Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Young

WWE Survivor Series 2009 Preview and Predictions

Justin Young — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:55:33 -0500

The 23rd annual Survivor Series takes place in just 24 hours, and the card is unlike any that we have seen this year.

Two Triple-Threat matches with major titles on the line, and tons of Traditional Survivor Series action in store. Let's get to the card.

MATCH 1: Team Mickie (Mickie James, Divas Champion Melina, Gail Kim, Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres) vs. Team Michelle (Women's Champion Michelle McCool, Jillian Hall, Beth Phoenix, Layla, Alicia Fox)

Something the WWE Universe is not used to seeing is an all-Divas Survivor Series match. Both sides have their strong points, with former Women's Champs James, Melina, and Kim on one side, and the reigning champ McCool on the same side with former champ Phoenix.

I see the match going like this: Eve, Kelly, Jillian, and Layla will be the first ones to go. Phoenix will pin Kim, and James will then eliminate the Glamazon soon after. From there, James and Melina clean house, leaving them the last two standing.

Winner: Team Mickie

MATCH 2: Team Morrison (Intercontinental Champion John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin) vs. Team Miz (United States Champion The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Jack Swagger)

Odd picks for some of these teams. On a different note, tensions have been rising between the U.S. Champ and the All-American American. With Sheamus and his destructive tendencies, he may be one of the first eliminations, being disqualified.

In the end, I can see it down to Morrison and Bourne against Swagger and Miz. Swagger KO's Bourne with the gutwrench powerbomb, and then, as Miz tries to finish off Morrison, Swagger turns on his teammate, allows Morrison to pin his former partner, and then Morrison clinches the win with Starship Pain.

Winner: Team Morrison

And now, the most anticipated of the three Traditional Survivor Series matches.

MATCH 3: Team Kingston (Kofi Kingston, ECW Champion Christian, R-Truth, MVP, Mark Henry) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, William Regal, CM Punk)

This was set up after Kofi decided to be one of the few to stand up to the Viper. Preventing Legacy from costing John Cena the WWE Championship was first, and then, when Orton decided to retaliate, the former U.S. Champion de-customized the NASCAR stock car that Legacy had given to Orton, even giving it a new paint job.

The line-ups give the match a better rating, as it features someone on each side who is feuding with an opponent (Kingston/Orton, MVP & Henry/Legacy, etc.).

This one is also harder to call, as the caliber of each participant is extremely high. For the sake of the underdog and the good guys, I'm giving it to Kofi.

Winner: Team Kingston

MATCH 4: Rey Mysterio vs. Batista

Yet another David vs. Goliath matchup, but this one looks like it could be a showstopper. After the Fatal Four Way last month in which Batista was unable to win the World Heavyweight Title, he attacked long-time friend Mysterio, blaimg him for the loss.

Now they will settle it once and for all in the ring. Although Rey may be expected to pull off the same old underdog win, Batista knows him too well.

Rey will hit a 619, try to hit a splash, but Batista catches him in mid-air and finishes the luchador with a Batista Bomb.

Winner: Batista

MATCH 5: WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels

Weeks ago, RAW guest hosts Joey Logano and Kyle Busch shocked fans everywhere by putting Cena and the two members of D-Generation X in a triple-threat match with the WWE Title on the line.

DX seems to have gotten more serious lately, and so has Cena, who has gone to lengths to try to divide the two by using the match as leverage.

With them always breaking up each other's pins here, it will divide them long enough for Cena to pull off the win.

Winner: John Cena

MATCH 6: World Heavyweight Championship: The Undertaker (c) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Big Show

Why do both major title matches have to have the same concept of champ versus tag team? Despite this, there is a bigger problem between the champs than DX. Jericho has already proven that he doesn't mind selling out his own partner to win the World Championship.

Big Show may take this to heart and focus more on Jericho than the Deadman. And the best part, this may finally be the end of Jeri-Show! Woo hoo!

Show knocks out Jericho with the punch, giving Taker the opening to pin the thesaurus-reading, guest host beating, brain-dead Muppet head.

Winner: The Undertaker

Well, that's it folks. Any comments or feedback is appreciated, as well as your thoughts on who will walk out triumphant.

Justin Young's "Past Vs. Present" No. 2

Justin Young — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:25:43 -0400

Well, there were some of you who agreed with my choices, and those who didn't, but I am back with the second installment of PvP, this time, with a couple of changes.

First, we're going to go cross-promotional. That's right, I'm taking all superstars, not just WWE.

Second, I will be listing the years of the superstars, sort of an NCAA/Madden style where you can choose the best years of your favorite franchise.

That being said, let's get this started.

Match 1: Evan Bourne (WWE-2009) vs. Billy Kidman (WCW-1998)

This would be a pretty even matchup, as both superstars are high-flying, death-defying, and masters of the Shooting Star Press.

Kidman's got seven Cruiserweight Titles to his name, and while the title has been retired, Bourne could shine even brighter, especially with wins over Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger to his rep.

Although he is talented, I would say Bourne would fall, at least to the former Filthy Animal.

Winner: Billy Kidman by pinfall

Match 2: Honky Tonk Man (WWE-1987) vs. Jeff Jarrett (TNA-2004)

Both are former WWE Intercontinental Champions from the great state of Tennessee, both have the six-stringer as their weapon of choice, and both do what it takes to hold on to what they have, whether it's the HTM's IC Title, or Double J's power in TNA.

Both have had renowned careers, but HTM has often resorted to DQ or countout to retain a title, so in a standard match, whether it be a clean finish or otherwise, the King of the Mountain wins this one. And maybe make the cocky Elvis look-a-like eat some wood.

Winner: Jeff Jarrett by pinfall

Match 3 (by request): AJ Styles (TNA-2004) vs. Sting (WCW-1992)

Thanks to Black Snow for the request. Although these two have fought numerous times in TNA, I would love to see them in this match.

Styles, fresh off winning the NWA World Championship, against Sting, a new WCW employee having won the company's top prize as well.

I would call this a back-and-forth match, but in the end, the experience of Sting would get the better of the Phenomenal One.

