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Gameday Thread: No. 5 Baylor vs No. 1 USC - Sweet Sixteen

March 29, 2024
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PORTLAND, Ore. – The Baylor women’s basketball team continues its run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Saturday when it faces USC at the Moda Center. 

The Sweet 16 matchup between the Bears (26-7) and the Trojans (28-5) is set for 4:30 p.m. CT and airs nationally on ESPN with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli on the call. 

A live radio broadcast will be available on ESPN Central Texas (1660 AM/92.3 FM) and live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter and live stats. 

STARTING FIVE

Baylor is playing in its 20th-straight NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Bears hold the fourth-longest active streak in the country in consecutive appearances behind Tennessee (42), Stanford (36) and UConn (35).

The Bears are making their first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 2021 and first under the direction of head coach Nicki Collen.

Baylor is 57-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with three national championships, four Final Four appearances, 10 trips to the Elite Eight and 16 Sweet 16 appearances. BU’s 16 Sweet 16 appearances are the third-most in the last two decades behind only UConn and Stanford.

The Bears rank ninth nationally in three-point percentage defense, holding their opponents to 26.2% from behind the arc this season. Baylor has held its opponent to below 20% shooting from 3-point range in five of the last eight games.

Baylor is an impressive 21-1 this season when outrebounding its opponents. The Bears have recorded 50-plus rebounds in six contests this season, eclipsing 60 boards in wins over McNeese (68) and Delaware State (64).

QUEENS OF THE CASSELL

No. 5-seeded Baylor outlasted the No. 4 seed Virginia Tech Hokies, 75-72, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

The win by the Bears snapped a 26-game home winning streak for the Hokies, which was a program record. Virginia Tech dropped to 32-2 at Cassell Coliseum in the last two seasons.

Jada Walker paced the Baylor offense with a career-high 28 points, going a team-leading 9-for-10 from the charity stripe. She notched 26 of her 28 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Additionally, she went without a turnover and dished out three assists in the outing.

Team captains Sarah Andrews (16) and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10) joined Walker in double figures while Bella Fontleroy led the Bears on the boards for the second-straight game, grabbing nine.

FIGHTING IN THE FIRST ROUND

Baylor earned the 80-63 victory over Vanderbilt in its opening-round game on March 22.

The game marked the 100th career game for head coach Nicki Collen. She holds a 74-27 record at the helm of the Bears.

The Bears have won their opening-round game 21 times in 22 showings in the Big Dance.

Bella Fontleroy turned in her third double-double of the year, and sixth of her career, with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance to lead the Bears in both categories.

Baylor’s 80 points marked the 11th time this year that the Bears have put up at least 80 and first time since scoring 83 at Houston on Feb. 4.

Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: No. 5 Baylor vs No. 1 USC - Sweet Sixteen

30,711 Views | 212 Replies | Last: 7 mo ago by MrGolfguy
BUVA
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In reply to KIA • 7:29p, 3/30/24
KIA said:
They won't swallow their whistles as much if Geno is on the other sideline.


So....do they want to give Bueckers the Natty she thinks she deserves, or keep pumping up JuJu? I'm gonna be pulling for USC because I'm way past sick of Bueckers.
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IowaBear
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In reply to BUVA • 7:31p, 3/30/24
What do you have against Paige? She's been out 2 years pretty much
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historian
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:31p, 3/30/24
There is room for both positions. We missed a lot of shots. I doubt any team missed a "billion" shots all season, a silly exaggeration. The other team also missed shots.

The 2 teams were actually pretty equal much of the game. But the officials did make some pretty iffy calls, especially down the stretch. Are they solely to blame for Baylor's loss? No. But they certainly made it more difficult for our team. We don't need to deal in absolutes. The world is complicated and there usually are multiple reasons for the outcome of events, including college basketball games.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Brusinbear2001
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In reply to historian • 7:33p, 3/30/24
all this definitely has nothing to do with her AT ALL.
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Brusinbear2001
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7:35p, 3/30/24
a stat we our not mentioning we put rebounded that team with all those HUGE players. That is what gave us a chance to win. Going in i didn't think we would but we OUT rebounded them. That's huge.
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IowaBear
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In reply to historian • 7:35p, 3/30/24
You literally just proved my point. Which you clearly didn't intend to do. We missed a crap load of lay ups that's a hard fact.
We also have a bunch of fans who seem to think the only reason we lost is the refs. That's just laughable in every way.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:37p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
Yes I assumed refs have the integrity of the game at mind regardless of who's playing.
What's your excuse for all the missed lay ups? After all I'd we make even a few we win.
Go ahead and blame the refs. But I'll call that exactly what it is. A loser's mentality

Well, I believe that your mentality is that of a loser.

