Baylor Basketball

Gameday Thread: 9th-Seeded Bears Open NCAA Tournament versus No. 8-Seed Mississippi State

The ninth-seeded Baylor Bears (19-14; 10-10 Big 12) will open the NCAA Tournament against the No. 8-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12; 8-10 SEC) at 11:15 a.m. CT on Friday, March 21. The game will be televised on CBS.
By Ashley Hodge
March 17, 2025
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237 Comments
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365.com

The ninth-seeded Baylor Bears (19-14; 10-10 Big 12) will open the NCAA Tournament against the No. 8-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12; 8-10 SEC) at 11:15 a.m. CT on Friday, March 21, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game will be televised on CBS.

KenPom Prediction: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 73

Torvik Prediction: Baylor 73, Mississippi State 72

Evan Miyakawa: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 72

Haslametrics: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 72

Coaches

Mississippi State: Chris Jans (55); 206-83 (63-39 at Mississippi State); 5 NCAAs

Baylor: Scott Drew (54); 485-269 overall (465-258 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship

Head to Head: 0-0

Mississippi State Starters

  • Guard: Josh Hubbard (So.) 5-11 190 lbs; 19 ppg; 2 reb; 3 asst; 39% FG; 34% 3pt; 88% FT
  • Guard: Riley Kugel (Jr.) 6-5 210 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 2 asst; 43% FG; 32% 3pt; 75% FT
  • Forward: RJ Melendez (Sr.) 6-7 210 lbs; 9 ppg; 4 reb; 44% FG; 28% 3pt; 75% FT
  • Forward: Cameron Matthews (Sr.) 6-7 235 lbs; 7 ppg; 7 reb; 4 asst; 3 st; 51% FG; 24% 3pt; 50% FT
  • Forward: Michael Knowoko (So.) 6-10 245 lbs; 6 ppg; 5 reb; 53% FG; 14% 3pt; 61% FT

Mississippi State Bench

  • Guard: Shawn Jones (Jr.) 6-5 205 lbs; 5 ppg; 3 reb; 45% FG; 30% 3pt; 76% FT
  • Guard: Claudell Harris (Sr.) 6-4 200 lbs; 10 ppg; 3 reb; 39% FG; 34% 3pt; 76% FT
  • Forward: KeShawn Murphy (Jr.) 6-10 230 lbs; 12 ppg; 8 reb; 57% FG; 61% FT

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Rob Wright (Fr.) 6-1 180 lbs; 11 ppg; 4 asst; 42% FG; 36% 3pt; 78% FT
  • Guard: VJ Edgecombe (Fr.) 6-5 190 lbs; 15 ppg; 6 reb; 3 asst; 2 st; 44% FG; 35% 3pt 78% FT
  • Guard: Langston Love (Jr.) 6-5 215 lbs; 8 ppg; 3 reb; 37% FG; 32% 3pt; 89% FT 
  • Forward: Jalen Celestine (Sr.) 6-7 215 lbs; 7 ppg; 4 reb; 39% FG; 36% 3pt; 81% FT
  • Forward: Norchad Omier (Sr.) 6-7 245 lbs; 16 ppg; 11 reb; 57% FG; 30% 3pt; 75% FT

Baylor Bench

  • Guard: Jeremy Roach (Sr.) 6-2 180 lbs; 10 ppg; 3 asst; 38% FG; 35% 3pt; 69% FT
  • Guard: Jayden Nunn (Sr.) 6-4 190 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 41% FG; 41% 3pt; 64% FT
237 Comments
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Scott Drew NCAA Tournament March Madness Baylor vs. Mississippi State Jalen Celestine Robert Wright Jayden Nunn VJ Edgecombe Jeremy Roach Norchad Omier Basketball Baylor
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Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: 9th-Seeded Bears Open NCAA Tournament versus No. 8-Seed Mississippi State

