Baylor coach Scott Drew is selecting to take the optimistic outlook together with his up-and-down workforce forward of Saturday’s Massive 12 Convention dwelling recreation in opposition to UCF in Waco, Texas.
The Bears (14-8, 6-5) have performed shorthanded during the last 10 video games, the period of time guard Langston Love has missed with an ankle harm. As well as, Duke switch Jeremy Roach simply returned from concussion protocol after lacking 4 video games, whereas VJ Edgecombe sat out Tuesday’s 73-59 loss at No. 13 Texas Tech with an ankle harm.
“On this league, it is exhausting whenever you’re enjoying six, seven guys,” Drew mentioned. “Hopefully, we get VJ and Langston again, and that may actually assist with issues. Us coaches, our performs actually work loads higher when now we have extra gamers.
“I do not know if anybody’s gone by means of what we have gone by means of with the harm bug.”
Nonetheless, Baylor is in place to earn an NCAA Event berth with a powerful end. The Bears are led by ahead Norchad Omier (15.4 factors, 10.4 rebounds per recreation), who recorded his 79th profession double-double with 16 factors and 12 rebounds in opposition to the Pink Raiders.
In the meantime, the Knights (13-9, 4-7) are coming off a 93-83 setback at dwelling Wednesday evening to Cincinnati that prolonged their shedding streak to 3 video games. They had been gashed inside, permitting a whopping 56 factors within the paint.
“We’ve to get again to understanding what the priorities are defensively,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins mentioned. “That is defending our paint and understanding that guys must be the place they’re purported to be. We all know what our assignments are … that is consideration to element.”
The Knights have allowed 79.4 factors per recreation, almost 5 greater than every other Massive 12 workforce, and have permitted league opponents to make 48.4 p.c of their discipline objectives. That is additionally the worst mark within the Massive 12.
Keyshawn Corridor leads the assault with 18.3 factors per recreation whereas Darius Johnson chips in 15.0 per recreation.
Baylor earned a 77-69 win final season in Orlando within the groups’ first-ever assembly.
–Discipline Stage Media
