Let's get to the good stuff first. Baylor honored its Big 12 Champion football team yesterday before/during the MBB game vs. Oklahoma. There is a video:
That's about where the celebratory stuff stopped, although the crowd, especially students, was apparently really good. Kudos on that.
66 OKLAHOMA (14-4, 3-2) 25/RV |
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery Waco, Texas • Attendance: 8,544 |
64
BAYLOR (13-4, 1-3) 12/13 |
Because we were doing family stuff all day yesterday, I was unable to watch much of this game. I count myself as among the lucky because of it.
The way I see it, there's three general states that any program can be in at any given time: building, maintaining, and falling. Depending on the context, the first is probably good (if you are building toward an admirable goal) while the second can be (if you are maintaining a high level). The third is unequivocally bad.
I don't know where Baylor MBB is. For a long time, we've thought ourselves building through strong recruiting and continued player development. With two Elite 8s in 3 years and a strengthening tradition of sending guys to the NBA, you could at least make that argument. Now, coming off 3 losses in our last 4 games and with recruiting faltering in the 2013-2014 cycle, that's a much tougher sell. Falling is itself a relative concept, and with so much of the Big 12 apparently improving rapidly through great coaching, I just don't know. Baylor is likely to go to 1-4 in-conference after our next game Monday night (that's not just negativity -- Kansas probably has 2 of the 3 best players in the country right now and we'll play them at home) and fall out of the Top 25 completely. What was once a slam-dunk Tournament resume is suddenly quite shaky. It's hard not to wonder: Where does Baylor go from here? Putting aside this season, what is the plan for getting the program back on track in the future?
No. 12 MBB Falls to No. 25 Oklahoma, 66-64 - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site - BaylorBears.com
Kenny Chery scored 16 points with five assists, but No. 25 Oklahoma stormed from behind with a big run led by Buddy Hield's 19 points on the way to a 66-64 victory at No. 12 Baylor on Saturday.
College basketball scores: No. 25 Oklahoma beats No. 12 Baylor in thriller, 66-64 - SBNation.com
The Sooners got a statement win in Waco, holding off Baylor in the final seconds to hand them their third loss in Big 12 play.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears - Recap - January 18, 2014 - ESPN
Buddy Hield and his Oklahoma teammates finally starting making shots after halftime.
Oklahoma 66 - Baylor 64 | The Big Stat Crunch - Crimson And Cream Machine
Buddy Hield teamed with Cam Clark to score half of Oklahoma's points on Saturday.
*****
If you haven't heard the Isaiah Austin story from yesterday on ESPN, you should watch it now. Seriously.
A serious eye injury in middle school hasn't stopped Baylor's Isaiah Austin from inspiring others through basketball: http://t.co/1WrZgcdf72
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 18, 2014
That is powerful, powerful stuff. That he is able to do what he does with absolutely zero vision on his right side and little or no depth perception is just incredible. Humans are designed to operate with binocular vision that Austin doesn't have. It is a miracle that he's able to play basketball at his level.
*****
ODB's next-favorite recruit Cordell Broadus was at it again yesterday, tweeting about our Bears. This time it came after Baylor's own Robert Griffin III reached out to Cordell's father in what was almost definitely a recruiting violation of some kind.
My pops just sent this to me #SicEm pic.twitter.com/OWNjjTIzeL
— Cordell Broadus (@C_Broadus21) January 18, 2014
*****
It's NFL Championship Sunday, and @celebrityhottub has a reminder:
— sir broosk (@celebrityhottub) January 19, 2014
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We are recording another podcast tonight (I think)! If you have thoughts on yesterday's loss or just want to get on the show, call us:
Tough loss by the Bears. Need to vent? Call That Good Ol' Baylor Phone Line at (774)257-4236! #SicEm
— Our Daily Podcast (@OurDailyPodcast) January 18, 2014
*****
Phil Steele is apparently looking at Baylor today.
Baylor set Big 12 record for total yards in a conference game with 864 vs WVirginia. That broke the record WV set with 807 vs Baylor in '12!
— Phil Steele (@philsteele042) January 19, 2014
That's about it. I'll see you guys later for the NFL Championship Sunday Open Thread.