Opinion
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Can the Baylor Bears Overcome the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Ferrell Center?

As the Baylor Bears gear up to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling encounter at Waco's Ferrell Center. The Bears have been on a roll, and their recent performances suggest they could maintain their momentum against TTU.


Jan 17, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler (10) and Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Fardaws Aimaq (11) wrestle over a loose ball in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at their last game on December 23rd against Mississippi Valley State, BAY was nothing short of dominant. They put up an impressive 107 points with an outstanding field goal percentage of 67 percent and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 63 percent of their three-point attempts. Their ball movement was exemplary; they dished out 27 assists while turning over the ball only nine times, which translates to an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.0 – a statistic that speaks volumes about their offensive efficiency.


However, it's not just BAY's offense that should worry TTU; it’s also their defense. In that same game, BAY managed to rack up twelve steals and three blocks while forcing twenty turnovers from MVSU. This defensive pressure resulted in them scoring a remarkable 28 points off turnovers.


Jan 17, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Fardaws Aimaq (11) dribbles the ball around Baylor Bears forward Flo Thumb (0) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, TTU cannot be underestimated as they come into this matchup with determination and skill in equal measure. While there is no recent game data available for them in this analysis, one can expect that they will come prepared to challenge BAY on both ends of the floor.


The Bears' performance away from home has shown some vulnerability though; during their December 21st clash with Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden where they fell short by eight points despite putting up a good fight throughout the game. This loss highlighted some areas for improvement such as personal fouls committed (20) and turnovers (14), which had an adverse effect on their rhythm.


Jan 17, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Daniel Batcho (12) dunks the ball against the Baylor Bears in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor fans should also remember how BAY struggled during the first half against Michigan State Spartans before bouncing back in Detroit on December 16th – ultimately losing by twenty-four points due to early setbacks including eighteen player turnovers and giving away too many fast-break opportunities (17 points).


Despite these occasional stumbles away from home court advantage, when playing at Ferrell Center where crowd support acts like a sixth man propelling them forward - it is hard not to favor Baylor Bears in this upcoming contest.


The scheduled tip-off is set for February 7th at what promises to be an electric atmosphere inside Ferrell Center starting at 8:00 PM CT. Fans unable to attend can catch all action live on ESPN2 channel number two hundred nine ensuring not a moment is missed from what could potentially be another showcase event for Baylor basketball prowess.

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