Nov 17, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew calls a play towards the Tarleton Texans through the first half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Obligatory Credit score: Chris Jones-Imagn Pictures No. 17 Baylor has performed 4 ranked groups in its first six video games of the season, balancing their pre-Huge 12 Convention schedule between ranked opponents and opponents from non-power conferences.
After beating then-No. 22 St. John’s 99-98 in double additional time, adopted by a 77-62 loss to then-No. 11 Tennessee within the last of the Baha Mar Hoops championship in Nassau, Bahamas, final Friday, Baylor (4-2) will face New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon in Waco, Texas.
Bears coach Scott Drew stated the early season losses present precious expertise.
“What you threat is you may lose confidence for those who lose some video games,” Drew stated of the gauntlet of ranked opponents. “However for those who keep collectively you acquire an incredible workforce as a result of diamonds are fashioned below strain and we have to know what we’ll get and what to anticipate from guys in these conditions.”
Drew already has realized loads about how his workforce responds to adversity. Within the season opener, Baylor went on the highway to face then-No. 6 Gonzaga, fell behind by 19 at halftime and could not get again within the recreation, dropping 101-63.
The Bears bounced again to beat then-No. 16 Arkansas 72-67 in Dallas earlier than successful handily in house video games towards Sam Houston and Tarleton State.
They fell behind St. John’s by as many as 18 factors within the first half and did not take their first lead till lower than three minutes remained in regulation. Although the Bears got here up quick towards Tennessee, they fought again from a 28-point first-half deficit and outscored the Volunteers 42-30 within the second half.
“We’re making strides,” stated Drew, whose workforce has one other notable pre-conference recreation developing when it visits two-time defending nationwide champion UConn on Dec. 4.
Baylor has 5 scorers averaging in double figures, led by ahead Norchad Omier, a Miami switch who’s averaging a double-double (16.5 factors and 10.0 rebounds), and guard VJ Edgecombe, who’s averaging 12.5 factors. Duke switch guard Jeremy Roach chips in 12.7 factors per recreation.
For New Orleans (2-4) of the Southland Convention, guard James White’s 31 factors drove the Privateers to a 93-87 additional time victory at crosstown rival Tulane final Friday.
New Orleans led 39-27 at halftime and nonetheless held a 12-point lead with 1:35 left within the second half, however Vincent Jamond fouled the Inexperienced Wave’s Kaleb Banks on a 3-point try with 0.9 seconds left in regulation. Banks made all three free throws to drive additional time.
In additional time, the Privateers completed with a 14-8 scoring edge to win.
“We needed to get by way of slightly adversity there,” first-year head coach Stacy Hollowell stated. “We needed to refocus in additional time and do what we do. We’ll proceed to construct. We bought the job actual late (April 25) and put the workforce collectively in two weeks. Hopefully this propels us in the correct course.”
New Orleans shot a season-best 50 p.c from the ground and White, a switch from UAB, scored eight in additional time.
“Clearly, it was tough going to additional time,” White stated, “however we caught it out as a gaggle and got here collectively.”
–Subject Degree Media
