Kansas basketball: Baylor preview, where to watch
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas basketball team will face hungry group of Bears Saturday. Here is what you need to know when the Jayhawks battle Baylor
The Kansas basketball team is coming off their biggest win of the season on Monday. They can’t afford a mental lapse in this highly competitive Big 12 season. Scott Drew has not beaten Bill Self in a long time. The Jayhawks have won the past ten meetings. They will be hungry to steal a win in Allen Fieldhouse. They’ve never won in Lawrence.
There are many exciting matchups in this contest. The biggest for many reasons highlights Udokah Azubuike and Baylor’s shot blocking 7-foot center Jo Lual-Acuil. This will be fun to watch. Lual-Acuil is more experience but Azubuike will give him plenty of trouble.
When the Bears beat Texas Lual-Acuil scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 36 minutes against Mo Bamba. The Texas big man scored 15-points against Baylor and also in the Big opener against Azubuike. After a slow start, Dok played Bamba even the rest of the way with a double-double of 13 points and 13 boards.
It will be interesting to see whether Hall of Fame coach Bill Self plays some zone against the Bears. They are not a great shooting team. They rank in the middle of the Big 12 pack at 48 percent from the field on the season and just 37 percent from beyond the arc. On the other hand, Baylor may use a zone defense too. With their size, that presents some challenges. The Jayhawks will need to attack the basket and hit some 3s.
Here is where to watch the Jayhawks play the Bears Saturday.
Date: January 20
Time: 5p.m. CST
Location: Lawrence
Venue: Allen Fieldhouse
Television: ESPN
Streaming: WatchESPN
Listen: Jayhawk Radio Network
Keys to Victory
Next: Big Baylor will challenge Jayhawks on the glass
Baylor is the worst team in turnover margin and steals in the Big 12. The Jayhawks used defense to start their rally on Monday in Morgantown. The Jayhawks need to force turnovers against the Bears. In addition, Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk need to get going from long range thus opening up driving lanes. If the Jayhawks do this and match the Bears on the boards they will bring home a victory.