Winner: Sting by submission

Match 4: Four Horsemen (WCW-1998) vs. Main Event Mafia (TNA-2009)

Who wouldn't want to see a huge stable match like this? The Four Horsemen, a group that set the stage for the nWo, DX, and Evolution, taking on their last successor, a stable known for the same thing the Horsemen were: title domination.

The Four Horsemen, in their many years, had a total of 34 title reigns among their numerous members.

Each member of the Mafia has held a world championship at least once, and they now rule TNA as they have the World Champ (Kurt Angle) and the Tag Champs (Booker and Steiner).

So how would it go? As seasoned as the Horsemen are, we have to look at the facts. The team of Angle, Booker, Steiner, and Nash all outweigh and outpower Flair, Malenko, Benoit, and Mongo. Not to mention that Flair was the only Horsemen at the time to really have anything going for him as the WCW Champion.

Order of Elimination:

Mongo McMichael by Scott Steiner (submission)
Dean Malenko by Kurt Angle (pinfall)
Kevin Nash by Chris Benoit (pinfall)
Booker T by Chris Benoit (submission)
Chris Benoit by Kurt Angle (pinfall)
Ric Flair by Kurt Angle (submission)

Winner: The Main Event Mafia

Main Event: John Cena (WWE-2009) vs. The Rock (WWE-2000)

This would be the match of a wrestling fan's dreams. Two fan favorites, both multiple-time WWE Champions, finally meeting in the ring. Both have won the title many times within just one year, and both have faced common opponents, such as Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Chris Jericho, to name a few.

Both have theatrical moves (5-Knuckle Shuffle vs. People's Elbow), and both have proven to be resilient in matches where the odds are against them.

This match will be extremely difficult to call, as if I call it one way, supporters and fans of the loser will give me hell. But since I have to call it, here goes.

Rock and Cena both hit their signatures, Rock goes for the Rock Bottom but Cena reverses and locks in the STFU. Rocky somehow manages to crawl to the ropes to break the hold. Cena lets up, hits an Attitude Adjustment, but Rock kicks out at 2.9 seconds.

Cena, frustrated, picks up Rock, but Rock hits the spinebusters and locks in the Sharpshooter, to which Cena eventually breaks and hits the STFU, in the middle of the ring, forcing the Great One to tap out.

Winner: John Cena by submission

Well, there you have it. Make sure to vote on which match you would most like to see, and as always, feel free to comment on if you think any match should've gone differently, or any match you would like to have me include next time.

Justin Young's "Past vs. Present" No. 1

Justin Young — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:46:10 -0400

Of course we all have at some point heard of the "Super Fight", in which a computer-simulated boxing match between Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali, two undefeated former heavyweight champions, took place to see who would be crowned the greatest of all time.

Then in Rocky Balboa, ESPN hosted a fictional show called "Then and Now", to see how two athletes from different times would fare against each other (in their prime).

Now, WWE.com has an E-Vote addition to their page, asking who would win in a one-on-one match: Shaq or the Big Show, with Shaq getting the popular vote.

What I want to find out is what would happen if two wrestlers, a past and present superstar, met in the ring.

Who would win? How explosive would this match be? Not only will I give my predictions, but I want to hear from the Bleacher Report's WWE Fan Nation on how they see it going.

Match 1: Nikolai Volkoff vs. Vladimir Kozlov

The Soviet vs. the modern-day Moscow Mauler. These two could make a great tag team if they were from the same era. Volkoff's backbreaker and bear hug could take the wind out of Kozlov's sails, but alas, Kozlov's background of wrestling, sambo, kickboxing, and judo would spell the end of the Soviet sympathizer.

Winner: Vladimir Kozlov by pinfall

Match 2: The Fabulous Moolah vs. Trish Stratus

This would be the women's match-up of the millennium. The longest reigning women's champ against the Stratus-fier, the 7-time champion who helped revolutionize the WWE women's division. Moolah held the Women's Championship for an unbelievable 28 years, a record that will never be broken.

But I think Trish had tougher opponents, and was involved in some of the biggest and most hardcore matches in the division's history. Despite's Moolah's "Fabulous" reign, I give Stratus the nod.

Winner: Trish Stratus

Match 3: Honky Tonk Man vs. Chris Jericho

Undoubtedly the two of the greatest Intercontinental Champions in history. The guitar-wielding wannabe country star was the longest-reigning IC Champ in history, holding the title for 14 months before his 13 second loss at Summerslam 1988 to The Ultimate Warrior. Y2J has held the belt 9 times, the most of any superstar.

In a match between these two, I would go with the man who almost always found a way to win and keep the belt around his waist.

Winner: The Honky Tonk Man

Match 4: The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd w/Natalya)

A tag match in the making: The past products of the Hart Dungeon against the new blood. Nothing more interesting than family vs. family in the squared circle.

This would make for a great show, but in the end, the experience, the technical style, and the backbreaking, bone-crushing moves of the Hitman and the Anvil prevail.

Winners: The Hart Foundation

Match 5: Kurt Angle vs. Jack Swagger

An All-American match-up. The Olympic gold medalist vs. the 2-time All-American from the University of Oklahoma. Both men have the attitude, the cockiness, and are almost equal in skill when it comes to freestyle wrestling.

Angle is without a doubt the most decorated wrestler in WWE history, while the young Swagger, already a former ECW Champion, is looking to become the next big thing. This could be a hard match to call, so I'm passing this one to you viewers.

Who would win? The 13-time World Champion, or the brash young All-American American? You make the call. See the side of the page to cast your vote.

As always, feel free to comment or leave feedback, and tell me how you would see these matches going.

Baylor Basketball 2009-2010 Schedule Released

Justin Young — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:45:56 -0400

It's that time of the year again, folks. The college basketball schedules have been finalized, and as your Baylor Basketball Community Leader (and avid Bear Pit member), I will be breaking down the Bears' lineup.

Scott Drew's crew will tune up for the year by taking on Central Oklahoma in an exhibition game on November 6th, which will be followed by home contests against Norfolk State and Hartford.

The Bears will then visit sunny Lake Buena Vista, Florida as they join teams like Alabama, Creighton, Xavier, Marquette, and Michigan for a Thanksgiving basketball fest. A Baylor-Michigan game would make things interesting as former Big Ten All-Defensive star Ekpe Udoh now wears the green and gold.

