Daily Bears Reports

Friday DBR: All Jayhawks Must Die

Today we can be heroes, but only if we beat Kansas. Let's beat Kansas.

By ConnerSaurusRex Mar 13, 2015, 8:09am CDT

March Madness Daily Guide

Big 12 Semifinals

The Big 12 tournament has featured some quality basketball but no shocking upsets so far. At this point, a shocking upset is impossible as the four remaining teams- Baylor, Kansas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma- are generally considered to be the best in the conference. Baylor completed a three game sweep of West Virginia yesterday and hopes to keep Kansas from doing the same to them today. Perry Ellis is questionable for the game, but Kansas will need him desperately without Cliff Alexander in the rotation. The Jayhawks have been cold lately from three. Knock on wood.

Iowa State completed a thrilling comeback over Texas with a Monte Morris buzzer beater and have their work cut out for them against Buddy Hield and the Sooners. Oklahoma State nearly put down their rival but let them hang around a bit too long before the game turned into an Oklahoma win verging on blowout territory. I refuse to make any predictions today.

American Quarterfinals

UCONN is hungry for that automatic bid as they play Cincinnati. Tulsa is considered to be one of the last four in by many bracketologists at this point after Texas A&M's loss to Auburn yesterday, and they can help punch their ticket with a win against Houston. Tournament favorite SMU gets 14-18 East Carolina and Temple (most notable for their upset of Kansas in December) gets Memphis. Four games, five potential tournament teams. Good stuff.

Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals

Every remaining team in the A-10 has a winning record, which is more than some conferences can say. Davidson is expected to beat La Salle and VCU is expected to do the same to Richmond. Dayton and Rhode Island could forseeably force their way into the dance with wins over St. Bonaventure and George Washington, but would need some help along the way.

Big East Semifinals

It's the usual suspects in the Big East. Villanova needs to beat Providence to maintain their No. 1 seed and Georgetown and Xavier will fight for a spot in the title game that Xavier needs a bit more than the Hoyas.

Big Sky Semifinals

It all looks like a competition to lose to Eastern Washington right now, but Sacramento State gets their turn to try and unseat the Eagles today. Northern Arizona will play Montana in the followup act.

B1G Quarterfinals

The Big 10's top four have been waiting for days, and now they get to have their fun with the weary survivors of the first two rounds. Michigan gets their shot at Wisconsin after yesterday's upset of Illinois (whose tourney hopes now rest squarely on the shoulders of their win over Chery-less Baylor back in 2014). Indiana wants to get off the bubble against a Maryland that has been in fantastic form lately. Ohio State is ready for their date with Michigan State in what is likely the best game of the day in the conference. Purdue gets a Penn State team that has fought all the way from the first round of the conference tournament.

Big West Semifinals

Hawaii must feel like Hannibal in Rome right now. The Rainbow Warriors are underdogs in their game against UC Davis. Across the aisle, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara fight it out and hope Davis loses so they can claim the title of One True University of California Satellite.

Conference USA Semifinals

Middle Tennessee and UTEP. LaTech and UAB. Win it for your fallen football brothers, UAB. The tournament needs more dragons. Middle Tennessee and UTEP both need an automatic bid, but Tech and UTEP need another win to hope to get into the tourney. This will be interesting sports.

MAC Semifinals

Peak MACtion has arrived. Central Michigan and Buffalo have had a bye up until this point, and their challengers are likely exhausted from two rounds of play. Central Michigan is the only Directional Michigan left after Eastern and Western succumbed to the competition. They play Toledo. Buffalo has gone unnoticed but had a quality season, and they get Akron.

MEAC Semifinals

It's almost over. NC Central gets Delaware State, a team that will break even for the season if they lose today. Host Norfolk State gets 14-17 Hampton. Barring major upset, it's a two-horse race for the MEAC's automatic bid.

Mountain West Semifinals

This is quality basketball. Boise State is the only ranked team in the conference, but their opponent, Wyoming, has a very respectable record. Colorado State (27-5) and San Diego State (25-7) are one of the more even matchups in the nation today. The geographical dominance of the conference diminished significantly as some of the more remote schools fell.

Pac-12 Semifinals

The Pac-12 is down to three teams that are almost certainly in and a 20-12 UCLA that has little to lose and everything to gain. UCLA has a shot at Arizona and Oregon plays a low stakes game against Utah that should be extremely fun all the same.

SEC Quarterfinals

Texas A&M's bubble probably burst with their ugly loss to Auburn yesterday. Things went downhill quickly for the Ags. Auburn gets to play LSU, who are probably in and will confirm their place with another win. Kentucky gets 16-16 Florida, but the Gators could possibly make things interesting. Who am I kidding, it'll probably be another blowout. Tennessee is staying alive but they have to get through Arkansas if they want a chance at the auto bid. South Carolina is in the same position as Tennessee, only they play Georgia. It's Kentucky's world and the rest of the conference is living in it.

