#1 Baylor Bears (26-4, 15-3)
Big 12 (2nd)
Off- 71.1 ppg / Def- 60.1 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 12 (Last: 2019)
Top Scorers:
Jared Butler 16.0 ppg
MaCio Teague 13.9 ppg
Davion Mitchell 9.9 ppg
Freddie Gillespie 9.6 ppg
Devonte Bandoo 7.6 ppg
#16 Siena Saints (20-10, 15-5)
MAAC (1st)
Off- 72.2 ppg / Def- 67.7 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 6 (Last: 2010)
Top Scorers:
Jalen Pickett 15.1 ppg
Elijah Burns 14.4 ppg
Manny Camper 13.7 ppg
Donald Carey 11.3 ppg
Gary Harris Jr. 5.3 ppg
For over a month, the Baylor Bears were ranked #1 in college basketball and looked poised to win their first regular season conference title since 1950. Unfortunately, as it often seems to go in the Big 12, a loss to Kansas and an upset here and there, allowed the Jayhawks to slither into yet another outright Big 12 basketball title, while a tremendous season for the Bears is now left with what-ifs following the cancellation of the postseason. Though they started as a team to watch, ranked 16th to begin the season, Baylor didn't jump onto the Final Four radar until a Myrtle Beach Invite Championship win over Villanova, and wins over ranked foes Butler and Arizona. From there, the Bears became the talk of the Big 12 town, and for good reason. Aside from a balanced offensive attack led by 1st-Team All-Big 12 guard Jared Butler (16.0 ppg), the Bears defense ranked 2nd among Power Conference programs in points allowed, and 7th nationally.
For the first time since Fran McCaffrey was at the helm, the Siena Saints were set to go back to the NCAA Tournament. Things didn't always look so peachy after a 7-9 start, but the Saints righted the ship following a 70-57 win over Marist and would go on to take 13 of their next 14 contests, including their final 10 in a row to earn the outright MAAC title before the season was ultimately cut short. With only two seniors in their top 8, and a balanced offensive attack with four players averaging double figures, the future bodes well for this small private college from an Albany suburb.
Big 12 (2nd)
Off- 71.1 ppg / Def- 60.1 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 12 (Last: 2019)
Top Scorers:
Jared Butler 16.0 ppg
MaCio Teague 13.9 ppg
Davion Mitchell 9.9 ppg
Freddie Gillespie 9.6 ppg
Devonte Bandoo 7.6 ppg
#16 Siena Saints (20-10, 15-5)
MAAC (1st)
Off- 72.2 ppg / Def- 67.7 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 6 (Last: 2010)
Top Scorers:
Jalen Pickett 15.1 ppg
Elijah Burns 14.4 ppg
Manny Camper 13.7 ppg
Donald Carey 11.3 ppg
Gary Harris Jr. 5.3 ppg
For over a month, the Baylor Bears were ranked #1 in college basketball and looked poised to win their first regular season conference title since 1950. Unfortunately, as it often seems to go in the Big 12, a loss to Kansas and an upset here and there, allowed the Jayhawks to slither into yet another outright Big 12 basketball title, while a tremendous season for the Bears is now left with what-ifs following the cancellation of the postseason. Though they started as a team to watch, ranked 16th to begin the season, Baylor didn't jump onto the Final Four radar until a Myrtle Beach Invite Championship win over Villanova, and wins over ranked foes Butler and Arizona. From there, the Bears became the talk of the Big 12 town, and for good reason. Aside from a balanced offensive attack led by 1st-Team All-Big 12 guard Jared Butler (16.0 ppg), the Bears defense ranked 2nd among Power Conference programs in points allowed, and 7th nationally.
For the first time since Fran McCaffrey was at the helm, the Siena Saints were set to go back to the NCAA Tournament. Things didn't always look so peachy after a 7-9 start, but the Saints righted the ship following a 70-57 win over Marist and would go on to take 13 of their next 14 contests, including their final 10 in a row to earn the outright MAAC title before the season was ultimately cut short. With only two seniors in their top 8, and a balanced offensive attack with four players averaging double figures, the future bodes well for this small private college from an Albany suburb.
