Kansas (14-1, 2-0) is looking at an all out battle on its quest for nine-straight Big 12 regular-season championships when it plays host to Baylor (11-4, 3-0) on ESPN's Big Monday, January 14 at 8 P.M. Baylor was the preseason selection to finish second in the Big 12, behind Kansas. The Baylor game will be the 799th all-time Kansas men's basketball regular-season game played in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas just came off of a low energy, raw talent win over Texas Tech, 60-46 on January 12. The 13 consecutive wins tie for the seventh-longest winning streak in the 10 seasons under head coach Bill Self. Self holds a 283-54 record for an 84.0 winning percentage. Kansas averages 77.8 points per game and is giving up 60.3 for a Big 12-leading +17.5 scoring margin. KU is out-rebounding foes 38.9 to 32.9 and averages 7.1 steals, while also leading the conference in field goal percentage at 49.7, three-point field goal percentage at 37.7 and blocked shots at 7.8.
Baylor is 11-4 on the season, 3-0 in Big 12 play after its 51-40 win against TCU. The Bears are coached by Scott Drew who is 168-128 in his 10th season at BU and 188-139 in his 11th season overall. Baylor averages 76.8 points and gives up 65.2 for a +11.6 scoring margin. The Bears are ranked second behind Kansas in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 47.2 percent including 34.3 percent from three-point range. BU averages 6.6 three-pointers and 7.7 steals per game.
Kansas leads the series with Baylor 18-3, including a 9-0 record in Lawrence.
Look for Baylor to come out with high energy to catch a Kansas team that seems to have come down from their winning rampages before the Temple game.
Baylor has had talent laden teams over-promise and under-deliver as of late. Nothing would validate Scott Drew and the Bears more than a win over a top ten Kansas team.
Up for grabs is the lead for the Big 12 and a home court winning streak for KU. Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey will need to keep scoring and blocking shots if they want to contend with an ramped up Baylor team.
Kansas will play at Texas on Saturday, January 19, in a 1 P.M. contest on CBS.
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