No. 2 Baylor suffocates No. 6 Villanova with a 57-36 defensive rout

WACO, Texas — No. 2 Baylor (9-0) stifles No. 6 Villanova (7-3) with a remarkable defensive performance, 57-36, in front of a packed Ferrell Center. 

Dude. What do you say? I can’t craft words that appropriately describe the Bears’ defensive performance in front of God, Dickie V and literally everybody. This was Big 10 football on a basketball court. And all you could do was sit, mouth agape, in awe. 

Let’s camp out in the first half for a second. That was actually unrealistic. Villanova averages 40 points in the first half. They had 15. Scott Drew’s defense was at a different level. Granted the Bears were only shooting 38%, but the Wildcats were at an unfathomably low 21%. 

The best part? It wasn’t just one guy. It was defense by committee — but the entire committee. Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua was extending to the perimeter. Jeremy Sochan was locking down star guard Collin Gillespie. Matthew Mayer was just taking the ball away from people. Flo Thamba hosted a block party. 

It was 25-15 at the break. Baylor’s offense good? No. Baylor’s defense perfect? Yes. That’s what mattered.

And it did not stop there. With 7:48 left in the second half, Villanova only had 22. The onslaught certainly carried over. That’s seven points in 12:12. The Wildcats did not break 30 points for the GAME until the 1:52 mark of the second half. They average 78 points per game. 

I mean, the Wildcats only turned the ball over 13 times. It wasn't about that. It was all about having a hand in every shooter’s face. Villanova was 12-54 for the game. They did not just shoot 22%, Baylor held them to 22%.

And Gillespie, with every NBA scout ever in the building, did not score in the second half. He had just six points on the day. 

On a scale of one to good, that’s not. A Tchamwa-Tchatchoua and-one dunk at 46 seconds to go put the icing on the cake. The final was 57-36.

Jay Wright could’ve starred in one of those ASPCA commercials with Sarah McLachlan. He was just sad. When you’ve exhausted every offensive possibility and still can’t score, you can only tip your cap to Scott Drew and walk back to Philly — with the lowest point total ever scored in your career. 

Baylor is the undisputed No. 1 basketball team in the country. Again.