ESPN Men's Basketball

1. Baylor coach Scott Drew could have had a myriad problems had he lost Cory Jefferson and Isaiah Austin to the NBA draft. Instead, Drew's primary offseason focus is what to do at the point. He has plenty of time to discuss, dissect and analyze over the summer, but his first inkling is to go with a combination of Gary Franklin and Brady Heslip to offset the departure of Pierre Jackson. Other options for Drew are Kenny Chery, a newcomer, or L.J. Rose, who was on the team last season. This is a critical upcoming year for the Bears. The disappointment last season of not making the NCAA tournament was softened by the NIT championship. Now that Jefferson and Austin have returned, there is no excuse if the Bears don't make the 2014 field. The Big 12 will be down a bit with Oklahoma State and Kansas as the top two teams. Baylor has the personnel to beat out Iowa State, Kansas State and Oklahoma. But the onus will be on consistent play upfront and a stable point guard.

2. The UMass-Lowell job is open after Greg Herenda took the head coaching position at Fairleigh Dickinson. The Riverhawks are joining the America East next season but have a four-year waiting period to become eligible for postseason. North Dakota State is one of the best models for how to make this transition when Tim Miles and Saul Phillips set up the Bison to make the NCAAs in their first eligible year in 2009. Bryant University handled a similar transition, and while the Bulldogs didn't make the NCAAs in their first eligible year, Bryant spent a good portion of the 2012-13 season atop the NEC and ended up earning a berth in the CBI. The Riverhawks now have to follow a similar path and to do so have a shot to look at area schools for coaching talent. Former Boston College coach Al Skinner, his former assistant and current Northeastern assistant Pat Duquette and current Emerson head coach Jim O'Brien, who was the head coach at BC prior to Skinner, all could be in the mix for this position, according to sources. This is hardly a headline position, but everyone jumping up from Division II to I wants to make a splash. The America East grabbed UMass-Lowell to replace Boston University in the hope it can penetrate the Boston market, making it even more imperative to win the new conference with a coach that has local ties.

3. Ray McCallum Jr. announced his decision to declare for the NBA draft last week but it got lost amid other headline names making the tough call to stay or go. But don't dismiss the Detroit guard as an afterthought. McCallum Jr. could have easily gone to UCLA but chose to play for his father Ray at Detroit. McCallum will be an intriguing prospect to monitor throughout the team workouts and in Chicago over the next two months. Each decision is personal and that's why to guess what direction a player would go in this process is extremely difficult. McCallum chose to leave his dad's team and head to the NBA. Doug McDermott decided to stay and play for his dad at Creighton for one more year. McCallum, though, could very well end up being a higher pick in a draft that needs quality ball handlers.

Angel Rodriguez's decision to transfer from Kansas State hurts more than just the Wildcats.

It damages the Big 12.

The conference already seemed poised for a down year in 2013-14. Now it’s starting to appear as if the Big 12 will be the worst power conference in the country next season. And, no, I’m not basing that comment solely on Rodriguez’s departure.

It’s merely the cherry on top.

Think about it.

Kansas loses five starters. Oklahoma and Iowa State will say goodbye to four of their top six players. And Big 12 scoring and assists leader Pierre Jackson has played his last game for NIT champion Baylor, which is also expected to lose 7-foot center Isaiah Austin to the NBA draft.

Until Monday, Oklahoma State and Kansas State appeared to be league’s only two NCAA tournament teams that wouldn’t experience much turnover.

Now things have changed.

By leaving Manhattan after a promising sophomore season, Rodriguez has put what appeared to be one of the Big 12’s better teams in a huge bind.

Usually the departure of one player -- even if he’s a semi-star -- isn’t enough to derail a team. But Rodriguez was one of the main catalysts for a Wildcats squad that went 27-8 and won a share of the conference title for the first time since 1977.

Rodriguez led the team in assists (5.2) and ranked second in scoring (11.4 points) behind Rodney McGruder, a senior who earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.

K-State was already likely to take a small step back following the graduation of McGruder and 7-foot center Jordan Henriquez, but losing Rodriguez could make a dramatic difference.

Because he was the starting point guard, Rodriguez was more than just "one player" for the Wildcats. He was the leader, the tone-setter for one of the Big 12’s grittiest, toughest teams and a shoo-in for preseason All-Big 12 honors this fall.

Those things are irreplaceable, especially for a program that will now likely depend on unheralded newcomer Jevon Thomas to play a significant number of minutes at point guard. That’s a lot to ask of a freshman.

Bruce Weber’s squad returns a handful of quality pieces in guards Shane Southwell and Will Spradling and forwards Thomas Gipson and Nino Williams.

Still, by losing its top two players in Rodriguez and McGruder (and some would argue top three if you throw in the enigmatic Henriquez), the Wildcats may be in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in four years.

