A new rivalry begins this weekend. The Big 12 Conference is on full display Saturday as the #2 Houston Cougars make the journey to Waco to face the #11 Baylor Bears. This is the Cougars’ first year in the conference and this starts a fresh rivalry between two powerhouses. High stakes are on the line for March Madness. These two squads have a lot of pressure as they jockey for seeding in the upcoming tournament.
Houston’s Rise
The Cougars ride a wave of momentum, boasting a 23-3 record and a 10-3 mark in conference play. Houston has a balanced attack. They are led by the backcourt duo of former Baylor Bear L.J. Cryer and senior Jamal Shead. Houston currently has the best defense in the nation, allowing only 55.3 PPG. This team is tough. Throw in the fact that the Cougars are staring at the top spot when rankings come out Monday. The current #1 UConn Huskies got blown out this week and a Houston win will surely place them atop the rankings.
Baylor’s Tough February
Baylor finds itself with something to prove. Their record is respectable at 19-7, currently sitting with an 8-5 conference record. They trail Houston by two games. The Bears have had six games in February with five of them against ranked teams. They are coming off a 78-71 defeat at #25 BYU. The team comes back home where they are thriving at 13-1 this year. Baylor is led by their backcourt freshman standout Ja’Kobe Walter and senior transfer Rayj Dennis. Big man Yves Missi anchors the defense with nearly two blocks a game.
Matchup Intangibles
Baylor will be eager to bounce back from the BYU loss, especially at home and in front of their fans. Houston’s momentum and dominance will be hard to overcome. Add in the #1 NCAA Men’s Basketball ranking on the line plus the Big 12 title race to bring another layer of intensity.
Key Areas to Watch
Can Houston contain Walter and Dennis?
Baylor’s offensive success hinges on these two dynamic guards. If Houston can limit their production, it will significantly hinder Baylor’s offensive rhythm.
Will Baylor’s defense tighten up?
Their recent defensive lapses (81 to West Virginia, 78 to BYU) need to be addressed if they want to slow down Houston’s balanced attack.
Houston’s road woes
While dominant at home with a 15-0 record, Houston has struggled on the road, going 4-3.
Looking Ahead
If the Cougars can get past this game, they have a few easier conference games before the visit to the #9 Kansas Jayhawks to finish out the regular season. The Bears stretch is a little tougher with the Jayhawks on the schedule and a Big 12 finish at the #23 Red Raiders of Texas Tech. But then there is the X-factor. Will Houston feel the pressure of grabbing the coveted overall #1 seed?
Prediction
This promises to be a close and exciting battle. Both teams are talented and motivated. Houston’s recent form and defensive prowess give them a slight edge. Baylor’s home-court advantage carries a lot of weight, especially exploiting Houston’s road woes. Expect a low-scoring, tightly contested game, with Baylor pulling out a narrow victory, 67-62.
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