You can keep on saying the same thing over and over, but it doesn't make it accurate.

And to assume the refs have the integrity of the game foremost in their minds is something I simply can't wrap my head around, in light of all of the bailouts I've seen in my life.

Losers are also those who fail to see what is pretty evident.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:38p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
You literally just proved my point. Which you clearly didn't intend to do. We missed a crap load of lay ups that's a hard fact.
We also have a bunch of fans who seem to think the only reason we lost is the refs. That's just laughable in every way.

We also have a few fans who live on Fantasy Island.
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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:39p, 3/30/24
We know…. You're living proof…
"Wahhhhh Baylor lost let's blame the refs"
Signed Guitarbiscuit
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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:40p, 3/30/24
It is accurate.. we missed a boatload of layups.
Wasn't isnt accurate is saying we lost because of the refs. Keep living in loserville with that mentality
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to BUatbirth • 7:41p, 3/30/24
BUatbirth said:
Make layups/put backs…another wide open 3…and those questionable calls mean nothing.
Proud of our fight

Not so fast. This game had the feel of one that the officials were going to do whatever they had to do to get USC the win. Baylor makes 2 more layups--it's all good because the officials can just call 2 more bogus fouls.


That's the kind of game this appeared to be, almost as bad as Duke/Baylor 2008 but not quite.
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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:42p, 3/30/24
Someone get this guy a tissue or four.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:44p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
It is accurate.. we missed a boatload of layups.
Wasn't isnt accurate is saying we lost because of the refs. Keep living in loserville with that mentality


Will do. Thanks.
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Brusinbear2001
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7:44p, 3/30/24
regardless good or bad refs, good or bad layups whatever the argument is this team had fight in them and NO ONE can take that away from them. We just went and out rebounded this team when our only hope was to play fast. Buggs really stepped up in that 3rd hitting some big mid range shots!! there is a lot of positives to look at but everyone is just so glass half empty it's kinda sad.
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historian
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In reply to whitetrash • 7:45p, 3/30/24
whitetrash said:
Was too nervous to watch, but judging by the comments sounds like the game was called exactly the same way as the Iowa-WV game last weekend. Refs did everything possible to ensure darling Caitlin advanced, but in the end it was too many missed bunnies by WV that allowed her to do so. Sounds like tonight refs did everything possible to make sure Juju keeps playing, but in the end we missed to may layups.

Guess who called the Iowa-WV game? Cameron Inouye, Kevin Pethtel and Nykesha Thompson

Guess who called the USC-BU game? Cameron Inouye, Kevin Pethtel and Melissa Barlow


I thought the same thing about Iowa v WVU. That one was probably more obvious. The Mountaineers had a very good team & got a raw deal in that one. I'm glad we had wins over them. In the end, Baylor still had a very good season.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:46p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
Someone get this guy a tissue or four.

You don't know me. Don't pretend you do. I have my own concerns in life that have nothing to do with basketball.

You and I just so happen to disagree on the impact that the officials had on this game. You thought it was fair. I thought it was not.
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historian
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In reply to BUVA • 7:47p, 3/30/24
BUVA said:
KIA said:
They won't swallow their whistles as much if Geno is on the other sideline.


So....do they want to give Bueckers the Natty she thinks she deserves, or keep pumping up JuJu? I'm gonna be pulling for USC because I'm way past sick of Bueckers.

