Post Game Thoughts :: Baylor Bears 86, Texas Tech Red Raiders 68

Result :: Loss : 68-86 : SB Nation Box Score
Record :: 16-13, 4-11
Big 12 Standings :: 9th (tied with Oklahoma)
Up Next :: 03.06.2010 : @ Colorado (14-15, 5-10)

The Result :: The Same As It Ever Was: I caught a majority of the game, missed the last few minutes and missed the first few minutes. In any event, from what I saw, it's the same thing that I've been saying for three weeks: Baylor is a more athletically gifted team with more shot-makers and athletes than Texas Tech. Baylor shot better and out-rebounded the Red Raiders. Yes, that's right, yet another game where Texas Tech was out-rebounded by 16 boards. That's just ridiculous.

The Storylines ::

The Same Group: I've said this before, but I'll say it again. What you saw last night, sans PF Darko Cohadarevic and SG Nick Okorie, is the same thing you're going to see next year. I'm one of the more optimistic fans out there, but even I'm getting a bit depressed about the fact that this unit isn't going to change much, if at all, when basketball season starts up next year. There are significant problems with this team, starting up front, where this team has virtually no athletic ability to match up with bigger, longer and stronger opponents. Darko was and is this team's best post defender, and despite C Robert Lewandowski game last night, I'm not hopeful that this team is going to be able to compete on a night-in-and-night-out basis with the rest of the Big 12. And please keep in mind that this group won 3 conference games last year, while this year, they've won 4 thus far. The expectations won't be very high next year.

More storylines, graphs and video recap of last night's loss after the jump. 

Excellent Start: As mentioned above, I didn't get to see the start, but I did note that the Red Raiders were up by 11 early in the game. From that point forward, the Bears never looked back. Tweety Carter was a very efficient 7 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range and this somewhat goes back to the issue above, that this is the same group, which includes John Roberson's defense on the opposing point guards. Carter is a senior so Roberson won't have this same nightmare, but Carter was bigger and stronger, got to the rim and finished some tough shots to lead this team. Roberson on the other hand, was 2 of 8 from teh field, including 2 of 6 from 3-point land, both of those 3-pointers early and 9 points. That's not going to do it.

Better Classes: Right now, Rivals.com ranks Missouri, Texas A&M, and Baylor in the top 25 of the 2010 recruiting class. In 2009, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Baylor, and Kansas St. all had top 25 recruiting classes. That's 8 teams that have had top 25 recruiting classes in the past two years, and despite the fact that Pat Knight is making improvements, which I suppose he is, there are 8 other teams that are pulling in players that are supposed to be the best in the nation.

Recaps: LAJ's Courtney Linehan and DT's Mike Graham have recaps from last night's game. Head Coach Pat Knight talked about post-season chances:

"I don’t know if we can now," he said. "Really, with six losses like this, you’ve got to win at Colorado and then a game at the Big 12 (Conference tournament) to even be considered. But it’s not up to me, it’s up to the selection committee. No matter what, we’ll finish with a winning record, but I don’t think that’s enough. I think we have to at least add some more wins to this."

I wish I could be satisfied with this, but I'm not.

The DT also has a video recap from last night:

The MVP :: SF Mike Singletary: I don't know if I have any other options, as Singletary finished with 20 points, 6 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 0 turnovers.

Four Factors, Player Impact, Stat Comparison and Game Flow: Terrific graphs from StatSheet after the jump:

Four Factors:

Player Impact:

Stat Comparison:

Game Flow: