Samantha Axon, Reporter
@SAxonCourant
Coming off a recent 74-102 defeat against the number two ranked Kansas Jayhawks, the Baylor Bears are looking to turn their season around when they face off against the Iowa State Cyclones on January 9th. Not only were both teams in the top 25 last week (Baylor was in 23rd, but became unranked after losing their most recent game), but they also are both part of the ultra-competitive Big 12 league that is home to four of the top 25 teams. Iowa State sits sixth in rank respectively in the Big 12 rankings while Baylor follows behind in a close seventh. Baylor has lost their one and only games in the Big 12, while Iowa State holds a 1-1 record after their most recent win.
Baylor as a whole has been a very strong team this season with help from many players such as senior guard Lester Medford. Medford has had an average 2.4 steals per game along with a 72 percent free throw accuracy.
Even with numerous strong players on the Bears’ lineup, they struggled in their most recent loss to the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. They allowed for many three point opportunities throughout the game; within the first five minutes of the game, the Jayhawks were able to score 6 three pointers out of their attempted 7, partially due to opportunities where players were unguarded. They led the Bears 24-4, a deficit that Baylor was never able to recover from. Yet, Baylor was playing a very difficult team which after the game, reached the number 1 position, proving that it was a difficult match for any team.
In order for Baylor to win, they need to focus on defending players, even when opponents are attempting difficult plays. In their most recent game, they did very well at defending the Jayhawks on breakaways and preventing a layup; but when Kansas shot from a few feet behind the three point line, the defense would automatically weaken, and assumed that the ball would miss. Also, they have lost points due to shot clock violations on numerous occasions a game. If Baylor can figure out a way of being more efficient with the ball, this game could easy go in their favor.
Baylor’s opponent, the Iowa State Cyclones on the other hand, had a very strong last game. They played against Texas Tech at home. They were able to break away from the Red Raiders and ultimately win the game 76-69. While Texas Tech is not a ranked squad, they have been referred to as “the most underrated team in the NCAA,” proving that the game was not an easy win for the Cyclones.
For the Cyclones, one of their most standout players is Jameel McKay, a redshirt senior for the team. Iowa State has such a great advantage with him on the team because he is underrated, making him a surprise threat for opponents. He is a player that is incredibly fast when making his way down the court, whether or not it is a breakaway opportunity and seems to never get tired. He does not waste time when shooting, and if he does not make the shot, he is already prepared to get the rebound. McKay is a strong, well-rounded player that has the ability to lead this team to victory.
Even though Iowa State does very well with shooting, their season average being 86 points scored per game, a 51 percent shooting accuracy, and five players scoring double digits each game, the Cyclones have struggled with their defensive skills. Many shots were left wide open for Texas Tech to shoot, which was what let the final score only be determined by seven points. Iowa State must improve their defensive skills before this game since Baylor is the top team in number of assists and have been improving their speed and breakaway opportunities.
Prediction: While I expect Baylor to come out strong after their most recent loss, I believe that Iowa State will come out on top. The Bears have played against challenging teams, such as Oklahoma, and have not lost a game by more than six points.
