Baylor off to best conference start since '97-'98

The Big 12 hasn’t been very nice to TCU’s men’s basketball team since it joined the league, and Baylor only presented more trouble as the Bears coasted to an 82-56 victory over the Horned Frogs on Saturday.

With the loss, TCU has now suffered its seventh straight loss, leaving the Horned Frogs winless in the Big 12, so far. But while TCU struggles, Baylor has taken advantage of its new season with new key players. With their third win in a row, the Bears now sit at 14-5 and 5-1 in Big 12 play, their best conference start since the 1997-1998 season.

TCU started out weak, missing its first six shots and turning the ball over twice before scoring just more than five minutes into the game. The Bears led 23-15 before going on a run started when Brady Heslip found Isaiah Austin for one of his two dunks during the game. Gary Franklin hit a three-pointer and Pierre Jackson had a layup to help push Baylor’s lead to 30-15.

Austin sprained his right ankle on Baylor’s last possession of the first half. He went down near midcourt and left the court, making sure not to put pressure on his right leg. Austin started the second half on the bench, but returned to the court with a little more than 18 minutes left to play.

TCU had a 9-2 run towards the end of the first half to bump the score to 43-26 at the half, but the effort was not fruitful. Baylor led by as much as 29 points in the second half and never let up.

The 26-point victory from Baylor was TCU’s largest defeat of the season. Previously, TCU’s largest margin of defeat at home this season was 13 points.

Jackson (20 points) and Austin (18 points) led the Bears in scoring while Rico Gathers had the only double-double for the Bears today with a career-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. The freshman has had 10 or more rebounds in all fives games in which he’s played 18 or more minutes.

The Bears will have a break before they have to face Oklahoma at home Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.