The first round of Kansas-Baylor did not disappoint. In a Feb. 1 showdown of Big 12 heavyweights in Lawrence, Scott Drew’s then-No. 2 Bears took Kansas to the wire before falling short in the final minute.
Since that game, circumstances have changed somewhat for both teams. KU took its first home loss since 2013, and Baylor has suffered two bad losses -- to Kansas State at home and to Texas Tech on the road. Still, this game has plenty of luster. The Jayhawks are working toward their 13th straight Big 12 title, but three of their final five regular-season games will be on the road. That begins Saturday at Baylor. A win for the Bears could help swing the pendulum in Baylor’s favor.
Here’s how you can watch the second round of Kansas-Baylor on Saturday, along with matchups and a pick against the spread.
Viewing information
When: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Where: Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas
TV: CBS
Live stream (computer): Desktop link
Live stream (mobile): CBS Sports App
Scouting report
In the first matchup, it was Kansas’ guard play that separated the Jayhawks late. Frank Mason and Devonte Graham are two heady point guards who play well off one another and give Bill Self plenty of flexibility. The duo combined to score 32 points in the first bout with Baylor. The focus has changed for both guards, though, with an increased focus in feeding the ball to Josh Jackson, who has averaged 20.2 points per game over his last five.
As for Baylor, it has strong guard play in Manu Lecomte, but the Bears’ real strength is its front court, led by All-Big 12 caliber big man Johnathan Motley. Baylor has a 1-2 punch down low in Motley and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. that is a force to be feared on both ends of the floor. The two 7-footers are freaky shot blockers and athletic defenders that match up well with KU’s front court. They will need to protect the rim, especially with penetration from Kansas’ guards.
Matchups to watch
Kansas has won three straight since falling to Iowa State, and Josh Jackson has been electric. That could be a problem for Baylor, which doesn’t have an ideal defender on the perimeter. Of course, the Bears’ zone helps eliminate mismatches on defense. But it also makes them susceptible to whoever draws the short straw on Jackson, who at 6-foot-8 is taller and more athletic than all of Baylor’s perimeter defenders. Look for Scott Drew to shade Ishmael Wainright to Jackson’s side and use extra help from the post when he drives the lane.
Odds and pick
SportsLine odds: Baylor -2.5
SportsLine projection: Baylor 72, Kansas 70
Pick: Kansas +2.5
The Jayhawks were down 14 points to West Virginia on Monday before completing one of the most historic comebacks of the college basketball calendar year. On that same night, Baylor took a loss to Texas Tech. Fate clearly wants Kansas to win the Big 12 again, so I think fate will have the Jayhawks pulling out another close one. I’ll take Kansas straight up.