If that happens it’d certainly be a blow to the Big 12, which had only one team (Kansas) advance past the opening weekend of the most recent NCAA tournament.

Oklahoma State returns every key piece of last season’s team including conference player of the year Marcus Smart, who bypassed millions in the NBA draft to return for his sophomore season. The Cowboys probably will open the season ranked in the top 10 or 15.

Beyond that, it’s difficult to imagine a single Big 12 team improving from last season. Well, I supposed TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia will be better -- but only because they can’t get much worse.

Even after losing five starters, Kansas will find a way to contend for a 10th straight conference title. But remember, the Jayhawks return only two players (Naadir Tharpe and Perry Ellis) who played significant roles on last season’s team. Bill Self’s squad has signed the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class, but most of its members are three- and four-year players -- not one-and-dones. They’ll need time to grow and adjust.

Iowa State graduates four of its top six scorers in Chris Babb, Will Clyburn, Korie Lucious and Tyrus McGee, which means the junior college signees Fred Hoiberg lured to Ames will have to step up in a hurry.

Oklahoma loses Romero Osby, Steven Pledger, Amath M'Baye and Andrew Fitzgerald. The foursome combined for 43.4 points and 19 rebounds per game. Much like the Cyclones, it’s hard to imagine the Sooners getting better.

The loss of Jackson (19.8 points, 7.1 assists) is a massive blow for Baylor. But the Bears could still be decent with the return of Cory Jefferson and Ricardo Gathers in the paint and Brady Heslip on the perimeter. Much of their success will depend on junior college signee Kenny Cherry, a point guard.

Then there’s Texas, which went 16-18 in 2012-13 and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 14 years. The top two players from that team are gone, as Myck Kabongo has entered the NBA draft and Sheldon McClellan has transferred. Rick Barnes’ squad could really struggle next season; just like the Big 12, which has only two schools (Kansas and West Virginia) that signed top-20 recruiting classes, according to ESPN.com.

These things are cyclical, of course. The ACC has been subpar in recent years, at least in terms of depth. The Pac-12 was so bad two years ago that its regular-season champion (Washington) wasn’t even granted an NCAA tournament bid. And the SEC was in a transition year last season.

Through it all, the Big 12 has managed to avoid such dips.

Until now.

Baylor made history in New York.

The Bears became the first Big 12 team to win the NIT, soundly defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 74-54 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

"I’m proud of these guys," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "Really proud of their heart and determination, and they’ll always be remembered. Whenever you make history -- you don’t get a lot of chances to do that."

Baylor led 27-22 at halftime, and Iowa cut the deficit to 28-27 early in the second half. But the game turned into a rout from there. Pierre Jackson, the Bears' leading scorer (19.9 PPG), heated up, scoring 13 of his 17 points after intermission. He also collected 10 assists, giving him a fourth consecutive double-double, and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

"In the second half, they were getting some good screens for me to get to the paint," Jackson said, "and I got to the right spots and knocked down shots."

"They’re a terrific offensive team," said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. "They had us spread out. They were moving the ball, and they’ve got a lot of weapons, and Jackson is tremendous."

Iowa, on the other hand, had a nightmarish game on offense. The Hawkeyes shot just 18-for-69 (26.4 percent) from the field and 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from beyond the arc. They missed open looks on the perimeter and several chippies around the rim, clearly bothered by the presence of 7-foot-1 center Isaiah Austin (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks) and 6-foot-9 forward Cory Jefferson (23 points, 7 rebounds).

Roy Devyn Marble, who had scored 21 or more points in each of Iowa's first four games in this tournament, finished with just six, shooting 3-for-12 from the field.

"[It] seemed like we just kept missing easy shots," McCaffery said. "The stat that jumps out at me is we had 20 offensive rebounds against this team. That’s effort. That’s special. That should have equated to more success offensively."

Baylor (23-14) was ranked No. 19 in the country in the preseason, so ending up in the NIT was a disappointment. But the Bears certainly finished the season strong.

"You look at most teams in the NIT, they probably lost a lot of close games, and with our team, we lost some close games," Drew said. "And the common denominator was when we shot over 70 percent from the free throw line, we won, and when we shot in the 50s and 60s, we lost. That’s with a young front line."

Drew will lose his starting backcourt of Jackson and A.J. Walton, both seniors. But if the talented post players return, Baylor will be dangerous next season.

Iowa (25-13) had its NCAA tournament bubble burst Selection Sunday but gained valuable experience by playing five more games. Senior swingman Eric May departs, but everyone else should be back, and the Hawkeyes should go dancing next season, for the first time since 2006.

"There’s just no substitute for experience," McCaffery said. "Come to Madison Square Garden, the greatest venue in sports, and play twice against two really good teams, win one, lose one, learn from that -- it can only make us better."