It will then be a December to remember as Baylor faces Arizona State in a rematch from last year's 76 Classic. Afterwards, the Bears get a three-game homestand against Jackson State, UT-Arlington and Southern, before closing out 2009 in Little Rock against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

To open up 2010, the Bears will once again face South Carolina in Columbia before returning home to take on Morgan State.

Then the challenging part comes. They open their Big 12 schedule against a Griffin-less Oklahoma team in the Ferrell Center. In this beginning stretch, the Bears go back and forth between home and away as they then travel to Boulder to face the Buffaloes of Colorado, then return to Waco to face Oklahoma State.

From there on out, Baylor has a load of interesting match-ups. Baylor takes on Kansas, who they bounced out of the Big 12 tournament. Drew catches a break with a rare non-conference home battle against UMass before his team hosts Kansas State.

But then comes a must-watch game: Baylor meets Texas in Austin on January 30th. Baylor snapped its 24-game losing streak to the Horns in last year's Big 12 semifinals; the Horns are no doubt out for retribution.

After they play Iowa State at home, Baylor has yet another interesting game as the team travels to College Station to play the Aggies. The road team won both games in '08, but the home team won both games in '09. What kind of result can we expect from this newly-resurrected rivalry?

A few days afterward, the team has Nebraska. Another interesting game—against Missouri—follows the Cornhusker game. The Bears then close out the season by hosting Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M They also play road games in Lubbock, Norman, and Stillwater.

After last year, many are skeptical about the Bears' chances this year. With the loss of Mamadou Diene, Kevin Rogers, Henry Dugat, and Curtis Jerrells, the squad has become more youthful.

However, the team still has strong leaders in the form of Josh Lomers, Tweety Carter, and Lacedarius Dunn. They get new energy that Quincy Acy and football star Kendall Wright bring to Waco.

My prediction: A strong finish in non-conference, maybe a couple of losses, and then a better year in the conference.

MY PREDICTED STARTERS:

Center: Josh Lomers (Senior, 7-foot, 280 lbs.)

Guard: Tweety Carter (Senior, 5-foot-11, 185 lbs.)

Guard: LaceDarius Dunn (Junior, 6-foot-4, 201 lbs.)

Forward: Quincy Acy (Sophomore, 6-foot-7, 215 lbs.)

Guard: Kendall Wright (Sophomore, 6-foot, 180 lbs.)

REASONS: Tweety and Dunn are already starters; give them the nod. Lomers is the only experienced center on the Baylor squad, and he did wonders during the postseason. Acy has been doing great on the court, and while Anthony Jones is a decent shooter beyond the arc, Acy gets it done inside the paint.

And finally, I give Wright the nod based on the little playing time he got last year. When he did get to play, he sunk shots from NBA range and showed us how high he can fly.

This is my pick for the starting lineup, and I welcome any and all feedback on this piece.

Baylor 2009-2010 Basketball Outlook

Justin Young — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:06:02 -0400

MARCH 16, 2008: SELECTION SUNDAY—After a disappointing first round loss to 12th-seeded Colorado in the first round of the Big 12 Championship, the Baylor Bears returned to Waco with a record of 21-10, knowing that their chances of an NCAA bid were a little slimmer.

They would now have to rely on the committee to get them in.

Scott Drew, the Bears, Baylor's then-university President John Lilley, the Athletic Department heads, and many Bear Pit members and Wacoans packed the Ferrell Center that night with the hopes of seeing Baylor's name appear in one of the 65 coveted spots.

As time went by, we became disappointed, booing when teams such as Texas A&M and Oklahoma State made an appearance on a regional bracket.

As the selection show neared its finale, they made their way to the Western Regional, with just two spots left to fill. As Purdue was announced as the 6th seed, Baylor fans went into a clap chant, anticipating what was to come, and there it was:

Greg Gumbel: "At the 11th seed in the West, the Baylor Bears, making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1988!"

But as he said this, the Ferrell Center's roof had already been blown off with chants of "BU" and screaming fans. It brought so much emotion to the faces of Curtis Jerrells and Aaron Bruce. Despite being a lower seed, they put up a valiant effort in a 90-79 loss in our nation's capital.

Going into the 08-09 season, the Bears were now minus Bruce, Richard Hurd, and Mark Shepherd. However, they had one of the top starting lineups in the Big 12, and returning starters like Kevin Rogers, Mamadou Diene, Jerrells, and Dugat gave fans hope for back-to-back appearances.

With the addition of freshmen Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones, and Kendall Wright, as well as LaceDarius Dunn's return, Baylor fans had something to hope for.

After impressing the country with an amazing non-conference record, the Bears began to slip as they went 5-11 in the Big 12 to make it as a #9 seed in the conference tourney. At this point, the only way Baylor would make it back to the Big Dance was by winning the conference.

They were able to get through Nebraska, but next in line was the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks. In an amazing game, Baylor stunned them (and the country) with a seven point victory.

But next was their toughest challenge yet. A team that had defeated them 24 straight times: the #3 Longhorns.

As the game went back and forth, it came down to the final few minutes, as Baylor pulled off their biggest win of the year by six points and clinching a spot in the conference title game against Missouri.

As the biggest game in Baylor history was underway, everyone had their eyes on Baylor pulling off a miracle. But alas, Missouri won the game, ending the Bears' run.

It was not all for naught, however. Baylor was granted a spot in the NIT Tournament, and upset powerhouse Georgetown in a sold-out game in Waco.

Afterwards, they dominated Virginia Tech and upset Auburn in the Heart of Dixie. Up next: the top-seeded San Diego State squad, whom they also made short work of.

The match-up was set: Baylor vs. Penn State for the NIT Championship.

Thousands of students, both Baylor and Penn State, packed the arena, but the Nittany Lions were too much for Drew's Crew as they won 69-63, claiming the unofficial spot of "66th best team in the country".

Let's now jump to present-day. The Bears have lost Jerrells, Rogers, Dugat, Diene, and Delbert Simpson. But they have also gained top commits like A.J. Walton, Cory Jefferson, and Nolan Dennis. With Dunn, Josh Lomers, and Tweety Carter also returning, you can expect big things from this year's squad, including a rematch against Arizona State in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

The Baylor Bears will be a force to be reckoned with this upcoming season.

