How did Texas Men’s Basketball beat Baylor Bears 76-71 and take first in Big 12
Texas has not beat Baylor in the past six games, but this time Texas won with tough physical fundamental team basketball — emphasis on team. The kind of basketball where battling 40 minutes is not enough, not against a well coached Baylor. For Texas, team basketball is when one player who normally scores the most points has an off day and his teammates step up to score.
From the bench, Sir’Jabari Rice who averages 11 points per game scored 21 points hitting 7-8 from the field, 4-5 of his threes, 7-8 from the free throw line, and snagging six rebounds. ESPN named Rice the Player of the Game.
Interestingly, Rice lost one of his contacts during the first half and took out the second contact for the remaining first half. Rice said he got a new pair during halftime. Clearly that helped as Rice would go on a 15 point scoring spree in 14 minutes during the second half. In the first half, Rice did not take a single three-point shot. In the second half, Rice went 4-5 from rango de tres puntos (three-point range).
Surprisingly Marcus Carr only took eight shots the entire game; two shots in the first half and one was a three pointer that he made. Carr scored only five points the entire game and three of them came in the first five minutes of the game. That’s it! While Carr would not score again until 0:27 seconds left in the game, that shot put Texas up by three. This may have been the shot that deflated Baylor enough to stop them from any more fight.
Timmy Allen said in the post game about playing against Baylor’s freshman guard Keyonte George, “He’s a great player, his game is through the roof. I got a lot of respect for him. I just tried to make him earn shots … make him work, make him run, make him sweat.”
Timmy Allen came in like a wrecking ball, scored 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block. From an analytical standpoint, Allen efficiency was 23. This is derived by taking Allen’s points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks and subtracting missed shots and turnovers.
Here’s the equation: 18 + 6 + 4 + 0 + 1 - 4 - 2 = Efficiency of 23
No other player on the court for Texas or Baylor had that high of an Efficiency score. Rice had the next highest for Texas with 21.
Tyrese Hunter returned to his self and scored in double digits for the 12th time this year hitting 13 points.
Texas Men’s Basketball head coach Rodney Terry said, “Great team win.” Timmy Allen said, “I’m just glad we got it done at the crib tonight.”
Texas Men’s Basketball is No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference. Though Terry keeps expectations firmly planted reminding everyone that they are No. 1 for just a day or until the next game meaning you cannot relish the spot too long less you fall in your next game. “We have to embrace the grind,” said Terry.
Texas travels to Manhattan, Kansas to take on Kansas State who gave Texas their one loss at home at the start of the new year when they scored 116 points against Texas who scored 103.
The game is Feb. 4 (Sat) with a 3 p.m. tip off and will be on TV: ESPN2.
Player Jersey Spotlight - Click to Wear #10 Sir'Jabari Rice