 
NEW YORK -- Quick thoughts on Baylor's 74-54 victory over Baylor in Thursday's NIT title game at Madison Square Garden:

What it means: Baylor is your 2013 NIT champion -- the first Big 12 team ever to win this tournament.

Baylor (23-14) had a disappointing regular season. The Bears were ranked No. 19 in the country in the preseason, coming off a berth in the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight a year ago. They didn't even make the Big Dance this time around but finished the season on a high note.

Iowa (25-13) was on the bubble on Selection Sunday and didn't make the NCAA cut, but collected four wins and some valuable experience the past couple of weeks.

The turning point: After Iowa's Roy Devyn Marble scored the first bucket of the game, Baylor scored nine consecutive points and led the rest of the first half. It took the Bears' leading scorer, Pierre Jackson, almost 15 minutes to collect his first point. But Baylor still led 27-22 at intermission. The Hawkeyes shot just 7-for-28 (25 percent) in the first half and committed eight turnovers.

Iowa cut the deficit to one early in the second half, 28-27, thanks to five quick points by Eric May. But Baylor answered with seven points in a row to reassert control, and soon turned the game into a rout. The Bears pushed the lead past 20 for the first time on a Cory Jefferson two-hand slam with 7:04 remaining. The rest was garbage time.

Star watch: Jackson scored just four points in the first half, shooting 1-for-6. The second half was a different story. The senior finished with 17 points and 10 assists, and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Jefferson scored a game-high 23 points, and Isaiah Austin added 15.

Mike Gesell scored a team-high 13 points off the bench for Iowa, while Aaron White chipped in 12. Marble finished with just six points.

Number crunch: It just wasn't Iowa's night offensively. The Hawkeyes missed open shots from the perimeter, and several chippies around the rim -- they were clearly bothered by the presence of the 7-foot-1 Austin (five blocked shots) in the paint. For the game, Iowa shot 18-for-69 from the field (26.4 percent), including 5-for-24 from beyond the arc (20.8), while Baylor shot 26-for-48 (54.2 percent).

What's next: That's the final college basketball game of the season at Madison Square Garden. Enjoy the Final Four, and we'll see you next year.

While other Wooden Award finalists have been inconsistent at times, Michigan point guard Trey Burke has been consistently productive.

Burke has scored at least 15 points in 19 straight games, and has led Michigan to a potential top-3 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Burke and Baylor's Pierre Jackson are the only players averaging at least 19 points and 6 assists per game this season. The only Big Ten players with those averages the past 20 seasons are Ohio State's Evan Turner in 2009-10 and Iowa's Andre Woolridge in 1996-97.

Burke has the second-highest offensive rating among Wooden Award finalists, trailing only Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk. (Offensive rating is an estimate of points produced per 100 possessions.)

While Burke has always been a prolific scorer, this season he has evolved as an elite point guard. Burke has the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country, averaging nearly three-and-a-half assists per turnover (3.48).

Some of Burke’s best performances have come in some of his team’s biggest games.

In Michigan’s one-point win against Michigan State on March 3, Burke -- who had 21 points, 8 assists -- made a pair of clutch defensive plays late to win the game. In the Wolverines’ loss to Indiana on Feb. 2, Burke had 25 points and eight assists. In November, he had 18 points and 11 assists in a win against NC State.

How has Burke been so effective?

He leads Division I with 1.08 points per play on pick-and-roll plays including passes (minimum 300 plays). He also leads Division I with a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio in half-court offense (minimum 300 plays).

Burke's 6.8 assists per game would be the second-highest by a Wooden winner behind Texas's T.J. Ford in 2002-03 (7.7).

He would be the fifth sophomore to win the Wooden Award (first since Oklahoma's Blake Griffin in 2008-09), the first Michigan player to win the Wooden Award, and first Big Ten player to win it since Turner in 2009-10.

 
Pierre Jackson discusses his 28-point, 10-assist performance in his final home game for Baylor -- an 81-58 upset of fourth-ranked Kansas.

 
Pierre Jackson scored 28 points and dished out 10 assists as host Baylor manhandled No. 4 Kansas, 81-58.

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Twenty-four hours before its most impressive win of the Big 12 season -- an 81-61 victory over Baylor -- Bruce Weber kicked his Kansas State basketball team out of practice.

Loafing through drills, snickering during dead balls, not paying attention as they were being given the scouting report. The Wildcats were doing it all -- and Weber had had enough. Using words that aren’t fit for print, he told his players to go home.

There was one problem.

The Wildcats refused.

“He was like, ‘Get out of here! Get out!’” guard Rodney McGruder told ESPN.com. “I was holding the ball, and he came up and tried to yank it away from me, but I put it behind my back.”

McGruder paused.

“As a leader on this team, as a senior, I wasn’t going to let that happen,” McGruder said. “It was my job to make sure we finished that practice on a high note.”