2009 Baylor Football Outlook

Justin Young — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:03:31 -0400

As the summer begins to draw to a close, it's once again time for students to prepare for a new year at school, which also means that it's time for the best part about college: sports! Baylor University is quickly on the rise in all sports, including some that have been in slumps as of late.

Baylor's 2009 football season begins on Sep. 5, as the Bears travel to Wake Forest for a rematch against the Demon Deacons. Last year, the Bears were defeated 41-13 in Robert Griffin's first collegiate appearance, so you know the sophomore sensation will be looking for redemption. The rest of the non-conference schedule looks promising, as Baylor play three straight at home against Connecticut, Northwestern State(LA), and Kent State.

To open up the Big 12 schedule, the Bears have a meeting in Norman to take on a tough Oklahoma team that is undoubtedly still sore about a loss in last year's BCS Championship. The Sooners embarrassed Baylor at home in their previous meeting, and Coach Briles will be looking to give OU a tougher challenge this time around.

Following that and a game against Iowa State up north, the Bears return home to take on Oklahoma State and Nebraska before traveling to Mizzou for a rematch from last year's close Homecoming game (31-28 L). The Bears then close out the home schedule with the Texas Longhorns before taking on the Aggies at Kyle Field and Texas Tech in the new Texas Stadium.

If the Bears can do what they did last year and add a little power to both sides of the ball, they might just make it to December.

Predictions:

Sept. 5 @ Wake Forest: L
Sept. 19 vs. Connecticut: W
Sept. 26 vs.Northwestern St: W
Oct.3 vs. Kent State: W
Oct. 10 @ Oklahoma: L
Oct. 17 @ Iowa St.: W
Oct. 24 vs. Oklahoma St.: L
Oct. 31 vs. Nebraska: W
Nov. 7 @ Mizzou: L
Nov. 14 vs. Texas: L
Nov. 21 @ Texas A&M: W
Nov. 28 vs. Texas Tech: L (Arlington)

Final Record: 6-6

Baylor Basketball: Redemption On The Rise?

Justin Young — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:28:14 -0400

2009 was going to be a year of hope for many.

After Baylor's remarkable season last year, capped off by their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years, expectations and hopes were high. In the 2008 preseason polls, the Bears were picked to finish in a third-place tie with defending national champion Kansas.

Scott Drew's crew began the new year with revenge against Tarleton State, beating them in an exhibition game. They would take a 4-0 record to Anaheim to the 76 Classic, knocking off Providence and then-No. 14 Arizona State before dropping the tournament title to then-No. 19 Wake Forest.

Baylor would win out 2008, which included a huge road win against Washington State. As conference play started, the Bears were 12-2 and looked to be unstoppable, taking three of their first four, which included a thrilling overtime win against Oklahoma State in Waco. Just when things were looking so great, something happened.

A six-game losing streak.

The Bears would drop five of these to ranked teams, and they began to fall further down the ranks, falling to the bottom half of the Big 12 and completely dropping out of the Top 25.

They would win only two of their final six games, with both Texas A&M and Colorado falling in the Ferrell Center, but the ultimate damage had been done, as their RPI fell out of reach of the Big Dance. Things looked bleak for Baylor, who would be seeded ninth in the conference tournament.

Just 96 hours after bowing to Nebraska, Curtis Jerrells and Co. were looking to keep the season going. And suddenly, something sparked in them. Josh Lomers was putting up double-digit point totals, Kevin Rogers was outrebounding the Cornhuskers (20 to 18) and LaceDarius Dunn was back to his ways of the trey, knocking down shot after shot. Baylor advanced to the quarterfinals with a 65-49 rout of the eighth-seeded Huskers.

But now they had a bigger challenge ahead of them: they would now have to face the Kansas Jayhawks, the top seed in the tourney.

Coming into today, the only time a No. 1 seed had lost an opening round game was in 2001, when Iowa State fell to Baylor. In addition, Kansas had won 14 of 15 against Baylor all-time, and had not lost to Baylor in the Drew era.

But it appeared that the Bears were putting that aside, taking as much as a 17-point lead in the first half before going into the locker room with a 37-33 lead. But once the second half started, Kansas began putting up a fight, alternating between tying and trailing until the halfway point, where they opened up a 56-51 lead.

As the minutes dwindled down, Baylor really stayed in the game, which is something many Bear fans and Bear Pit faithful are not accustomed to.

They were grabbing more boards, sticking to their defense, and as the clock hit zero, you could hear the silence from the numerous Jayhawk fans, as their hopes of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championship were crushed with a 71-67 loss to Baylor.

One has to wonder if the Bears can continue their hot streak, and if maybe, just maybe, they still have a light at the end of the tunnel for back-to-back tournament bids. Find out tomorrow at 6:00 PM CST, as the Bears take on the Texas Longhorns.

Baylor Bears Update: Freshmen Mark Their Territory

Justin Young — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:08:18 -0500

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Due to computer problems, it's been a while since I last wrote an article of any kind, wrestling or Baylor. To those who have been reading my "WWE's Greatest Champions" series, I hope to have my WWE Championship article up soon.

In the last week, Baylor has been putting on a clinic in every sport in season. Football is winding down, basketball is starting up, and the Baylor Faithful like what they see.

Let's start with football. Baylor played host for the final time this year last week, as the Texas A&M Aggies came to town. For freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, it was a chance to see freshman QB Robert Griffin III end out his rookie year. For seniors, there was the hope of witnessing Baylor win 2 out of the last 4 over their rival.

Although A&M started out with the ball, the Aggie offense, led by QB Jerrod Johnson, couldn't get the job done in the first quarter. But neither could the Bears, only able to score off of a Ben Parks 42-yard field goal to take a 3-0 after 15 minutes.

But once the second quarter started, the Baylor team, offense and defense, seemed to come to life. Parks added a 28-yard kick to give the Bears a 6-0 lead, and then Dwain Crawford's interception led to a 12-yard TD run by Jacoby Jones to make it a 13-0 game.

A&M would finally score as Jorvorskie Lane punched in a one-yard run to cut the lead to 13-7. Defensive leaders Jordan Lake and Joe Pawelek would also contribute to the pick-fest, getting one and two, respectively.

