Biggest game of the year by far tonight.
Scott Drew jokes, jabs whatever else aside this is the best team KU will face all year before the tournament (and possibly all year). Put away all your perceptions of Baylor, they are in fact as good a team as KU or better. When was the last time that was ever possible...Never.
So how does KU win tonight?
Baylor plays that Zone but they have actually played more M2M then I've ever seen.
Baylor plays at one of the slowest paces in all of College Basketball and rebounds the ball extremely well.
That means KU will have to win the slow game. If KU could force a lot of turnovers as WVU did that would really help change the dynamic of the game. If KU doesn't force turnovers its going to be a long night.
My biggest question for tonight is who guards Jonathan Motley?
The answer is nobody if your wondering. We don't have anyone who can match up with him. We will see a lot of double teams which means rotations will have to be strong. Coleby will have to be used for his fouls, but the problem is Motley makes his FT's. The only real weakness for Motley is that he is foul prone. The key for KU would be to get him into foul trouble in the first half.
Their other big, Jo-Lual Acuil Jr is the best shot-blocker in the Big-12 and maybe the country. At just under 3 blocks a game he is the biggest reason Baylor has been a stingy defensive team all season.
Having said all that I truly hope that the gym is rocking tonight to help this team get the W.
KU will need to make perimeter shots, make shots in general, limit turnovers and try and rebound at an even pace tonight. The margin for error is slim with a team like Baylor who doesn't push the pace and is able to win games with its defense. This is a true test for KU's offense and 4 guard set.
Let's get this W!!!