Orlando, Fla. - Baylor Bears Set for Showdown Against UCF Knights
Baylor's men's basketball team is gearing up for a Saturday night clash against UCF at Addition Financial Arena, with the game tipping off at 7 p.m. CT on FS1. This marks only the third meeting between the Bears and Knights, and Baylor currently holds a 2-0 lead in their series since UCF joined the Big 12.
Key Matchup Insights:
- Baylor is embarking on a two-game road trip through Space Cities, starting with UCF and followed by a game against Houston.
- The Bears recently went head-to-head with No. 2 Arizona, showcasing their resilience by building a seven-point halftime lead and pushing the game to nine ties in the second half before falling 87-80. That halftime lead was the largest deficit Arizona faced since last season at Kansas.
Player Highlights:
- Cameron Carr is on fire, achieving a career-best with 11 field goals on 19 attempts, finishing with 26 points. This marks his 12th game with 20 or more points this season.
- Isaac Williams IV is on a roll, maintaining a five-game streak of scoring in double figures. He notched 16 points and set a career-high with 8 assists. Over the last five games, Williams is averaging 15.6 points per game and shooting an impressive 61.7% from the field.
- Tounde Yessoufou is making waves as a freshman, breaking the program record for made field goals with 187, surpassing a record held since the 1975-76 season. Yessoufou is just eight points shy of breaking the freshman scoring record of 509 points.
- Yessoufou is also closing in on the freshman steals record, needing 12 more to surpass the current record of 68. He ranks second in the Big 12 in total steals and third in steals per game.
- Cameron Carr has become the first sophomore to score 500 points in a season since LaceDarius Dunn in 2007-08. Carr is leading the Bears with 18.9 points per game, ranking sixth in the Big 12.
Coaching and Team Performance:
- Head coach Scott Drew is on the verge of a milestone, needing just two more wins to reach 500 career victories.
- Baylor's schedule has been a tough one, with Kenpom ranking their opponent defensive strength of schedule as the second toughest in the nation. Overall, their strength of schedule stands 11th nationally and third in the Big 12.
- The Bears have been shooting lights out recently, hitting 46.4% from the field and averaging 78.4 points over their last five games. This is a significant improvement from the 40.1% and 66.8 points they averaged in their first five conference games.
- Baylor boasts an impressive 95-5 (.950) record over the past decade when shooting at least 50% from the field, ranking sixth best in Division I.
As Baylor heads into this matchup, fans can expect a competitive game with standout performances from key players, all under the strategic guidance of Coach Drew. The Bears are looking to continue their winning streak against UCF and build momentum on this road trip.