One night later, it paid off.

The Wildcats are still tied for first place in the Big 12 standings following Saturday’s shellacking of the Bears. McGruder was far from the star of the game with 10 points, but the stance he took during Friday’s practice clearly helped to focus a handful of his teammates.

Point guard Angel Rodriguez scored 22 points, dished out 10 assists and, more importantly, forced Big 12 leading scorer Pierre Jackson into his first single-digit scoring game of the season.

Just as vital was the play of 7-foot center Jordan Henriquez, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks against Baylor’s imposing front line of Isaiah Austin, Ricardo Gathers and Cory Jefferson.

A senior, Henriquez was brilliant at the end of last season but has been inconsistent in 2012-13. He entered the game averaging just 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds. Weber was asked after the game if Henriquez’s performance could be a turning point in his season.

“I hope and pray,” Weber said. “He likes playing against bigger teams, bigger players. He definitely responded to the challenge tonight.”

Of course, Weber could’ve said that about his entire team.

Just five days earlier, the Wildcats suffered what could’ve been a deflating loss in a 21-point setback to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Weber, though, reminded his squad it was still tied with KU and Oklahoma State for first place in the Big 12 standings. He pointed out that the Wildcats could claim their first conference title since 1977 by winning the rest of their games.

“We control our own destiny,” Weber told his players.

KSU is now 20-5 overall and 9-3 in conference play. Kansas and Oklahoma State both won Saturday as well, meaning there’s a three-way tie in the league race. Baylor is now 16-9 and 7-5.

“Kansas State showed why they are the 10th-ranked team in the nation,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “They really dominated and imposed their will.”

Baylor trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half before using a flurry of Brady Heslip 3-pointers to pull within two points, 43-41. K-State, though, was hardly fazed.

Weber’s squad responded with a 16-4 run that made it 59-45, basically putting the game out of reach.

“We didn’t hang our heads,” Rodriguez said. “Right when we got into the huddle we said, ‘They punched us. We’ve got to punch them back.’”

That type of resiliency is why the Wildcats’ chances at that elusive Big 12 title are looking more and more realistic.

Four of KSU’s remaining games are against Big 12 bottom-feeders West Virginia, Texas Tech, TCU and Texas. The matchup against the Longhorns could be tricky considering it’s on the road and Texas has welcomed back standout point guard Myck Kabongo from a 23-game suspension. There are also dangerous road tilts ahead with Baylor (March 2) and Oklahoma State (March 9).

Still, while the entire college basketball season has been defined by wacky, out-of-nowhere scores, Kansas State is one of the few teams that has managed to avoid upsets. Its only losses are to Kansas (twice), Michigan, Gonzaga and Iowa State (on the road). There is no shame in any of those setbacks.

“All of our goals are still in reach,” McGruder said. “We have a chance to do a lot of great things.”

Especially after what happened Saturday night in Manhattan.

And Friday night, too.

Kansas took a huge step toward claiming its ninth straight Big 12 title by defeating Kansas State 59-55 Tuesday in Manhattan. The Jayhawks won't face a more difficult road environment all season. The rest of the league is as balanced as any conference in the country. Heck, even rebuilding Texas Tech forced its way into the mix Wednesday with a mammoth upset of Iowa State, which was No. 2 in these rankings last week. Here is the latest list.

1. Kansas. The Jayhawks' defense has been excellent lately, allowing an average of just 51 points in its past four victories. Offensively, though, Kansas is averaging only 58.5 points in that span. Ben McLemore (16.1 points per game) has been the one constant.

2. Kansas State. The Wildcats are maximizing their potential under first-year coach Bruce Weber, who could be among several candidates for national coach of the year if K-State finishes second in the league. Weber's squad faces Iowa State on Saturday in Ames, where KSU had won five straight before a two-point loss last season.

3. Baylor. Led by Pierre Jackson and Isaiah Austin, the Bears got back on track Monday by defeating a talented Oklahoma State team 64-54 in Waco. Baylor's past four Big 12 opponents are averaging 50.8 points. Jackson is scoring a Big 12-best 18.6 points but also averages 3.3 turnovers.

4. Oklahoma. Forward Romero Osby is blossoming into one of the top players in the league. The forward had 29 points and eight rebounds in Monday's win over Texas and is averaging 19.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in his past five games. He'll need to come up huge Saturday at Kansas.

5. Iowa State. Wednesday's loss at Texas Tech was one of the worst by any Division I team this season. The Cyclones scored a season-low 51 points and shot 35.3 percent against one of the Big 12's worst teams. They were also outrebounded. With K-State coming to town Saturday, Fred Hoiberg's squad had better turn things around in a hurry.

6. Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have lost four of their past six games, and their only two Big 12 wins are against TCU and Texas Tech. Marcus Smart is shooting just 40 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range and is averaging three turnovers per contest. Crucial home games against West Virginia and Iowa State are next.