What about Caitlyn Clark? It seems to me she gets a lot of attention too. I'm not sure how much compared to the others, though.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:48p, 3/30/24
I never said it was fair, I said it wasn't why we lost. And it wasn't. Ref blaming in any capacity is always incredibly lame and usually indicates an extremely low sports IQ. Officiating at the college level is pretty average across all sports.
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historian
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In reply to Brusinbear2001 • 7:49p, 3/30/24
Brusinbear2001 said:
all this definitely has nothing to do with her AT ALL.

It shouldn't but some people can't seem to let go of their Mulkey obsessions. I don't understand it but it seems pretty obvious at times.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to historian • 7:50p, 3/30/24
historian said:
whitetrash said:
Was too nervous to watch, but judging by the comments sounds like the game was called exactly the same way as the Iowa-WV game last weekend. Refs did everything possible to ensure darling Caitlin advanced, but in the end it was too many missed bunnies by WV that allowed her to do so. Sounds like tonight refs did everything possible to make sure Juju keeps playing, but in the end we missed to may layups.

Guess who called the Iowa-WV game? Cameron Inouye, Kevin Pethtel and Nykesha Thompson

Guess who called the USC-BU game? Cameron Inouye, Kevin Pethtel and Melissa Barlow


I thought the same thing about Iowa v WVU. That one was probably more obvious. The Mountaineers had a very good team & got a raw deal in that one. I'm glad we had wins over them. In the end, Baylor still had a very good season.

Agreed. The hose job is but one of many. There will be games where Baylor is on the winning end of the hose job, but that won't make it acceptable then either.

It seems to me that 98 percent of games are well called, but there is that obvious 2 percent that are pretty abominable.

And yes, excellent job this season by the Bears.
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historian
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In reply to Brusinbear2001 • 7:50p, 3/30/24
Brusinbear2001 said:
a stat we our not mentioning we put rebounded that team with all those HUGE players. That is what gave us a chance to win. Going in i didn't think we would but we OUT rebounded them. That's huge.

Excellent point. I don't think we out rebounded them in the first half but we more than made up for it in the second, especially in Q3.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Brusinbear2001
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In reply to historian • 7:50p, 3/30/24
she didn't even develop any players on this roster, she didn't game plan, she didn't recruit them, nothing it's not about her anymore. I think we have given her her flowers enough like dang can we just play freaking basketball. No one here is required to be a Baylor fan. You can support who you choose to support.
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historian
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:51p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
You literally just proved my point. Which you clearly didn't intend to do. We missed a crap load of lay ups that's a hard fact.
We also have a bunch of fans who seem to think the only reason we lost is the refs. That's just laughable in every way.

No. Actually I'm mostly in agreement with you. I'm trying to take a more balanced approach without resorting to name calling & other pettiness.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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IowaBear
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In reply to Brusinbear2001 • 7:53p, 3/30/24
Why are you ranting about Mulkey, she hasn't even been brought up in todays game thread…
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:54p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
I never said it was fair, I said it wasn't why we lost. And it wasn't. Ref blaming in any capacity is always incredibly lame and usually indicates an extremely low sports IQ. Officiating at the college level is pretty average across all sports.


Low IQ. That's wonderful.

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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to historian • 7:56p, 3/30/24
historian said:
IowaBear said:
You literally just proved my point. Which you clearly didn't intend to do. We missed a crap load of lay ups that's a hard fact.
We also have a bunch of fans who seem to think the only reason we lost is the refs. That's just laughable in every way.

No. Actually I'm mostly in agreement with you. I'm trying to take a more balanced approach without resorting to name calling & other pettiness.

I am black and white. I believe in name calling when the name matches the behavior.

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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:57p, 3/30/24
"Low sports IQ" don't twist my words.
And yes blaming just the refs without looking at the game as a whole indicates an incredibly low sports IQ.
Sorry if that offends you
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to IowaBear • 7:58p, 3/30/24
IowaBear said:
"Low sports IQ" don't twist my words.
And yes blaming just the refs without looking at the game as a whole indicates an incredibly low sports IQ.
Sorry if that offends you

I believe your behavior is that of a low class jerk. Sorry if that offends you. That'll be my last post to you, because now you are on Ignore. So post away, sir.
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IowaBear
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 7:59p, 3/30/24
Doesn't whatsoever. You're free to your own opinion.
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historian
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 8:00p, 3/30/24
Guitarbiscuit said:
IowaBear said:
Yes I assumed refs have the integrity of the game at mind regardless of who's playing.
What's your excuse for all the missed lay ups? After all I'd we make even a few we win.
Go ahead and blame the refs. But I'll call that exactly what it is. A loser's mentality

Well, I believe that your mentality is that of a loser.