But the Aggies' woes continued. A 31-yard TD pass from Griffin to freshman receiver (and basketball player) Kendall Wright gave the energized Bears a 20-7 halftime lead, and they kept it going into the third.

A TD pass to Thomas White and a couple of TD runs from Jones and Jay Finley sent many in maroon home feeling down. The fourth quarter belonged to the Aggies as a Lane TD and a short pass from Johnson brought up spirits of the Corps, but in the end, it wasn't enough as the Bears defeated the Aggies, 41-21.

My Offensive Player of the Game: Robert Griffin (13-23, 241 yards, 2 TD; 12 rush, 56 yards)

Defensive Player of the Game: Joe Pawelek (7 tackles, 2 Int)

Now let's go to men's basketball.

After making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years, the Bears were looking to go a little further. After being ranked tied for third in the Big 12 preseason poll (tied with Kansas), Baylor's expectations were high, and so were the hopes of every Baylor fan and Bear Pit member.

An easy 108-50 win over Paul Quinn College proved that despite the loss of Aaron Bruce to graduation, things were looking bright. Then a huge win over Centenary on the ESPN 24-hour college hoops marathon got fans even more excited. And this afternoon, the Bears improved to 3-0 over Southern, with every Baylor player scoring.

But the big story isn't Curtis Jerrells. It's not the 3-point shooting of LaceDarius Dunn.

It's freshman Quincy Acy.

The highly-talented forward from Mesquite, TX is now a perfect 18 for 18 shooting, setting a new Big 12 record for consecutive shots made. He was today's leading scorer with 15 points and 5 rebounds in the 85-43 rout of the Jaguars.

In women's basketball, days after signing 6'8" YouTube sensation Brittany Griner, Kim Mulkey and the Lady Bears looked to continue their winning ways as they hosted Stephen F. Austin in their final home game before celebrating Thanksgiving at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.

As their football and men counterparts did, the freshmen contributed well to Baylor's 77-42 win, as they combined for 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Melissa Jones and senior Jhasmin Player led all scoring with 13 a piece.

Looking at all these freshmen have done for Baylor, I have to say that the future of Baylor University athletics is getting brighter with each day. And if you thought this season was a big improvement, imagine what the next three years will look like.

Storm Chasing: Baylor 38, Iowa State 10

Justin Young — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:09:52 -0400

Yesterday, Baylor University hosted its annual Parents' Weekend, allowing parents the chance to see their young men and women in their new habitat.

My freshman year, my parents made the flight down from Nashville to see me after being on campus for just two months. That Saturday, I treated them to the Baylor/Army game. All three of us were disappointed as Army upset my Bears, 27-20, in overtime.

The next year, my parents didn't make the trip, but the Bears still lost a 43-23 decision to Colorado.

This year, while my parents still weren't able to come, many parents, including those of the thousands of freshmen that compose the Baylor Line (a Baylor football fan organization exclusively for freshmen), made the trip. And they were not disappointed when Baylor defeated Iowa State 38-10 and did something they have not done since October 21, 2006—win a conference game.

Baylor's last Big 12 win came at Homecoming 2006, when it had looked like all hope was lost. After about three-fourths of the student body gave up on their Bears, Baylor surged through the Kansas defense and scored the game-winning touchdown with a minute left for a 36-35 victory, their first Homecoming win in 11 years.

Robert Griffin III, as usual, did not disappoint, finishing the night 21-for-24 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, but did not produce any positive yardage on the ground. But he still has yet to throw an interception this year.

Kendall Wright led the way in receiving with seven catches for 173 yards and both receiving touchdowns, including a play that has been ranked as No. 3 on Sportscenter's Top 10.

Mikail Baker also made an impact, returning the second half's opening kickoff 93 yards for Baylor's first kick return TD this year.

My Defensive Player of the Game goes to Baylor's Jordan Lake, who had dominated the other side of the ball from the start of the game, starting things off with a tackle that left the unfortunate Iowa State ball carrier flat on his back for a few minutes. Lake, a Preseason All-Big 12 member, made seven tackles for the night, five of them solo.

Baylor (3-3, 1-1) now travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma to the newly-renovated Boone Pickens Stadium to face a formidable Oklahoma State team, who have just proven that they are no pushover with a big win over No. 3 Missouri.

Can Griffin continue his hot streak and lead the Bears to a rare upset over a ranked foe?

Baylor to Defeat Oklahoma: My Upset Pick of the Year

Justin Young — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:01:30 -0400

At the beginning of each college football season, I have started picking my upset of the year for my Baylor Bears. Of course, with a new coach, new quarterback, and the third toughest schedule in the nation (according to ESPN.com), people everywhere began to think that Baylor would have just another dull year.

But look what they have accomplished. Robert Griffin III, the only true starting QB freshman in the country, has already made an impact outside of the Baylor Line and the Baylor Faithful.

In four non-conference games (2-2), he has thrown for 756 yards and seven TDs. He has shown the NCAA why he was ranked as the nation's third best dual threat by running for 334 yards and for five TDs, including a 217-yard performance against Washington State.

The offense has improved greatly from last year's, with Jay Finley racking up yardage and the receivers showing much improvement. Art Briles has turned the dismal Baylor Bears into a hopeful prospect.

So, my upset pick this year? Texas A&M? Honestly, I don't see that as being an upset. Homecoming against Missouri? It may be homecoming, but Missouri's no Kansas. Nebraska? No way. Texas? Unless we can neutralize Colt McCoy, never.

My pick this year: No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. That's right.

Now, I know you think I'm crazy, since Baylor has never beaten them (although there was that thrilling game in 2005 that went to double OT). Not to mention, OU is the defending conference champion. But let's look at what Baylor has done this year.

First, Griffin has broken into the NCAA Top 10 in passing efficiency, and has yet to throw an interception in his 78 pass attempts. He also racks up 83.5 yards per game on the ground and ranks 27th in the NCAA in total offense.

Along with Griffin's running attack, RB Jay Finley has 79.3 yards per game on the ground and has become an unstoppable force in the first four games.

Moving to defense: AP preseason All American LB Joe Pawelek ranks fourth in the country in tackles (12.0 tpg) and averages 0.5 interceptions per game.

