Heck, everybody’s entitled to an off evening. However that beatdown Baylor placed on undefeated Gonzaga with the nationwide title on the road — no one noticed that coming.The fresh-as-can-be Bears obliterated wobbly-legged Gonzaga’s march to perfection Monday evening in an 86-70 runaway that introduced this once-downtrodden program’s first nationwide title again residence to Waco, Texas.Jared Butler scored 22 factors and MaCio Teague had 19 for the Bears (28-2), who had been ranked second or third within the AP ballot all yr lengthy — however by no means first, all due to one group.Pounding the offensive glass and scrapping for — and profitable — the lion’s share of the 50-50 balls, Baylor by no means let this one come all the way down to a Jalen Suggs miracle. The Gonzaga freshman’s buzzer-beater from close to the half-court brand bought the Zags to the ultimate in a sport that stood as their first true check of the season.They handed towards UCLA. Towards Baylor? Not even shut.After operating to a 19-point lead early, the Bears by no means let Gonzaga get any nearer than 9. Guard Davion Mitchell — nicknamed “Off Night time” as a result of so many opponents encounter one after they go towards him — completed with 15 factors and did his greatest on Suggs. The freshman completed with 22 factors — most of them after the Zags had been effectively into desperation mode — and certain shall be heading to the NBA lottery subsequent. Gonzaga’s first loss in 32 video games this season — 36 relationship to 2019-20 — leaves Indiana’s 1975-76 group because the final to go undefeated. If Bob Might, Quinn Buckner and the remainder of coach Bob Knight’s group had been protecting champagne chilly to rejoice — a la the proper ’72 Miami Dolphins — they may’ve uncorked it by halftime. Or sooner. Associated video: Excessive court docket hears case on paying NCAA athletesBaylor was up 9-0 after 2 1/2 minutes and the Bulldogs confronted solely their fourth double-digit deficit of the season at 11-1. They confronted their greatest deficit of the season — 15 factors — with 7:10 gone. By then, Suggs had two fouls and was watching from the bench. He tried onerous to breathe some fireplace into his teammates, or the Zags followers — who made about as a lot noise because the cardboard cutouts that had been scattered by way of Lucas Oil Stadium to make it appear full. “Let’s …. go!” Suggs screamed after he bought fouled on a layup early within the second half. He missed the free throw. However greater than something within the title sport, it was Suggs’ memorable basket two nights earlier that laid the groundwork for this one. His financial institution shot on the buzzer capped some of the riveting school basketball video games ever. Again on the ground about 46 hours after that emotional curler coaster, it was clear the Zags had been gassed. The sequence that greatest illustrated the vitality hole took place six minutes into the competition when Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua slapped the ball out of Drew Timme’s fingers and the Bears labored the ball forward to Mitchell. He missed a layup, however Tchamwa Tchatchoua bought the offensive rebound and fed Adam Flagler for a 3. Gonzaga was virtually simply standing there for all of it. This was one of many most-anticipated finals in current historical past, a gathering of the 2 greatest groups from the final two seasons — this one and 2023, when COVID-19 scrapped the motion earlier than match time. They had been scheduled to fulfill this season in Indy, on Dec. 5, however a COVID-19 outbreak on the Gonzaga group ended these plans.However the sport did not reside as much as the hype, and it was out of hand early.Baylor had 9 offensive rebounds within the first half that led to 9 second-chance factors, and wore down the Zags on protection. Gonzaga shot 54% from the ground over the primary 20 minutes however Baylor had 16 extra makes an attempt — the form of math that doesn’t add up for a group enjoying within the title sport. One glimmer of hope for the Zags got here when Tchamwa Tchatchoua joined one other Baylor large man, Flo Thamba, on the bench with 4 fouls with 14:43 left. Andrew Nembhard’s basket on the subsequent possession lower Gonzaga’s deficit under double digits for the primary time since early. Baylor answered with a 9-2 run punctuated by Mark Very important’s rejection of Corey Kispert, then a quick break that led to a simple 3 from Flagler. It was over from there. Sure, Gonzaga may need been the yr’s most watchable group with its dramatic run at perfection, to say nothing of the shot of the match. However Baylor was slicing down the nets. It is the fruits of an 18-year rebuild, the likes of which no program has ever seen. Coach Scott Drew took over a roster with solely seven scholarship gamers and a group looking at years of NCAA probation within the wake of the homicide of participant Patrick Dennehy by a teammate in 2003. The Bears received solely 21 video games over Drew’s first three years. It took numerous creativeness and greater than just a little religion to consider a day like this may occur. It took the identical factor to hold a loss on the Bulldogs. However that form of loss? Solely Baylor may’ve seen that one coming.