7. West Virginia. The Mountaineers' three Big 12 losses have come by a combined 13 points. Bob Huggins' squad defeated TCU by 21 points Wednesday, but five days earlier it was drubbed by 21 points by a mediocre Purdue squad in a nonconference game. A tough stretch lies ahead with a game at Oklahoma State (Saturday) and a home contest against Kansas (Tuesday).

8. Texas. Rick Barnes' team fell to 0-5 following a hard-fought 73-67 loss to Oklahoma on Monday in Norman. Leading rebounder Jonathan Holmes broke his hand in that game and will miss the next three to six weeks. Texas' 0-5 Big 12 record marks its worst start in conference play since 1976.

9. Texas Tech. Freshman point guard Josh Gray scored a career-high 16 points and had four assists in Wednesday's 56-51 upset of Iowa State in Lubbock. At 2-4 in league play, Texas Tech has already doubled last season's Big 12 win total. Another victory could come Saturday against last-place Texas in Austin.

10. TCU. The Horned Frogs fell to 0-6 in Big 12 play following Wednesday's 21-point loss at West Virginia. Trent Johnson's injury-plagued squad probably won't win a conference game, although it hosts a Baylor team Saturday that it led at halftime in Waco just two weeks ago.

Overview: In its 94-87 home victory, Gonzaga showed a ton of toughness in staving off a talented Baylor team that has made significant strides since losing home games against Charleston and Northwestern. The Bears threatened to seize the momentum numerous times in the second half, but on each occasion the Zags came up with huge answer shots to keep Baylor at a distance. Gonzaga went up by 10 points early in the second half and maintained at least a five-point cushion the rest of the way.

Kevin Pangos scored a season-high 31 points on 10-of-13 shooting for 13th-ranked Gonzaga, which improved to 12-1. The victory was the fourth for Mark Few’s squad over a Big 12 team. Gonzaga has also defeated West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kansas State. It plays Oklahoma State on Monday in Stillwater.

Turning point: Baylor missed a golden opportunity trailing 80-74 with just under 5 minutes remaining in the second half. The Bears got the ball to Brady Heslip, their top 3-point shooter, who was standing alone at the top of the key. It was one of the few times all evening that Heslip had broken free from his defender. If Heslip would’ve capitalized with a basket from beyond the arc, it would’ve been a one-possession game. Who knows what happens after that? Instead, Heslip fired up a shot that didn’t even hit the rim. It caromed off the glass and the Zags got the rebound. Pangos made the Bears pay with a 3-pointer on the other end that made it 83-74 Gonzaga. Baylor never posed a serious threat after that.

Why Gonzaga won: Pangos was obviously huge, but not many teams in the country have a frontcourt as strong as the one at Gonzaga. Seven-footer Kelly Olynyk had 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting while Elias Harris added 17 points. Both players are matchup nightmares because of their ability to handle the ball away from the basket, which makes them a threat to score in a variety of ways. Gonzaga’s overall mental toughness was also huge. Few’s squad never appeared rattled despite trailing for most of the first half. And when leading after intermission, the Zags didn’t appear fazed when Baylor looked poised to make a run. In those moments, Gonzaga simply got tougher. It helped that this game was played in Spokane, but with students out of town for winter break, the Kennel wasn’t as rowdy as usual.

Why Baylor lost: The Bears are still too sloppy and careless with the ball in key moments. Pierre Jackson often looks like one of the top point guards in America, but standout performances like Friday’s -- he scored 26 points -- are soured when you look at the turnover stats and see Jackson with seven of them. His backcourt teammates are also guilty of trying to do too much at times. There’s no need to attempt half-court alley-oop passes in the second half of close games, where every possession is magnified. On the defensive end, Baylor looked soft and/or confused in the paint. Gonzaga had five traditional three-point plays -- “and-1s,” as some call them -- in the second half alone. Some of it is understandable. Isaiah Austin, Ricardo Gathers and Taurean Prince are freshmen and junior Cory Jefferson hadn’t played much before this season. On Friday they were going against a senior All-America candidate in Harris and a Canadian national team member in Olynyk. No need to chastise the youthful Bears for losing that battle.

What it means for Gonzaga: Those that have followed Gonzaga’s program closely over the years think that this might be Few’s best team yet. Anyone who watched the Zags on Friday would have a tough time arguing that point. Gonzaga touts one of the country’s top point guards in Pangos and a frontcourt that is as strong as any in the nation. This team has the poise and moxie of a winner. There is nothing soft about this bunch. One area of concern would be the Zags’ defense on the perimeter, as Jackson wasn’t the first elite-level guard to have his way with Gonzaga. Let’s also not forget that this team lost at home to Illinois and needed a last-second layup by Pangos to beat a mediocre Washington State team on the road. The Zags are vulnerable, just like any other team. Still, when everything is clicking, this looks like a top-10 squad that is more than capable of making the Final Four.

