2012 Big 12 Tournament – Semifinals
#4 Baylor Bears vs #1 Kansas Jayhawks
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Missouri
Friday, March 9, 2012, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Kansas -5 1/2
Current Line: Kansas -6 1/2
Opening Total: 140
Current Total: 141
Opening Money Line: Kansas -260 / Baylor +220
Current Money Line: Kansas -300 / Baylor +250
The Kansas Jayhawks are #3 in the country with a 27-5 record. They will most likely be a #1 seed in next week’s NCAA tournament if they win the Big 12 tournament. They took the first step towards that goal with an 83-66 win over Texas A&M in the quarterfinals Thursday. It was the 9th straight win for the Jayhawks who finished first in the Big 12 with a 17-2 record. It was the eighth straight title for Kansas. Now the Jayhawks will face #11 Baylor in the semifinals. Baylor is 26-6 this season, and is the 4th seed in the Big 12 tournament with a 13-6 conference record. The Bears beat #5 seed Kansas St in the quarterfinals 82-74.
Kansas leads the series 18-2 against Baylor. The Jayhawks won both meetings during the regular season by double digits. Kansas won in Lawrence January 16 92-74, and in Waco February 8 68-54. Kansas has won 4 in a row against Baylor.
Baylor is coached by Scott Drew. The Bears have wins over San Diego St, Northwestern, BYU, St. Mary’s, West Virginia, Mississippi St, Texas A&M twice, Texas Tech twice, Oklahoma St twice, Oklahoma twice, Texas twice, Kansas St and Iowa St. Baylor has additional losses to Missouri twice, along with Kansas St and Iowa St.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The Jayhawks have losses to Kentucky, Duke, Davidson, Iowa St, and Missouri. Kansas has non-conference wins over Georgetown, UCLA, South Florida, Long Beach St, Ohio St, and USC. The Jayhawks swept every team in the Big 12 except Missouri and Iowa St.
Baylor is outscoring opponents 75-64 this season. The Bears are shooting 47.2% from the field, including 38.5% from 3 point range. Baylor is in the top 40 nationally in both categories. Baylor makes 74.9% from the free throw line. The Bears average 36.5 rebounds a game, and have a rebounding margin of +5. Baylor averages 15 assists, 14.1 turnovers, 7.9 steals, and 4.9 blocks a game. Baylor opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field, including 33.6% from 3 point range. The Bears force 14.7 turnovers a game on defense.
Baylor has 4 players averaging double digit scoring. Pierre Jackson averages 13.5 points, 3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.7 steals a game to lead the team in the latter two categories. He is shooting 45.3% from 3 point range. Perry Jones III averages 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds to lead the team, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal a game. Quincy Acy averages 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1 steals, and 2 blocks a game to lead the team. Quincy Miller averages 11.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game. Miller is shooting 37.3% from 3 point range. Brady Heslip averages 9.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1 assists a game. He makes 43% of his three point shots.
Kansas is outscoring opponents 75-61 this season. The Jayhawks are shooting 48.4% from the field, including 35.4% from the three point line. Kansas is #14 nationally in field goal percentage. Kansas makes 69.4% of their free throws. Kansas averages 37.1 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.3. The Jayhawks average 15.6 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 7.4 steals, and 5.7 blocks a game. Kansas opponents are shooting 38.2% from the field including 34.5% from 3 point range. Kansas is #7 nationally in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Jayhawks force 14.3 turnovers a game.
Kansas Forward Thomas Robinson averages 18 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, along with 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks a game. He leads the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounding. Robinson is second in the country in rebounding and is a Naismith Award finalist. Tyshawn Taylor averages 17.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists to lead the team, and 1.2 steals a game. He is shooting 43.1% from 3 point range. Jeff Withey averages 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks a game to lead the team. Elijah Johnson averages 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals a game to lead the team. Travis Releford averages 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Guard Ben McLemore and forward Jamari Taylor are both ineligible this season.
Baylor is 11-14 ATS and the total is 13-12 this season. Kansas is 16-14-1 ATS and the total is 11-18-2. Kansas is 3-1 ATS in the last 4 against Baylor, and the over si also 3-1 in those games. Baylor is 18-29 ATS overall, including 12-23 in conference, 11-21 after a conference game, and 4-14 after a conference win.
Kansas has seemingly had Baylor’s number recently. If the Jayhawks are motivated they should win this game and easily cover the 5.5 point spread.
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