If JoePa can get a few stops here and there against DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown's running threat, or the four-man receiving tandem of Manuel Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias, Jermaine Gresham, and Ryan Broyles, Baylor can force the defending Big 12 champs to punt a few extra balls their way.

But the best part: the crowd factor. You know that almost every student will be at the game, as well as alumni, and Wacoans, to support the Bears. While the OU faithful will turn out in large numbers, the second biggest Baylor Line in school history (over 2,100 freshman out of the 14,541 students at Baylor), Floyd Casey Stadium will not have one quiet moment on Saturday morning.

So there you have it. Call me crazy. Tell me what a dumb move it is on my part.

Just don't be surprised if we tear down the goal posts when the clock hits zero.

Forget Ike: Hurricane Baylor Blows Washington State Away 45-17

Justin Young — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:26:56 -0400

The Baylor Bears were scheduled to take on the Washinton State Cougars at 11:30 a.m. CDT on Saturday, but with Hurricane Ike approaching, the game was moved to the night before to ensure that no storm would ruin it for either team.

But instead of Ike, Hurricane Baylor hit the field and avenged a 2006 loss to the Cougars with a 45-17 win.

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin ran for a school-record 217 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. He would throw for 129 yards and a touchdown as well.

But it wasn't just the freshman star that made an impact. The Baylor defense came alive last night, as defensive leader Joe Pawelek recorded a fumble recovery and an interception in the first half, along with an interception from Dwain Crawford and fumble recoveries from Vincent Rhodes and Chris Francis.

WSU's Kevin Lopina recorded 174 passing yards, going 17-for-26, and getting sacked six times. He would run for one of the Cougars' two touchdowns, with Chantz Staden getting the other.

Baylor (2-1) will face Connecticut (Wake Forest's bowl opponent last year) in their second straight Friday night game next week on ESPN. Can Griffin and the Bears get a much-needed win before going into Big 12 play?

Robert Griffin's Three TD's Puts Baylor over Northwestern State

Justin Young — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:35:22 -0400

After Riley Skinner and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons tore Baylor's defense apart in a 41-13 loss for the Bears, Art Briles and his team looked to get on the winning track, and did so by beating Northwestern State (La.) 51-6 to give Briles his first Baylor win.

Just days ago, Briles announced that true freshman Robert Griffin III would be the leader of the offense, after Griffin's remarkable performance last week. As he was announced Saturday night, the crowd of 36,258 got on their feet and roared for the QB out of Copperas Cove, Texas.

It didn't take long for them to cheer again, as just five minutes in, he connected with Ernest Smith on a 49-yard pass, and you could hear his name chanted all throughout Floyd Casey Stadium.

Although the ensuing PAT failed, the alumni, the Baylor faithful, and especially the students and Baylor Line were going crazy.

After a 40-yard TD run from Jay Finley and a 20-yard field goal from Ben Parks, Griffin decided to display the other side of his dual-threat style, running in a 3-yard TD, and giving the Bears a 23-0 lead after the first quarter.

Jay Finley's 35-yard TD run would be Baylor's only score of the second quarter, and the Demons managed to get on the board with two field goals, cutting the deficit to 30-6 at halftime.

By the third quarter, fans were beginning to leave. Robert Griffin began piling up yards, and he threw two more touchdowns to make it 44-6. Once the fourth quarter came, Griffin was taken out. Griffin went 15-for-19, throwing for 297 yards and 3 TD's while also running for 42 yards and a TD.

Blake Szymanski, last year's starter, came in to a mixed reaction from the remaining spectators. After going 3-for-5 in the drive, he was pulled before the next drive in favor of last week's starter, Miami transfer Kirby Freeman.

While only going 2-for-2, he managed to throw his first touchdown pass as a Baylor Bear, connecting with Justin Fenty on a 4-yard throw to drive one final nail in the coffin.

Now that Baylor has gotten its first win of the season, can they hold up against Washington State?

WSU managed to kick a game-winning field goal in the final seconds in their last meeting with the Bears, but after a crushing 66-3 defeat at the hands of Cal, one has to wonder, can the Bears avenge the loss, or will lightning strike twice for Washington State?

Image: Courtesy of Baylor Athletics website.

Baylor Lady Bears Rout British Columbia, 101-44

Justin Young — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:20:25 -0400

After defeating Canadian powerhouse, Simon Fraser, 86-67 last night, in the Lady Bears' first international competition in history, they brought their A-game back to the War Memorial Gym in Vancouver and beat the Thunderbirds of British Columbia in a 101-44 blowout.

The 2005 NCAA Champs had a 13-point lead after the first quarter and did not let up from there. The Thunderbirds would record 22 turnovers in the first half alone, and would be limited to just five field goals. They would post 30 points in the final 20 minutes of play, but they just couldn't get back into it.

Freshmen Terran Condrey and Ashley Field led the girls from Waco with 17 points a piece, while the Thunderbirds were led by freshman Lia St. Pierre, with 15.

The Lady Bears now get a little time off, as they prepare to take on the Houston Jaguars in an exhibition rematch from last year, followed by a date with the Dallas Diesel.

Page cited:

http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports_team_story.asp?id=4&storyid=2607

WWE's Greatest Champions Part 6: World Heavyweight Championship

Justin Young — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:43:43 -0400

After 3 weeks, I return with Part 6 of my series, this one being on one of, if not the most coveted prize in the WWE: the World Heavyweight Championship.

There isn't a long list of winners, as the former WCW Heavyweight belt was introduced as WWE's Heavyweight title in 2002. There have been only 12 men that have held the title in the 6-year history, and so my top 10 will be listed, with the other 2 as Honorable Mentions.

Here we go...

10. The Great Khali (1 time)

One of the biggest men in pro wrestling, Khali was destined to win the belt at some point, and he made his mark on the industry’s history book by entering the 20-man Championship Battle Royal when Edge vacated the title. He survived an onslaught from the other hopefuls to earn his only Heavyweight Championship, and as expected, he would wreak havoc on anyone who stood in his way.

9. King Booker (1 time)

While definitely not the crowd favorite, the former King of the Ring won the tournament to face Rey Mysterio for the World Title. As fate would have it, the King would win the belt, securing his spot on Smackdown’s throne.