Southland Quarterfinals

Finally, some familiar faces. SFA is a heavy favorite over Northwestern State and probably gets in regardless, but schools in small conferences always like to have a sure thing. A&M Corpus is an underdog against Sam Houston State. If things go according to plan, we'll get to see the SFA-SHSU rivalry blossom in the title game.

SWAC Semifinals

Texas Southern is the team to beat in the SWAC, and they have 15-17 Prairie View A&M today. On the other side of the table, Alabama State gets Southern.

Sun Belt Quarterfinals

Every team playing in the Sun Belt today probably needs a conference title to get into the tournament. They include Texas State vs. UL Lafayette and South Alabama vs. UL Monroe. ULaLa and the Fighting Willie Robertsons want to make Louisiana proud and prove their worth to their purple and gold overlords.

WAC Semifinals

There are two teams with losing records still alive in the WAC. They are Bakersfield (playing overwhelming favorite New Mexico State) and Mizzou-Kansas City (who play as an underdog against 15-14 Seattle). One of these teams will make the NCAA Tournament.

Acrobatics & Tumbling Unseats Oregon

You're a miracle worker, Felicia. Oregon's former coach came to Baylor and in less than a year transformed one of the weakest programs in the country into one that could beat the defending national champion. The best part? We're not even surprised. Congratulations, ladies. Keep it up.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Baylor Acrobatics and Tumbling remains undefeated after road win vs the Oregon Ducks! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sicem?src=hash">#Sicem</a> <a href="http://t.co/eyGC208JPV">pic.twitter.com/eyGC208JPV</a></p>— Baylor A&T (@BaylorAcroTumb) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorAcroTumb/status/576231348077142016">March 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sic' em Bears! Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorAcroTumb">@BaylorAcroTumb</a> on win over top-ranked Oregon in Eugene, 279.77-278.825. 2nd-ranked Bears move to 5-0.”</p>— Ian_McCaw (@bu_ad1) <a href="https://twitter.com/bu_ad1/status/576218974125330432">March 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

Track and Field NCAA Indoor Championships

Baylor took home a trophy from this event when Felix Obi won the triple jump last year. Obi hasn't had the same amazing season this time around and won't compete, but Trayvon Bromell and Rachel Johnson are both in serious contention for national titles in their events. Olicia Williams is also the third seed in the 800.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Baylor opens the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCAATF?src=hash">#NCAATF</a> Indoor Championships Friday with 11 entires. PREVIEW: <a href="http://t.co/mXHo0IMBXd">http://t.co/mXHo0IMBXd</a></p>— BaylorTrack (@BaylorTrack) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorTrack/status/576044562797346816">March 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"><p>Trayvon Bromell talks with ESPN about what he learned from competing at last year's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCAATF?src=hash">#NCAATF</a> Indoor Championships. <a href="http://t.co/4JBWEwzv4e">pic.twitter.com/4JBWEwzv4e</a></p>— BaylorTrack (@BaylorTrack) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorTrack/status/576056344265900033">March 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

Baseball to Opens Conference Play vs. TCU

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Preview for Baylor's Big 12 opening series at #4 TCU this weekend: <a href="http://t.co/EppRa4fJw2">http://t.co/EppRa4fJw2</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SicTCU?src=hash">#SicTCU</a></p>— Baylor Baseball (@BaylorBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorBaseball/status/576184098084929536">March 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

Yeah, we're kind of dreading it too. The game is at 6:30 tonight in Fort Worth.

Softball Lives in California Now

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>PREVIEW: Baylor Closes 11-game Road Trip at San Diego Classic II <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SicEm?src=hash">#SicEm</a> <a href="http://t.co/t8gnMhNfCO">http://t.co/t8gnMhNfCO</a> <a href="http://t.co/wVuABLVoEQ">pic.twitter.com/wVuABLVoEQ</a></p>— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorSoftball/status/576087317112229888">March 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

I'm sure softball misses the cozy confines of Getterman Stadium by now. The Lengthy road trip finally concludes this weekend in San Diego. Baylor plays BYU early this evening and follows up with host San Diego State later on.

Women's Tennis Opens Big 12 Play in Oklahoma

Baylor will be taking a full tour of Oklahoma this weekend as they open conference play at Oklahoma State today at 5 p.m. and at Oklahoma on Sunday at noon. Baylor is a slight favorite in both matchups, but the Cowgirls and Sooners are both top 25 programs at this point in time. Starting out conference 2-0 would be really, really fun.