Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
March Madness is here. It’s going to be a lot different in 2021 with the entire NCAA Tournament in one location, but having been cancelled in 2020 the players are going to be even more enthused than usual and the bettors will be especially eager. With the regular season wining down, it’s time to start looking ahead at the teams that can expect to be serious National Championship contenders. We’ll be breaking them down one by one, and our series continues with the third-ranked Baylor Bears.
Baylor Bears basketball
Performance last five NCAA Tournaments: Round of 32, didn’t qualify, Sweet 16, First Round, Round of 32
Ranking: 3
Coach: Scott Drew
Star players: Jared Butler, MaCio Teague
Main strengths: Offense, three-point shooting (41.8 percent as a team)
Biggest weakness: Defense (44th in defensive efficiency per Kenpom)
Record: 22-2
Baylor Bears NCAA Tournament Odds
Baylor Bears outlook
Baylor was widely considered the second best team in the nation for most of the season behind only Gonzaga. They didn’t lose a game until February 27, but they did stumble a bit down the stretch. They lost two of their last six, and had a couple of other close calls, including an alarming one against lowly Kansas State. The Bears have unbelievable shooting, with each of their top five scorers shooting at least 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. They’re also very experienced, with four of their top five scorers being upperclassmen. They’re a one seed in the South region, and they’ll have to get through teams like Ohio State, Arkansas, and Purdue to get to the Final Four.
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