MBB: Baylor 75,OSU 68 Postgame Podcast & Thoughts

#2 Baylor (15-1; 5-0) pulls out a tough road win 75-68 against Oklahoma State (9-8; 0-5) in Stillwater.  The Bears host Oklahoma Monday January 20th at 8pm CST in the Ferrell Center on ESPN.

Observations

• Offense wins championships.  The Bears got 32 points from their bench including 16 points from Devonte Bandoo to explode for 48 points in the second half to win this game.  
• Before the game, I would have said you can bank on Baylor holding their opponent under their scoring average and they would win the rebounding battle.  Neither of those happened, yet the Bears won the game.  
• Freddie Gillespie. Top 10 in the nation in offensive efficiency (129).  Oh and he’s probably the best overall defensive big man in the nation as well.  
• This game should really help build the confidence of our bench.  Matt Mayer was really effective (140 offensive rating).  Ditto for Tristan Clark (200) who hit a mid range jumper.  Devonte Bandoo with three clutch 3s in the second half (145).  Flo Thamba also made 2 free throws in a pressure situation.  
• Baylor now top 25 in offensive efficiency (22) and defensive efficiency (4).  
• All road wins are huge.  KSU rolling WVU.  OU rolling TCU.  Kansas in a tight one in Austin.  It is hard to win on the road and the Bears are 3-0 in road games right now.  
• Need a big crowd in Waco Monday night against OU.   Aranda will be there.  Four straight Saturday home games in February.  Let’s support this team and get a #1 seed.  41% chance to make the Final 4 if you get a one seed.  21% chance from the 2 line.  12% from the 3 line.  Winning home games matter!  
• 0 points from Mark Vital and Davion Mitchell.  I would say the odds of that happening again is 0% or really close to it.  
• Plus 6 in turnover margin in the second half and for the game.  That was the difference in winning and losing.  We didn’t beat ourselves and OSU made some key mistakes down the stretch.  
• You can’t go 39-1 until you go 16-1, beat OU.  

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