Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
As the calender turns to March, contenders start to rise to the top while pretenders are ousted from tournament contention. Being a bubble team at this point in the season is stressful to say the least, but a team that overcomes adversity while sitting squarely on the bubble could be destined for much more than just an invitation come tournament time. The bubble is growing larger as the countdown to the NCAA tournament truly begins, but one team that sits at the top of the conversation is the Baylor Bears out of the Big 12 Conference.
Baylor did not record a signature win Saturday, but the Bears did keep pace in the bubble conversation as the team took care of business dispatching the Texas Tech Red Raiders 59-49 in Waco. The Bears winning effort was led by Royce O’Neale who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards. Sharpshooter Brady Heslip aided in the victory with 14 points while embracing his leadership role on the team. With the win, the Bears are one step closer to securing a tournament berth as they wrap up conference play this week against two worthy opponents who have already punched their ticket to the big dance.
Baylor’s win might have just put the team into the tournament field, and as long as the team does not lay an egg down the stretch, the Bears should be dancing at the end of March. The Bears have one top-25 win this season, but could earn a second this week when the team hosts the Iowa State Cyclones.
Baylor is just one of many teams currently sitting on the bubble, but at this point, the team is closer to dancing than watching the tournament from the couch.
Greg Douglas is a College Basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @thegpd93 or add him to your Google Network.
