INDIANAPOLIS — The No. 1 seed Baylor men’s basketball team (24-2) rolled past No. 9 seed Wisconsin (18-13) by a final of 76-63 in Indianapolis to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Never bet against a Baptist school on a Sunday.
The Badgers certainly made things interesting in the second half, but this Baylor team is just too good. Defense, offense, special teams, bench play, coaching — hell even the team managers were just making it happen today.
And how can I forget an unreal performance from Davion Mitchell. He finished with 16 points, eight assists and two steals. The only player who scored more than Mitchell? Freaking Matthew Mayer. He put up 17. When Mayer scores 17 and Baylor has just four turnovers compared to an opponent’s 14, this team could go 80-2 in the NBA.
Breaking down the first half, Wisconsin looked strong to open the game, but Baylor leaned into its defense to quiet the Badgers quickly to rattle off a 20-6 run after trailing by five early. It was an immaculate ride from there. Even when the boys in red scored, the Bears were right there to answer.
Moreover, not a single Bear was in double digits. That would typically be a bad thing, but it just showed how well the team shared the basketball. Baylor shot 5-11 from deep, forced nine turnovers compared to coughing up one, won the points off turnovers battle 12-2 and dominated the points in the paint war 20-12 to secure a 42-29 lead at the break.
The second half was hairy here and there. The Badgers would pull the game within seven, but a scoring drought of over four minutes starting at the 7:25 mark buried Wisconsin’s run. And that was really the name of the game. The Bears’ defense was simply elite when it needed to be.
Statistically in the final 20, Mitchell and Matthew Mayer led the way with nine apiece. While Wisconsin limited turnovers, found a spark off the bench and stifled Baylor in the paint, the lead the Green and Gold built was just too much as we landed at the 76-63 final.
This is the same Wisconsin team that ran North Carolina out of the gym two days ago. That was the same North Carolina team that analysts thought could beat Baylor. This is a good Wisconsin team — and now they’re home. Sweet, sweet revenge. Yeah, I’m looking at you 2014.
Also, Mark Vital is more electric than my heater during that insane snowstorm — and he jumps higher than my bill was. His dunks were a thing of beauty. This Baylor team plays so well above the rim, and that’s just tough to stop.
