp that said “KSR approved”, I wouldn’t stamp the picture, but I’d be glad to have the stamp.

 

Basketball History:

Let’s just say the Dave Bliss era didn’t go well. Everyone has things in their past they aren’t proud of. Generally, we at KSR poke some fun at those things. But there are some things that you steer clear of like a leper colony. Player on player murder is one of those things. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read about it here.

If you asked a 16 year old about Baylor, they’d probably think Baylor was a very decent basketball program. Since 2008, Baylor has been to three NCAA tournaments and 2 Elite Eights. However, Baylor has only had SEVEN tournament appearances all-time. While they’ve experienced recent success, their history is pretty poor.

Also of note, they played in the 1948 title game. Some Kentucky team won.

 

Coach:

 

Scott Drew- After the 2003 scandal, Drew took over for Bliss. He had a mess on his hands.  He has gone 148-118 in his time with the Bears. He is the son of Homer Drew, the former coach at Valpo. He is the brother to Bryce, the current coach at Valpo.

He has led the Bears to two Elite Eights (2010, 2012) and dug the Baylor program out of a hole that seemed insurmountable. Like him or not, you’ve got to give him credit for doing a job not many wanted to take on.

 

Players:

 

Pierre Jackson- Not trying to steal Chris Thomas’ “Game Faces” thunder here, but I see a bit of Carlton from “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” in Pierre Jackson. I bet he can’t do the dance as well as our man Jorts.

 

Isaiah Austin- As a freshman, Austin is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds.  Austin was not a part of the Elite Eight team last year. In fact, he won’t be part of one this year either.

 

Last Meeting:

As I mentioned earlier, Kentucky and Baylor last met 7 months ago at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  The Elite Eight match up was never close and the Cats ended up taking care of Baylor and their neon uniforms 82-70. It was during this game that I experienced the most frightening moment I’ve had in 2012. (Not including my two trips to New Orleans.)  During the second half Perry Jones’ III knee and Anthony Davis’ knee came together and Anthony laid on the baseline holding his knee for what seemed like an eternity. I was afraid #8 was laying on the ground alongside him. I was scared.

SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN”T WATCHED THE 2012 TOURNEY YET:

He soon would get up, walk it off, and Kentucky would go to win the title.

 

Summary:

Neither team is coming in on a roll. Kentucky’s loss to Notre Dame Thursday night was one of the ugliest game’s I’ve seen in the Calipari era. Poythress and Goodwin getting in foul trouble in the first half was devastating. They are two guys that I feel can go get a basket in the half court. If Wiltjer isn’t making threes, it’s tough to keep him on the floor.

The Cats need to play well tomorrow. They need to get a win.  We struggled in the road environment last night, so I encourage all of you going to the game to bring your A game and make it a tough environment for Baylor. Let’s get this thing back on track.

Go Cats.

 

@AFlenerKSR