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All we do is win.
Baylor laid waste to the Longhorns last night in the Big 12 Semifinals. Baylor Baseball left men on base, but got a man across to beat Texas Tech, 1-0. Baylor Softball left the Minutemen (Minutewomen?) and Bulls (gendered mascots really don't translate well to the women's teams...) of South Florida in the dust.
All we do is win.
Big 12 Semifinals
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Iowa State
This was a barn burner by every definition of the word. Iowa State went up early, but Kansas showed the they are still Kansas, putting up a 16-0 run at one point.
WRNL and ESPN both have game summaries. Go read them if you want to get a better idea of Baylor's opponent tonight. Go cry in a corner if you missed this one.
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 7 Baylor
MBB Routes Texas, 86-69, to Reach Big 12 Finals - BaylorBears.com
Baylor dominated this game. When the Bears put in Logan Lowery, you know the game is officially a blowout (no offense to Mr. Lowery intended, obviously). Weep if you missed this one.
Thankfully for Texas, I figured out their problem:
UT just isn't Bieblieving hard enough.
Big 12 Championship Game
No. 4 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Baylor
#Big12MBB: The stage is set.
@BaylorMBB vs. @CycloneMBB
Tomorrow at 8 pm on @ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FolxQAxrfO
Based on the crowd at last night's KU-ISU game, tonight's game will be very, very pro-Cyclones. The Bears and the Cyclones split the regular season series with each successfully defending their home court. The most recent match-up was in Waco on March 4th, which Baylor won, 74-61. The meeting in Ames occurred during January, and, well, we all know how well that month went...
This game is going to come down to the wire. Both of these teams are in form at the right moment. Baylor has the size advantage in the paint, but Iowa State is deadly from three-point range (then again, so is Baylor). Georges Niang, who left the game versus Kansas with a bloody cut, will almost certainly play against the Bears; he had 25 points against the Jayhawks.
Much like Baylor, Iowa State likes to spread the points around amongst their starters. However, Big 12 Player of the Year Melvin Ejim is probably the biggest threat; he is just all over the court. Against the Jayhawks, Iowa State was 11-17 from beyond the arc. While that was a better-than-usual output from the 'Clones, Baylor has shown itself to be susceptible to giving up the easy three shots. Will the Cyclones be able to repeat their pointsplosion from last night? Can the Bears continue the shutdown defense they exhibited against Texas? All will be revealed on ESPN at 8:00 CST.
My prediction:
Baylor: 79
Iowa State: 76
Brady hits a buzzer-beater three for the win. I think Jefferson and Austin will both continue their outstanding play and will be the major difference in this game.
If you're anywhere near Kansas City:
#SicISU RT @Big12Conference: A very limited number of tickets for #Big12MBB Championship Game go on sale @SprintCenter box office at 10 am.
MT @kbohls: Texas' Rick Barnes says Baylor "may be the hottest team in the country."
RT @TimGriffinBig12: Rico Gathers told me he's not tired after playing 3 games in 3 days. "Not me. I feel like the Energizer Bunny."
Is anyone even surprised by that answer? #FreakTeam
— Der Baylor Bär (@DerBaylorBaer) March 15, 2014
We need to make this happen. Though with the way they've been playing, we may not be feeding Rico until April. I'm okay with this.
“@WiiROK: @b_petty14 Hey Bryce would you like Rico on the FB team?” No. I would LOVE that
Don't deny it. You agree with Bryce.
Sorry about the front #photobomb by @kinggatz2, @sportsiren (pic by @ShehanJeyarajah) pic.twitter.com/i9tncpllgY
So that happened...
Voting for the Tournament MVP
#Big12MBB: Fans, you can vote NOW for Championship Most Outstanding Player - get in on the action here: http://t.co/ZNkoQpJBh8
Go vote!
Coach Scott Drew is now the winningest coach in Baylor Basketball history!
Congratulations to Coach @BUDREW, Baylor's all-time wins leader. #SicEm pic.twitter.com/oeVHQa1ewx
But he can't coach...
Other Baylor News
Obviously, Conner and I wish we could devote more space to these sports, but it is March, and March Madness dominates the news and our time.
Baseball Opens Big 12 Play with 1-0 Win vs. No. 23 Texas Tech - BaylorBears.com
Both Baylor and Tech left numerous players on base in this low scoring affair. Still, a win is a win, and the Bears notch their first Big 12 win of the season behind lights-out pitching from Newman and Michalec to blank the No. 23 Red Raiders.
Game two begins at noon on FOX Sports 1 or, for those of you in Waco, at the Ballpark.
No. 12 SB Takes Down UMass and USF - BaylorBears.com
Softball blanked USF, 3-0, in the first game Friday. The Lady Bears liked the taste of victory, so they downed UMass, 5-1. Heather Stearns and Whitney Canion continue to prove that excellent pitching wins games with two more dominant performances.
Softball will play Purdue at 10:45 CST and UConn at 1:15 CST as the Lady Bears continue their trek through the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament hosted by USF.
McReynolds Makes Final At NCAA Indoor Championships - BaylorBears.com
Tiffani McReynolds makes the final of the 60-meter hurdles for the fourth-straight year. Freshman Trayvon Bromell missed making the finals of the 60-meter dash by a mere 0.01 seconds. Follow @BaylorTrack for the latest updates.
Men's Golf in Second at Border Olympics - BaylorBears.com
The Bears are sitting three strokes behind leader Oklahoma.
*takes break for midnight waffles*
Women's Tennis Closes Road Trip at No. 15 Miami - BaylorBears.com
Baylor Women's Tennis looks to carry their momentum from the upset win over USC into Miami.
MT to Compete in Oracle Collegiate Tennis Challenge - BaylorBears.com
Baylor is one of four teams selected to compete in the inaugural Oracle Collegiate Tennis Challenge. They travel to Indian Wells, California to face No. 20 California today and No. 6 Illinois on Sunday. Both matches start at 11:00 CST.
Only Chaos Is Guaranteed
Syracuse was upset by NC State. Though it wasn't for a lack of trying. 'Cuse missed SIX shots on their final possession. Do yourself a favor and watch the video in the link.
St. Bonaventure's Jordan Gathers beats to the buzzer to knock off St. Louis. Yes, No. 18 in the country St. Louis.
(From Thursday) Creighton took a break from being the Fightin' McDermotts to give us this crazy off-the-side-of-the-backboard-pass-for-a-three.
A Sun Belt tournament game between Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State went to overtime. Then another. Then another. Then another. After FOUR overtimes, the Red Wolves of State would finally win, 116-114. That is insane.
See y'all tonight in the Game Thread! Be sure to vote for who you think will win tonight in the poll below. Sic 'em!