Nearly two years have passed and the Baylor Bears are faced with yet another big game against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
The game is Wednesday at 8 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Kansas comes in ranked No. 3 in the nation and sporting a 16-1 overall record and 2-0 Big 12 Conference worksheet, while Baylor is ranked No. 25 and own a 14-2 overall record and 2-1 conference record.
It's a situation similar to Feb. 9. 2008 when Baylor rolled into Kansas with a 17-4 overall worksheet and 5-2 conference record, while KU was ranked No. 4 in the country and carrying a 22-1 overall record and 7-1 conference slate. Kansas wound up using a sizable advantage at the free throw line to defeat the Bears 100-90.
In that game, Kansas was 36-of-46 from the free throw line while Baylor was just 14-of-18 from the charity stripe. Baylor, which became the first team in five years to score at least 90 points against Kansas, also finished that game tied with the Jayhawks on the boards at 39-39.
BU also held KU without a three-point field goal. It was the first time in 271 games -- dating back to a Feb. 28, 2000 game against Texas _ that the Jayhawks did not make a three-point field goal.
Thus, even in defeat, Baylor coach Scott Drew was able to take something positive from that game which he may be able to use Wednesday. Especially since those 90 points Baylor scored two years ago were the most by a KU opponent in the era of Jayhawks coach Bill Self.
"Any time you have a positive experience you can learn from it and grow from it,'' Drew said during today's Big 12 conference call. "We have several players who played in that game.
"At the same time, it's a different season, a different year. And we know for us to go up there and do well, there's certain things that we have to do, and it starts with defending and rebounding.''
The last time Baylor visited Allen Fieldhouse two yesr ago, the Kansas starting lineup that day was so potent that four of those five starters are now in the NBA. That includes Mario Chalmers (Miami), Brandon Rush (Indiana), Darrell Arthur (Memphis) and Darnell Jackson (Cleveland). The fifth starter from that squad, Russell Robinson, plays for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League.
At least two KU players from that team _ Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins_ are on this year's squad and are destined for the NBA.
Three players from Baylor who played in that game two years ago who are on the Bears' current roster include LaceDarius Dunn, Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers. A freshman at the time, Dunn scored 23 points in just 20 minutes against the Jayhawks, who went on to capture the national championship that season.
It's no secret that Allen Fieldhouse is one of the toughest arenas in American to play in for opponents. The Jayhawks are 12-0 at home this season, and Drew doesn't expect a warm reception will be waiting for the Bears on Wednesday.
"Obviously they've got great tradition and great fan support as well,'' Drew said. "There's certain places in this country that I think you grow up knowing about, and obviously Kansas is one of those.
"At the same time, Coach Self has done another great job with this year's team. They haven't come out and overworked people. They've played hard, they've competed, they've gotten better and obviously that's why people picked them (No.) 1, and for the most part (Kansas has) been No. 1 in the nation.''
_ Dwain Price
Cool report. It should also be mentioned that Baylor beat Kansas in last year's Big 12 tournament. This game could be a lot more interesting than some expect.
Posted by: Sean | January 19, 2010 at 09:58 PM