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The 2–12 Savannah State Tigers from the Mid-East Athletic Conference never really stood a chance as the No. 9 Baylor Bears from the Big 12 rolled over them 80–50. Cory Jefferson played well, scoring 13 points and pulling in seven rebounds, but Taurean Prince was the story as he had 15 points from the bench.
The win over Savannah State means that the Bears finish non-conference play 12–1 and basically are already a lock for the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Baylor had good resume boosting wins over the Colorado Buffaloes, Dayton Flyers and then No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats en route to their impressive start to the 2013–14 college basketball season and will continue to compete in the Big 12.
Big 12 play will be difficult for the Bears, as every team has at least eight wins and three other teams are ranked. However, Baylor has the talent and depth to win the conference and gain a top two seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. If Baylor can have success in the Big 12, expect the Bears to have success in the 2014 NCAA Tournament as well. The conference is difficult enough to prepare any team for NCAA tournament level opposition.
Baylor has already proven that they can beat some of the best teams in the country and are one of the few teams who had an opportunity to defeat the undefeated No. 2 Syracuse Orange. Don’t sleep on the Bears this season, because Baylor isn’t only a sleeper in the Big 12, but has the potential to go to the Elite Eight as well.
Taylor Sturm is a SEC Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