31,335 Views | 237 Replies | Last: 8 mo ago by historian
Big12Fan2024
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1:43p, 3/21/25
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Oldbear83
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 1:44p, 3/21/25
Suck it, Fran
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whitetrash
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 1:45p, 3/21/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
If extending the game 3 times after the buzzer is a criteria, these guys are already slated for the Finals.
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Big12Fan2024
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In reply to Oldbear83 • 1:45p, 3/21/25
Oldbear83 said:
Suck it, Fran
That only explains 1 call. There were about 10 others that were NOT point of emphasis. They were just BAD calls against us!
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bear2be2
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1:46p, 3/21/25
Hell of a win for the good guys today. That was a calm, mature, gritty effort to earn another game.

Props to Drew and the boys on a mentally and physically tough performance.
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boognish_bear
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1:46p, 3/21/25
Feels like we won this game twice. Once with Edge's missed continuation call with a chance to go up 4...and then winning it at the FT line
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 1:47p, 3/21/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
By letter of the law, they got the call right. The bump came before the shot.

But it was also an intentional foul by a defender who knew he was beat for a dunk or layup, which shouldn't be rewarded the way that it was.
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Big12Fan2024
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1:47p, 3/21/25
Never take making the tournament for granted. A win makes it even sweeter. A win over a SEC team this year makes it the sweetest!
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SIC EM 94
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In reply to saucebob • 1:48p, 3/21/25
saucebob said:
SIC EM 94 said:
What a bunch of BS by that officiating crew!


And duke will get home cooking

They won't need it but you are right.
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Oldbear83
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 1:50p, 3/21/25
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!
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Big12Fan2024
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1:52p, 3/21/25
I hope I'm not jinxing our players but one of the most impressive things over the past month is how much we've cut down on TOs. We were cruising at 15+ for most of the season and suddenly a few weeks ago we started falling to less than 10 most nights and looked pretty good doing it. Drew has always said his target was no more than 12.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 2:01p, 3/21/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
Never take making the tournament for granted. A win makes it even sweeter. A win over a SEC team this year makes it the sweetest!
Agreed. This has been a very frustrating season, but today's win makes it at least a marginal success.

This team has shown a level of grit down the stretch I wasn't sure it had early in the season. That's to be commended.
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BULiferBB
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In reply to IowaBear • 2:02p, 3/21/25
There are many fans there.They seated them across the court from the bench!! Even the the FAMILY.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 2:02p, 3/21/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
I hope I'm not jinxing our players but one of the most impressive things over the past month is how much we've cut down on TOs. We were cruising at 15+ for most of the season and suddenly a few weeks ago we started falling to less than 10 most nights and looked pretty good doing it. Drew has always said his target was no more than 12.
Big development, for sure.
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william
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2:32p, 3/21/25
Fickt nicht mit dem Raketenmensch
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GoodOleBaylorLine
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In reply to Oldbear83 • 2:33p, 3/21/25
Oldbear83 said:
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!

The refs were clearly told to help the SEC teams and not make the committee look like chumps. Not really working so far.

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Delmar 2.0
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3:34p, 3/21/25
W
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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El Oso
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In reply to GoodOleBaylorLine • 4:32p, 3/21/25
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
Oldbear83 said:
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!

The refs were clearly told to help the SEC teams and not make the committee look like chumps. Not really working so far.



SEC is 5-4 through first day and a half. Two gamed pending that if scores hold make them 6-5.
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boognish_bear
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4:37p, 3/21/25
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GoodOleBaylorLine
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In reply to El Oso • 4:55p, 3/21/25
El Oso said:
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
Oldbear83 said:
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!

The refs were clearly told to help the SEC teams and not make the committee look like chumps. Not really working so far.



SEC is 5-4 through first day and a half. Two gamed pending that if scores hold make them 6-5.

SEC is 4-4 against non-power conference teams. 1-1 against power conference teams (although Ole Miss looking to make that 2-1). Would have expected better from the best conference eva!!!!

