The last 18 games built Baylor's NCAA résumé; the final 2 can improve it

The Baylor Bears have been on an incredible ride as they head into the final two games of the season with a 19-10 record. After starting the season 6-4 with losses mixed in to Texas Southern, Wichita State and SFA, Baylor has reversed their trend over their last 18 games with a 13-5 record including wins over projected NCAA Tournament teams Iowa State (x2), Texas Tech, Oklahoma (x2) and Texas.

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Baylor fell to Wichita State on 71-63 in non-conference play, but trailed the Shockers 44-15 at halftime.

With the slow start aside, not many people would have guessed that the Bears would be where they are right now given the adversity this team has had to face throughout the season. Specifically, four of Baylor’s projected starters for the season have dealt with serious injury issues, including sophomore Tristan Clark who was shut down for the season for a knee surgery just 14 games into the season. 

Senior Jake Lindsey has missed the entire season, announcing earlier this week that he has officially retired from basketball due to his Parsonage-Turner syndrome diagnosis. Senior Makai Mason has missed five games this season and has been hobbled with a toe injury to this day. Two of the games Mason missed came in losses against Kansas State and Texas Tech, two teams who are ahead of the Bears in the standings. King McClure missed five pivotal games with a knee injury in a row over a span of three weeks before he finally saw extended time against Kansas State Saturday.

But Scott Drew has done it once again, proving doubters wrong and making the most out of a difficult situation by putting the Bears on the map and making them a scary team to face in the tournament.

After their recent tough loss on the road to first-place KSU, the Bears have a 10-6 conference record that puts them in sole possession of fourth place in the Big 12. With games against Oklahoma State and third place Kansas left on the schedule, the Bears could pass the Jayhawks in the standings if they are able to handle business against the Cowboys and pull off an upset at the Allen Fieldhouse.

At this point in the season, the Bears are generally regarded as a middle seed. Some projections have them as low as 10, while others could even have the Bears at 5 if they are able to finish the season on a strong note. 

With that being said, here is a look at the team’s resume thus far.

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Baylor has posted a 10-5 record since losing sophomore Tristan Clark for the season.

Key Wins: 

• #20 Iowa State, 73-70 (1/8)
• #8 Texas Tech, 73-62 (1/19)
• at #19 Iowa State, 73-69 (2/19)

Good Wins:

• Arizona, 58-49 (12/15)
• Oregon, 57-47 (12/21)
• Alabama, 73-68 (1/26)
• at Oklahoma, 77-47 (1/28)
• TCU, 90-64 (2/2)
• Oklahoma, 59-53 (2/11)
• Texas, 84-83 (2/27)

Bad Losses:

• Texas Southern, 72-69 (11/6)
• at Wichita State, 71-63 (12/1)
• SFA 59-58 (12/18)

Ugly Losses:

• at Texas Tech 86-61 (2/16)

The best thing for the Bears in regards to their resume is that the losses that really turn the eye clearly come at the beginning of the season before this team found their rhythm. Ironically, that rhythm came after losing Clark for the season.

If the Bears are able to take down the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Wednesday, that should keep away any chances of the Bears putting another game in their bad loss column with only a road test at Kansas and the Big 12 Tournament remaining. If the Bears can pull off an upset on the road against Kansas, that would surely make its way into the big wins column. 

With those two games remaining and the Big 12 tournament nearing, the Bears still have opportunities to really add some crucial points to their resume down the stretch with the level of play in the Big 12 this season. These last games before the NCAA tournament very well could drastically affect where the Bears are seeded.

What seed do you think the Bears deserve as of now? What seed do you think the Bears will receive following the Big 12 tournament?