Heck, everybody’s entitled to an off evening. However that beatdown Baylor placed on undefeated Gonzaga with the nationwide title on the road — no one noticed that coming.
The fresh-as-can-be Bears obliterated wobbly-legged Gonzaga’s march to perfection Monday evening in an 86-70 runaway that introduced this once-downtrodden program’s first nationwide title again residence to Waco, Texas.
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Jared Butler scored 22 factors and MaCio Teague had 19 for the Bears (28-2), who had been ranked second or third within the AP ballot all yr lengthy — however by no means first, all due to one group.
Pounding the offensive glass and scrapping for — and profitable — the lion’s share of the 50-50 balls, Baylor by no means let this one come all the way down to a Jalen Suggs miracle. The Gonzaga freshman’s buzzer-beater from close to the half-court brand bought the Zags to the ultimate in a sport that stood as their first true check of the season.
They handed towards UCLA. Towards Baylor? Not even shut.
After operating to a 19-point lead early, the Bears by no means let Gonzaga get any nearer than 9.
Guard Davion Mitchell — nicknamed “Off Night time” as a result of so many opponents encounter one after they go towards him — completed with 15 factors and did his greatest on Suggs. The freshman completed with 22 factors — most of them after the Zags had been effectively into desperation mode — and certain shall be heading to the NBA lottery subsequent.
Gonzaga’s first loss in 32 video games this season — 36 relationship to 2019-20 — leaves Indiana’s 1975-76 group because the final to go undefeated. If Bob Might, Quinn Buckner and the remainder of coach Bob Knight’s group had been protecting champagne chilly to rejoice — a la the proper ’72 Miami Dolphins — they may’ve uncorked it by halftime.
Or sooner.
Associated video: Excessive court docket hears case on paying NCAA athletes
Baylor was up 9-0 after 2 1/2 minutes and the Bulldogs confronted solely their fourth double-digit deficit of the season at 11-1. They confronted their greatest deficit of the season — 15 factors — with 7:10 gone. By then, Suggs had two fouls and was watching from the bench.
He tried onerous to breathe some fireplace into his teammates, or the Zags followers — who made about as a lot noise because the cardboard cutouts that had been scattered by way of Lucas Oil Stadium to make it appear full.
“Let’s …. go!” Suggs screamed after he bought fouled on a layup early within the second half. He missed the free throw.
However greater than something within the title sport, it was Suggs’ memorable basket two nights earlier that laid the groundwork for this one. His financial institution shot on the buzzer capped some of the riveting school basketball video games ever. Again on the ground about 46 hours after that emotional curler coaster, it was clear the Zags had been gassed.
The sequence that greatest illustrated the vitality hole took place six minutes into the competition when Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua slapped the ball out of Drew Timme’s fingers and the Bears labored the ball forward to Mitchell. He missed a layup, however Tchamwa Tchatchoua bought the offensive rebound and fed Adam Flagler for a 3.
Gonzaga was virtually simply standing there for all of it.
This was one of many most-anticipated finals in current historical past, a gathering of the 2 greatest groups from the final two seasons — this one and 2023, when COVID-19 scrapped the motion earlier than match time. They had been scheduled to fulfill this season in Indy, on Dec. 5, however a COVID-19 outbreak on the Gonzaga group ended these plans.
However the sport did not reside as much as the hype, and it was out of hand early.
Baylor had 9 offensive rebounds within the first half that led to 9 second-chance factors, and wore down the Zags on protection. Gonzaga shot 54% from the ground over the primary 20 minutes however Baylor had 16 extra makes an attempt — the form of math that doesn’t add up for a group enjoying within the title sport.
One glimmer of hope for the Zags got here when Tchamwa Tchatchoua joined one other Baylor large man, Flo Thamba, on the bench with 4 fouls with 14:43 left.
Andrew Nembhard’s basket on the subsequent possession lower Gonzaga’s deficit under double digits for the primary time since early. Baylor answered with a 9-2 run punctuated by Mark Very important’s rejection of Corey Kispert, then a quick break that led to a simple 3 from Flagler.
It was over from there. Sure, Gonzaga may need been the yr’s most watchable group with its dramatic run at perfection, to say nothing of the shot of the match.
However Baylor was slicing down the nets.
It is the fruits of an 18-year rebuild, the likes of which no program has ever seen.
Coach Scott Drew took over a roster with solely seven scholarship gamers and a group looking at years of NCAA probation within the wake of the homicide of participant Patrick Dennehy by a teammate in 2003. The Bears received solely 21 video games over Drew’s first three years.
It took numerous creativeness and greater than just a little religion to consider a day like this may occur.
It took the identical factor to hold a loss on the Bulldogs.
However that form of loss? Solely Baylor may’ve seen that one coming.