8. Rey Mysterio (1 time)

Of course, the biggest underdog story in wrestling history. After his best friend, Eddie Guerrero, passed away, Mysterio dedicated his Royal Rumble performance to his memory, and strangely enough, he overcame insurmountable odds to win the match, securing a title spot at Wrestlemania 22. But when Randy Orton managed to take his shot by beating him at No Way Out, GM Theodore Long decided to keep Rey in the match, making it a Triple Threat. Mysterio, after sending Kurt Angle out of the ring, hit a 619 and a West Coast Pop on Orton, allowing him to take the match and the World Heavyweight Championship in what was definitely a big Wrestlemania moment.

7. Kurt Angle (1 time)

Definitely one of the most decorated wrestlers in history, Kurt Angle surprised the wrestling world when he returned to Smackdown on January 10, 2006, in his hometown of Philadelphia, to be revealed as the final entrant in a 20-man battle royal for the vacant World title. As a RAW superstar, he had a huge target on his singlet, but he was able to win his only World title when he eliminated Mark Henry.

6. Shawn Michaels (1 time)

The reason I rank HBK so high is because he won his only Heavyweight title in near-impossible circumstances. The Showstopper was able to outlast Triple H, RVD, Booker T, Kane, and Chris Jericho in the most unforgiving structure known to the sports-entertainment world: the Elimination Chamber.

5. Chris Benoit (1 time)

Say what you want about what happened last year, but the Rabid Wolverine can not be made an Honorable Mention or left off my top 10 this time. The Canadian Crippler had been wrestling for years to obtain a World Heavyweight title, and at Wrestlemania XX, he defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels to finally accomplish his dream. After the match, he stood side by side with his best friend, WWE Champion, the late great Eddie Guerrero. He even managed to overcome the odds again, defeated Helmsley and HBK in a rematch at Backlash.

4. Undertaker (2 times)

Although he only won it twice, he won it when it counted for him: Wrestlemania. By winning the 2007 Royal Rumble (entering in at #30), he had a choice to make: Cena, or Batista? He decided to go for the Animal, and continued his Wrestlemania undefeated streak. He would then have another chance to accomplish the same feat by challenging Edge for the title at WM 24. While Edge put up a good fight, he was no match for the Deadman.

3. Batista (3 times)

Definitely a fan-favorite, the Animal won his way into Wrestlemania 21's main event by winning the 2005 Royal Rumble, defeating John Cena in "overtime". With fellow Evolution member Triple H holding the belt, he had a choice: go to Smackdown and challenge for the WWE title, or stay on RAW, and go after his buddy's belt?

He chose the latter, separating himself from Triple H and Flair, and ultimately, beating the Game for his first World Championship. After a nine-month reign, he was forced to surrender the belt due to injury in early 2006.

He would come bouncing back though, defeating King Booker in November for his second title. He would then lose it at Wrestlemania 22, becoming another victim to Undertaker's streak. But the Animal wouldn't stop. He defeated The Great Khali to win title number three, and would lose it to Edge. His main feuds were with Edge and Undertaker.

2. Edge (3 times, current World Heavyweight Champion)

The Ultimate Opportunist ranks above Batista because of the fact that he uses everything in his arsenal to win. He won his first title by pulling an old stunt. After winning Mr. Kennedy's "Money in the Bank" title shot, he used it in the same fashion that he won his first WWE Championship. After Undertaker managed to win a brutal Steel Cage Match with Batista, as well as a beating from Mark Henry, Edge cashed in his title shot right then, as a Spear took out a very tired Deadman, and just like that, Edge was once again on top. A three-time World Champ, he has feuded with Batista and Undertaker over the title.

1. Triple H (5 times)

The Cerebral Assassin, already a 7-time WWE Champion, was the first WWE Heavyweight Champ after it was awarded to him by then-RAW GM Eric Bischoff after WWE Champ Brock Lesnar decided to wrestle only on Smackdown. Triple H would defend it that very night, and would beat Ric Flair. He has feuded with Chris Benoit, Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, and most notably, former Evolution buddies Batista and Randy Orton.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Randy Orton, Goldberg

I welcome all feedback as always.

Next time, the WWE Championship.

WWE's Greatest Champions Part 4: United States Championship

Justin Young — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:24:10 -0400

Now we will be getting into the major singles titles in the WWE, starting with my top 10 of the United States Champions.

10. Wahoo McDaniel (5 times)

While not one of the most popular or well-known superstars, McDaniel defeated Roddy Piper in 1981 to end Piper's six-month reign, and begin one of his own. In 1981-82, he would feud with Sgt. Slaughter and win two more titles in that period. His only other two titles would come by way of Ricky Steamboat and Manny Fernandez.

9. Montel Vontavious Porter (1 time)

Although he's currently just a one-time U.S. Champ, this cocky young superstar has shown his potential and his technique, as he held the title for nearly a year before losing it to Matt Hardy at Backlash this year. Definitely look for more U.S. Championships, and maybe more.

8. Lex Luger (5 times)

"The Total Package" brought the title back to America, defeating Nikita Koloff to end a nearly one-year reign. After four months with the belt, he lost it to Dusty Rhodes, and wouldn't get another championship for a year and a half. He would win two more in 1989 and 1990. He remained out of the title picture until 1998, when he defeated Bret Hart to capture his fifth belt, only to lose it back three days later.

7. Goldberg (2 times)

The Master of the Jackhammer had a long undefeated streak when he burst into WCW in 1997. After beating Raven for the title in April 1998, he would only hold the belt for three months before vacating the title as a result of becoming the World Heavyweight Champ. At the time, a wrestler was not allowed to hold two singles titles at the same time. Goldberg is not on the list simply because of his 2 titles, but because he was an undefeated champ. He remained undefeated through his first 173 matches, and his title reign is one of the most dominant in history.

6. Jeff Jarrett (3 times)

The guitar-wielding superstar won his first title in 1997, beating Dean Malenko and holding on to it for two months. His next came just in time for the holiday season, when he won on a Dec. 20 episode of Monday Nitro in 1999. He became champ again in early 2000, but was forced to vacate it after becoming injured.

