USA Today via Reuters
Dec 21, 2020; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) and forward Zach Loveday (32) slap hands after a made basket against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 21, 2020; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) and forward Zach Loveday (32) slap hands after a made basket against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball action continues tonight, as the Baylor Bears face the Auburn Tigers. The Bears play host in this highly anticipated Big 12/ SEC Clash and the two teams will battle at the Paul J. Meyer Arena in Texas at 4 pm EST.
15 games into the season, and the Bears are still undefeated. They have been merciless with every team they have faced. The closest a team has got is eight points away, but the Bears always win comfortably. They destroyed the Kansas State Wildcats in their previous game with a 107-59 win.
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The Tigers come in good spirits after upsetting Missouri in their previous game. They won 88-82 and have been a different team since the arrival of Sharife Cooper. Overall, they haven’t been too impressive, and are missing the experience they lost from last year’s team.
Injuries and lineups
The Bears come into this game with a fully healthy team. Throughout the season, none of their starters have missed any games, and that has been key towards their unbeaten run. Their lineup will feature MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Jared Butler as their guards while Mark Vital and Flo Thamba will start as the forwards.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 18, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) reacts to a made basket in the closing moments of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
After suffering a concussion earlier this month, Justin Powell hasn’t returned to action yet. There is still no news about his return, and he is unlikely to feature tonight. But the rest of their team is available for this big game. The Tigers will start with Justin Powell, Allen Flanigan, and Sharife Cooper as their guards, and JT Thor and Jaylin Williams as their forwards.
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NCAA Basketball: Battle of the guards
This game will be a battle of the two guards, Butler and Cooper. Butler is a candidate for the National Player of the Year and has been leading the exploits for the Bears all season. Cooper has just six games under his belt, but since his arrival, he has transformed the Auburn offense. He has shown excellent playmaking as well as scoring already, and has rightly been compared to Chris Paul.
Sharife Cooper was a problem in Auburn’s upset over No. 12 Missouri 😤
28 PTS, 18-21 FT, 8 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/LjpC8mpxi0
— Bleacher Report CBB (@br_CBB) January 27, 2021
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This will be Cooper’s toughest matchup so far, and it should be exciting. Despite his brilliance, the Bears will be the favorites. They have been dominant all season, and this won’t be a huge hurdle for them. They will be expected to notch their 16th win of the season before they head out to face the Longhorns on Tuesday.