What it means for Baylor: The Bears should be encouraged. If ever there was a time to feel good after a loss, this is it. Three weeks after that dreadful loss to Northwestern in Waco, Scott Drew’s squad went on the road and dropped 87 points on the country’s 13th-ranked team. The Bears shot 51.6 percent. Granted, their defense was atrocious, so that’s a concern. But if it plays as well in the Big 12 as it did Friday, there’s no reason Baylor can’t finish second in the conference behind Kansas. Austin, a 7-foot freshman, looked like a top-10 draft pick while scoring 20 points against strong competition. Even with his turnovers, Jackson looked like one of the top five point guards in the country, and Gary Franklin continues to improve off the bench. Drew has shortened his rotation, as only seven Bears played double-digit minutes. That’s a good thing. Baylor’s shot selection seems iffy at times, but it’s hard to criticize Drew’s team too much considering it shot 51 percent Friday and ranks 24th in the country with a 47.9 percent mark on the season.

What’s next: Gonzaga plays Oklahoma State in Stillwater on New Year’s Eve. It will likely be the toughest road environment the Zags will experience all season. Baylor’s next game is its Big 12 opener against Texas in Waco on Jan. 5.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Lost amid the caterwauling and worry over the fact that Kentucky has now lost two games in a row is this little nugget: In beating the Wildcats 64-55, Baylor won a nonconference road game against a Top-25 opponent for the first time in the program's history.

And won it, by the way, in one of the most notoriously difficult places to win a game: Rupp Arena.

That no one really paid the victory any mind isn't a surprise to Baylor. After two Elite Eight runs in the past three years, the Bears still feel like outliers on the national college basketball picture.

"Oh yeah, people don't give us the respect we deserve," senior guard Pierre Jackson said. "We still have to prove people wrong."

A year ago, Baylor waltzed into the preseason armed with a loaded roster and a heap of expectations, and though the Bears made it back to the Elite Eight, they never looked quite as good during the games as they did in the layup lines.

This season, head coach Scott Drew has another pretty roster -- including 7-foot-1 freshman Isaiah Austin -- but an equally shaky start. Before their win over Kentucky, the Bears lost to College of Charleston.

It is that inconsistency that gives the doubters credence to go all-in on Baylor, a niggling sense that their margin for error is minuscule. And no doubt, that was the case against UK. Kentucky shot 29 percent for the game and 18 percent from the arc, pulled down 21 offensive rebounds but only scored eight second-chance points, and yet was in the game until the bitter end.

Why? Because Baylor coughed up 19 turnovers and got smoked on the boards 48-37.

So this was not exactly a thing of beauty. But what Baylor has, at least right now, is a healthier balance of freshmen and veterans. Drew's roster includes five rookies, but he also has a been-there-done-that veteran backcourt in the form of Jackson, A.J. Walton and Brady Heslip. They simply don't get rattled, and when the game needed to be won, they won it.

"They've been through big games, they've been through 30-win seasons, they've been through [being] a game away from a Final Four," Drew said. "They're used to playing in front of big crowds, big stages and again make big plays."

A year ago, Kentucky ended Baylor's season in the Elite Eight, eliminating the Bears with relative ease, 82-70. Players from that team -- Quincy Acy among them -- reached out to guys on this season's squad and asked them to exact a little bit of revenge.

Never mind that this Wildcats team is entirely different from the one that beat Baylor -- the Bears wanted to take back the victory.

They did, but that only wins the battle, not the war. Baylor is a team that, on personnel alone, should factor into the Big 12 race. Whether this game is a one-hit wonder or the start of something with more staying power will determine that.

"We wanted to come out strong and show people that our two losses at the beginning of the season don't mean anything," Austin said. "We're still a powerhouse program."

In Lexington, Dana O'Neil catches up with Baylor point guard Pierre Jackson, who scored 17 points in his team's 64-55 victory at Kentucky, which ended the Cats' 55-game win streak at Rupp Arena.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A quick look at Baylor’s 64-55 win over No. 8 Kentucky, the Bears' first-ever nonconference road win against a top-25 team (had been 0-18).

Overview: Coming off an uninspired loss at Notre Dame, Kentucky didn’t do much to settle the worries in the Commonwealth. This young team in progress has a lot of progress to make to be as good as everyone expects the Wildcats to be.

Kentucky lost its first game in Rupp Arena since Billy Gillispie’s last stand on the homecourt, back in 2009, ending the 55-game streak and John Calipari’s perfect home mark.

The shots weren’t falling for the Cats, but then again, they weren’t exactly slipping through the twine for Baylor, either. The problem was just general sloppiness -- turnovers, missed free throws, coming up short at the rim, bad rebounding.