5. Edge (1 time)

While yet another one-time champ, he has one of, if not the longest U.S. title reign in WWE history, holding it for just over a year and a half. The Ultimate Opportunist has apparently carried his experience over to the Heavyweight division, as he is now one of most dominating World champs (whether we like him or hate him).

4. Ric Flair (5 times)

The Dirtiest Player in the Game took his first steps toward the Hall of Fame by beating Bobo Brazil in 1977 to claim his first U.S. belt. From 1978 to 1980, he would feud with Ricky Steamboat and "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, gaining three
more titles to his resume. His final U.S. belt came in 1996, 16 years after his last.

3. Booker T (4 times)

Although he brags about being a five-time, five-time....(well you know the rest) WCW Champion, he was also a four-time U.S. champ. He got his U.S. title start by defeating Rick Steiner in 2001, just days before the sale of WCW. He would not win another U.S. belt until 2004, beating rival Rob Van Dam. He would win two more, with one taking seven matches to clinch it.

2. John Cena (3 times)

The former "Doctor of Thuganomics" challenged Big Show for his title at Wrestlemania XX, and he pulled off the upset after two FU's to the world's largest athlete. He would hold it until being wrongfully stripped of it by then-GM Kurt Angle.

But then, he was put into a best-of-seven series with Booker T, and he captured title No. 2 in a seven-match thriller. But just days after regaining it, he lost it after being knocked out by his own chain by Carlito. This would start a huge rivalry that resulted in John Cena returning after supposedly getting stabbed (he was really working on "The Marine").

He would return at Survivor Series that year, get his title back at the next Smackdown, and would hold it through the months just before Wrestlemania 21, where he would gain the WWE Championship.

1. Bret Hart (4 times)

He tops the chart not just because of his titles, but his technical skills and his ability to employ them in his matches during his reigns. After Goldberg vacated the title due to becoming World Heavyweight Champion, he was able to defeat DDP to win the champ-less belt and begin the first of four reigns.

His biggest, though, would come at the hands of former champ, Goldberg. After Goldberg won the title against Sid Vicious, he was forced to defend it the next night, and Hart beat the former World Champ after Sid Vicious and the Outsiders attacked Goldberg.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Diamond Dallas Page, Lance Storm

Next time, the Intercontinental Championship.

The 2008 Chicago Cubs: 100 Years in the Making

Justin Young — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:19:44 -0400

As a lifelong Cubs fan, I'm used to the heartbreak of seeing the North Siders drop a huge lead, the occasional Championship Series, and the season altogether.

I've gone through the torment of a 66-96 season to close Dusty Baker's final year as manager. I've grown up watching legends like Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Mark Grace, and Sammy Sosa represent the team with the longest World Series drought in history, and they all missed going to the Fall Classic.

In 2003, I watched as the Cubbies came within five outs of their first Series appearance in nearly 60 years, only to see the billy goat—in the form of Steve Bartman—psych them out and cause this curse to get into their heads and drop the NLCS.

But now, there's joy in Wrigleyville. The Cubs are 38-21, at the top of the NL Central, and what's more—they're at the top of the Majors.

For the first time since 1908 (their last World Series Championship), they are the best team going into June.

And we should definitely recognize those who got them where they are.

First, Lou Piniella. This man has managed the best and worst in baseball history. In his first year with the Cubs, he led them to the Central Division Title, just barely beating out Milwaukee. The way he works with the lineup and the rotation is amazing—especially his move of Ryan Dempster to the starting position.

Second, Alfonso Soriano, or who I refer to as "the best $108 million the Cubs ever spent." Despite getting the occasional boos from the crowd, he is one of the top players, with 14 homers and 39 RBI.

Next, the rest of the batting lineup. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are two of the top players in the club, and the addition of Kosuke Fukudome has brought more power to the team.

Rookie of the Year candidate Geovany Soto has improved since his stint last year, hitting .293, 10 home runs and 39 RBI.

Also, the "Cajun Connection," Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot have proved that the sophomore jinx doesn't apply to them. Theriot has a .321 average and Fontenot hits .247.

And finally, the surprising Reed Johnson, hitting .246 with 24 RBI.

Finally, the pitching staff. Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster continue to stay on top of their game. Zambrano is 8-1, with a 2.51 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 86.0 innings pitched.

Dempster's move from the bullpen has added strikeouts to the defense, as Ryan's 63 K's lead the club.

Last but not least, Kerry Wood, who struck out 20 against the Astros in the early 2000's, is now the Cubs' best closer, with 16 saves and 36 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.

It seems the Cubs are finally right where they need to be. The only question is, should we as Cubs fans start getting a little more comfortable—or look for the usual?

Baylor-Kansas State: Bears Survive Michael Beasley, Bill Walker

Justin Young — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:12:52 -0500

Michael Beasley and Bill Walker had a combined total of 75 points Saturday night in Waco (Beasley's 44—new Division I freshman record—and Walker's 31), but it wasn't enough to boost Kansas State as Baylor pulled a 92-86 win over the 25th-ranked team.

Baylor (18-8, 6-6) snapped their 4-game losing streak and pumped up the crowd of thousands at the Ferrell Center as well as those watching on FSN Southwest.

Both Beasley and Walker got double-doubles for K-State, thanks to Walker's 11 rebounds to Beasley's 13, while Curtis Jerrells recorded Baylor's only double-double. Baylor's bench, which included freshman LaceDarius Dunn and former starter Aaron Bruce, put up 32 points to the Wildcats' 5, which proved to be a crucial factor. Aaron Bruce provided 11 points, his most in the last few games. Baylor is now 14-2 when Bruce scores in double digits.

In the final 10 minutes, Baylor went on a 16-7 run, including a couple of 3's from Jerrells. In the final few minutes, he missed a jumper, but was fouled and made both free throws. Kansas State would not score again after that, and as the clock wound down to zero, the crowd of 8,712 was on their feet and cheering for the boys of Baylor.

Baylor will go to Colorado on the 27th, and then will play their final home games as they host Missouri on the 1st of March, before a highly-anticipated rematch on ESPN2 against Texas A&M, a team in which they upset in 5 overtimes in College Station late last month. Then they travel to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech in their final game of the season.

Can the Bears reclaim a ranking? Will they go on to the NCAA Tournament?

Stick around and find out.