You can keep on saying the same thing over and over, but it doesn't make it accurate.

And to assume the refs have the integrity of the game foremost in their minds is something I simply can't wrap my head around, in light of all of the bailouts I've seen in my life.

Losers are also those who fail to see what is pretty evident.

IowaBear is not a loser. He's trying to look at the game completely. And he's not wrong: we did miss several layups. The officiating was also horrendous. That doesn't explain everything, though. I don't know why some people refuse to accept that both statements can be true!

When we got that totally unnecessary late foul on Juju, my gut reaction was that it sealed our fate. It didn't. We still had a chance to win it.

There are several reasons we lost and it included missed shots, poor defense in parts of the first half, missed rebounds in the first half, poor officiating, too many fouls (some were legit), etc.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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Brusinbear2001
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In reply to IowaBear • 8:02p, 3/30/24
the post i commented on was about the mulkey obsession that's the only reason, you are just on a tear right now trying to porvenir your points so i will let you have it. I'm proud of this team, whether you are or not is honestly irrelevant to me my opinion cannot be changed. I hope you have an outstanding night.
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historian
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 8:03p, 3/30/24
Iowa State MBB in Waco is almost certainly one of the 2%
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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IowaBear
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In reply to Brusinbear2001 • 8:04p, 3/30/24
I'm not on anything. Just don't see the point on ranting about Mulkey when she wasn't even mentioned in this thread at least. If by on a tear you mean calling out ref blaming then yes sure.
Where did I say I wasn't proud, quit making assumptions. I've said all year S16 or bust. Pretty sure we played in the S16 tonight
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to historian • 8:05p, 3/30/24
historian said:
Guitarbiscuit said:
IowaBear said:
Yes I assumed refs have the integrity of the game at mind regardless of who's playing.
What's your excuse for all the missed lay ups? After all I'd we make even a few we win.
Go ahead and blame the refs. But I'll call that exactly what it is. A loser's mentality

Well, I believe that your mentality is that of a loser.

You can keep on saying the same thing over and over, but it doesn't make it accurate.

And to assume the refs have the integrity of the game foremost in their minds is something I simply can't wrap my head around, in light of all of the bailouts I've seen in my life.

Losers are also those who fail to see what is pretty evident.

IowaBear is not a loser. He's trying to look at the game completely. And he's not wrong: we did miss several layups. The officiating was also horrendous. That doesn't explain everything, though. I don't know why some people refuse to accept that both statements can be true!

When we got that totally unnecessary late foul on Juju, my gut reaction was that it sealed our fate. It didn't. We still had a chance to win it.

There are several reasons we lost and it included missed shots, poor defense in parts of the first half, missed rebounding, poor officiating, too many fouls (some were legit), etc.

I don't know that guy at all, but I do believe that people should be able to disagree without resorting to name calling. He went a step too far and equated my position to a "loser low IQ position" when in reality it's simply a position. Historian, I don't see you calling people losers, which is probably why I don't have you on Ignore.
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historian
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In reply to Brusinbear2001 • 8:05p, 3/30/24
Brusinbear2001 said:
she didn't even develop any players on this roster, she didn't game plan, she didn't recruit them, nothing it's not about her anymore. I think we have given her her flowers enough like dang can we just play freaking basketball. No one here is required to be a Baylor fan. You can support who you choose to support.

Exactly. Mulkey had nothing to do with this team. But some people are still holding her up as the standard and seem to hate CNC because we haven't won another natty yet. Well, even Kim Mulkey had a 7 year gap between natty's each time! Those people will probably disappear if we do manage to win another natty, this time under Cullen. Same with the Rhoades haters.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
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