There is plenty of time to fix all this -- it’s only Dec. 1. But there’s also a lot to fix.

Turning point: Down by as many as 10 in the early second half, UK clawed back to make it a four-point game and get the tense crowd back on its feet with about five minutes to play. But Isaiah Austin scored on the next play and Wildcats never could capitalize.

Key player: The point guard position was going to be pivotal in this game, what with Kentucky trying to find one and Baylor in possession of a good one in the form of Pierre Jackson. No surprise that it came down to a point guard. Jackson’s heady play, timely big shots and perfect stroke at the free throw line was the difference. He didn’t shoot very well from the field, but finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Key stat: The keys here weren’t the pretty stats, but the ugly ones. Kentucky had lots to choose from -- 29 percent from the floor (21-of-72), 19 percent from the arc (4-of-22) and 16 turnovers. All bad.

Miscellaneous: Brady Heslip started for Baylor, returning to action after an emergency appendectomy on Nov. 20. … Kyle Wiltjer is going to have nightmares about this game for a long time. The usually money long-distance shooter was a horrific 1-of-9 from long range and 1-of-11 overall, a huge drain on the Wildcats’ offense. ... All five Baylor starters finished in double-figures scoring for the first time this season.

Next game: Calipari still won’t have a lot of time in practice to fix what ails the Cats. Kentucky hosts Samford on Tuesday. Baylor, meanwhile, will host Northwestern on the same day.

Brady Heslip, Pierre Jackson, and Cory Jefferson combined for 68 points to lead No. 16 Baylor over St. John's 97-78.

Finally, college basketball is here. The 2012-13 season kicked off Friday with some great finishes, high drama and even a pair of cancellations. More on those later.

Here’s a snapshot of the action from Friday night:

Connecticut 66, No. 14 Michigan State 62: The pageantry surrounding college basketball’s opening-day matchup in Europe elevated the first high-profile game of the 2012-13 season. MSU and UConn played at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, home to more than 17,000 servicemen. A year after kicking off the season by playing basketball on a ship, college basketball’s creative minds raised the bar by sending a pair of perennial powerhouse programs overseas. (You know we’re about five years away from a “Let’s play on the moon” conversation.)

The Spartans and Huskies entered this game under different circumstances. Michigan State lost former All-American Draymond Green but regrouped with a talented recruiting class and returning standouts such as Keith Appling and Derrick Nix. Connecticut was banned from postseason play due to subpar Academic Progress Rate scores during the offseason. Then, Jim Calhoun retired and left the program to Kevin Ollie, who has essentially been given seven months to prove that he’s worthy of a long-term contract. They can’t compete for the national title, so what’s their motivation?

And yet, the Huskies played like a determined squad and the Spartans looked flat, going 13-for-33 from the field in the first half. They committed eight turnovers. The Huskies exploited the opening and took a 34-18 lead with 7:46 remaining in the first half after making 11 of their first 12 shots. Michigan State chipped at the deficit and eventually took a lead in the closing minutes.

But the Spartans couldn’t overcome their 15 turnovers or the production of Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier (14-for-28 and 38 points combined). That backcourt duo will challenge any defense. It’s not doomsday for the Spartans, who lost their first two matchups in 2011-12 but finished the year with 29 wins. They clearly need more time to develop chemistry. The game means much more for UConn. The Huskies competed like a team that’s still focused, despite its situation. Ollie’s “10 toes in” philosophy worked Friday. The Huskies came to play in Germany.

No. 3 Kentucky 72, Maryland 69: Earlier this week, former Xavier standout Dez Wells was cleared to play after the NCAA reversed its decision on his initial eligibility. Wells was expelled from Xavier following sexual assault allegations and transferred to Maryland. He lost his first waiver request but won an appeal. That decision enhanced the buzz leading up to Maryland’s matchup against the defending national champions at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Here’s the thing. Wildcats coach John Calipari has found success year-after-after with the same formula. He convinces multiple high-level prospects to compete together. They play good defense and score at will. That’s why he’s achieved so much during his time at Kentucky. The group he’s assembled for 2012-13 is very similar to past teams he’s assembled at Kentucky. They’re young but dangerous and deep. Former walk-on Jarrod Polson scored 10 points and came up with a crucial steal and big free throws down the stretch. The Wildcats seem to have it all. Again.

With Nerlens Noel’s shot-blocking (three swats), Kyle Wiltjer’s 3-pointers and Archie Goodwin’s penetration (16 points), the Wildcats amassed a 53-38 lead midway through the second half (Maryland started the game 2-for-11). Game. Set. Match. Nope.