As predicted, they feasted on a very down ACC and bad power conference teams. I think it's Vandy whose best non-con was over Cal at home.
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bear2be2
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In reply to GoodOleBaylorLine • 5:06p, 3/21/25
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
El Oso said:
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
Oldbear83 said:
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!

The refs were clearly told to help the SEC teams and not make the committee look like chumps. Not really working so far.



SEC is 5-4 through first day and a half. Two gamed pending that if scores hold make them 6-5.

SEC is 4-4 against non-power conference teams. 1-1 against power conference teams (although Ole Miss looking to make that 2-1). Would have expected better from the best conference eva!!!!

As predicted, they feasted on a very down ACC and bad power conference teams. I think it's Vandy whose best non-con was over Cal at home.
I don't have a problem with people saying the SEC was really good this year. It was.

But this best conference ever bull**** is just that.

The Big 12, ACC and Big East have all had years where they were as strong as this year's SEC.
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Porteroso
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8:36p, 3/21/25
Really enjoyed watching the game. Big mistake to throw off our rhythm at the end, but we got it done in the end.

I was surprised, and I'm not sure why, by how many open 3s we missed. I think if we simply had an "on" day, we would have a chance against a team like Duke, say if they also have a bad day. But with this seeding, winning this first round is about as good as we could have hoped for.
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Mitch Henessey
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9:01p, 3/21/25
Norchad and VJ gave their customary great effort and production. Rob Wright was the star of the game. But we can't overlook Langston Love today. He's not what he once was, athletically, but he's savvy and crafty and he played his tail off.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Mitch Henessey • 9:26p, 3/21/25
Mitch Henessey said:
Norchad and VJ gave their customary great effort and production. Rob Wright was the star of the game. But we can't overlook Langston Love today. He's not what he once was, athletically, but he's savvy and crafty and he played his tail off.
I hope Langston is back next year, even if what we've gotten this year is all he can provide. He's such a skilled offensive player. It's a shame his legs are in such bad shape.
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Quinton
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In reply to Mitch Henessey • 9:28p, 3/21/25
Yep, looks like the old guy who is moving in slow motion schooling a bunch of young kids. Shame dude could never stay healthy. Was an nba player before the injury in 22'.
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Bear8084
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12:36a, 3/22/25


He mad.
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historian
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:42p, 3/22/25
bear2be2 said:
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
El Oso said:
GoodOleBaylorLine said:
Oldbear83 said:
Remember that the SEC was given fourteen berths.

Sure they have some excellent teams but there was never any doubt the SEC gets advantages just because.

Makes winning anyway that much sweeter!

The refs were clearly told to help the SEC teams and not make the committee look like chumps. Not really working so far.



SEC is 5-4 through first day and a half. Two gamed pending that if scores hold make them 6-5.

SEC is 4-4 against non-power conference teams. 1-1 against power conference teams (although Ole Miss looking to make that 2-1). Would have expected better from the best conference eva!!!!

As predicted, they feasted on a very down ACC and bad power conference teams. I think it's Vandy whose best non-con was over Cal at home.
I don't have a problem with people saying the SEC was really good this year. It was.

But this best conference ever bull**** is just that.

The Big 12, ACC and Big East have all had years where they were as strong as this year's SEC.

As strong or better. That describes the Big 12 for most of the past 10-15 years. The ACC & Big East have better records than the SEC. They are the only conferences with more Final Four appearances or national titles than the Big 12.

One only needs to look at recent Final Four history. Since 2016, P6 teams making the FF:

SEC - 3 teams
Big 12 - 4 teams
ACC - 8 teams
Big 10 - 3 teams
Pac 12 - 2 teams
Big East - 4 teams

Of the Big 12's 4 teams, 3 made the championship game. The SEC had zero. It's more dramatic when you look at national titles:

SEC - 0 teams
Big 12 - 2 teams
ACC - 2 teams
Big 10 - 2 teams
Pac 12 - 0 teams
Big East - 4 teams (UConn twice & Villanova twice)

* Note: Kansas' 2018 appearance was later vacated. However, they did play the game.
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