Some teams endured long breaks due to problems with COVID-19 in their programs and returned spectacularly. Gonzaga is the best example. The Zags had 17 days between games in December. When they returned, it was for a neutral court dispute against Iowa. It seemed like a difficult situation. But the Zags hit 51.4% of the field, including 50.0% of the 3-point line, and crossed for a 99-88 victory over another Final Four contender.
So, of course, it is possible to be great after a layoff.
But it is not a likely scenario.
And we all remember Tuesday night, when Baylor played for the first time in 21 days, fought a bad team from Iowa and was lucky to escape with a 77-72 victory that allowed the Bears to remain undefeated improve to 18 -0 overall, 10-0 on the Big 12.
“I am very excited to win,” Baylor coach Scott Drew told reporters. “Very excited to be back. Obviously, three weeks off affects your game? 100 percent.”
That is the right attitude.
Would Drew want his Bears to perform better, never lose by 17 points a team that didn’t win in Big 12 and prevent Iowa State from throwing almost 50% of the field? Yes of course. Is obvious. But the only thing that really matters is that Baylor played 40 minutes of live basketball for the first time in a long time, ran up and down the court with another team, avoided what would have been a loss in Quadrant 4 and kept a zero in the loss column. So the Bears will be happy with the win, move on and hope to be sharper on Saturday when they play Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. They remain in second place in the CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 updated college basketball diary.
Wednesday’s top 25 and 1 ratings
AT THE: BYU
OUTSIDE: LSU