Maryland bounced back with a 15-0 run that suggested it’s not going to be a pushover in the ACC. Alex Len looked like a lottery pick (23 points, 12 rebounds). Wells (2-for-12), however, struggled. But the Terrapins were tougher than Kentucky (23-12 edge in offensive rebounds). And there multiple moments when the Wildcats looked like a young, inexperienced team. But they were mature enough to hold on for the win. Kentucky led 70-69 with 7.7 seconds to play before Polson hit two free throws. Maryland’s Pe’Shon Howard missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Nice game. Jay-Z should be proud.

Here’s what we learned: Len and Wiltjer are stars. Their respective teams will count on their continued production all year. And if they produce at a level comparable to their efforts on Friday, then both programs will thrive. Len takes a lot of pressure off his teammates with his effectiveness inside. Wiltjer is 6-foot-10 with range (4-for-6 from 3-point-line line). How do you guard that?

The aircraft-carrier cancellations: Games on boats make a lot of sense. Until they don’t. This year’s Carrier Classic between Ohio State and Marquette seemed like a great idea. Michigan State and North Carolina started the 2011-12 season on a ship. Why not do it again? And why stop at one ship? The Marquette-Ohio State matchup on the USS Yorktown in Charleston, S.C., was one of a handful of scheduled games on watercrafts.

But a condensation problem turned the court into an ice rink. The chaotic scene played out on NBC Sports Network as players, coaches and servicemen used towels to dry the floor. But they couldn’t stop the moisture from resurfacing. Citing the potential safety risk, game officials ultimately canceled the game. It will not be rescheduled.

It was an important matchup for both squads. There are major questions for each team. Marquette lost so much talent from last season and earlier this week, Todd Mayo was deemed academically ineligible. Ohio State was set to compete for the first time with a new nucleus sans Jared Sullinger and William Buford. But now they’ll both wait to play their first games of the year on Sunday, when Marquette plays Colgate and Ohio State faces Albany.

And that was just the first game of the night that was canceled due to condensation. Georgetown’s matchup against No. 10 Florida was called after halftime (the Gators led 27-23) because game officials had similar issues with a slippery floor aboard the USS Bataan in Jacksonville, Fla.

We might have just witnessed the end of the game-on-a-ship era. So if you like outdoor basketball, make sure to savor Syracuse-San Diego State on Sunday.

A few more observations from games that actually did happen on Friday ...

• During No. 19 Baylor’s 99-77 victory over Lehigh in Waco, Texas, Bears freshman Isaiah Austin, a 7-1 center, scored 22 points in 17 minutes before he was sidelined with an ankle injury. He was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, too. After the game, coach Scott Drew said the injury wasn’t as severe as it initially appeared. That’s great news for a Baylor team that looked like a legitimate threat to Kansas in the Big 12. Cory Jefferson had 26 points and 13 boards. Pierre Jackson had 12 assists. Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum tried to keep the Mountain Hawks alive with 36 points, but Baylor was too much. The Bears are legit.
• Last season, No. 25 Florida State beat South Alabama by 41 points. On Friday, the Seminoles lost by five, 76-71, in the biggest upset of the night. The Noles, last season’s ACC tournament champions, lost multiple starters from its 2011-12 team. Yes, they’ll need time to come together with so many new faces joining the program. But a home loss to a Sun Belt squad in the season opener? Wow. FSU committed 17 turnovers (the Jaguars had 19). All-ACC guard Michael Snaer struggled in a 2-for-11 effort. South Alabama’s Antoine Allen scored 21 off the bench. This weekend’s practice should be fun for Florida State.
• South Dakota State’s Nate Wolters scored 30 points, but they weren’t enough to hold off Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Jackrabbits led 29-16 with 4:14 to go in the first half. They controlled the game. But a late 11-0 run helped the Crimson Tide regain their footing by halftime. Bama slowly found its confidence and momentum late in the second half, when Trevor Lacey nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the come-from-behind victory. Good effort from SDSU. And a nice comeback for Alabama.
• Sean Woods won his first game for Morehead State in a 77-74 victory over NEC favorite LIU-Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Woods took the new gig after leading Mississippi Valley State to the NCAA tournament last season. Senior forward Milton Chavis scored 24 points in the win. Nice start for Woods’ program.
• Other results of note: Nice start for Doug McDermott and Creighton as the All-American contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds in a duel with fellow NBA prospect Tony Mitchell of North Texas. The Bluejays won by 20. ... Huge for George Mason to not only get Virginia to come to Fairfax, but also for the Patriots to pull off the 63-59 victory over a program they'd never beaten before. ... Two other CAA rivals weren't as fortunate: Old Dominion was surprised at home by Holy Cross and league favorite Drexel fell in overtime at Kent State. ... Everyone remember Lehigh beating Duke last season, but few remember that the Mountain Hawks didn't even win the Patriot League regular-season title. Bucknell did. And the Bison opened the new season with a 70-65 win at Purdue. That's going to be quite a conference race in the Patriot.