Baylor vs. Kansas Basketball: 4 Keys to the Bears Beating the Jayhawks

Baylor is off to its best start ever (17-0) and currently occupies the highest ranking (No. 3) in school history.

Tonight, the Bears roll into one of the most difficult places to play in college basketball: Allen Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Kansas.

If Scott Drew's crew can come out on top against KU, they will be in early control of the Big 12 race.

The two teams are very evenly matched, but here are four keys to what would be a signature win for Baylor.

1. Contain Thomas Robinson

Dan Patrick used to say about a wide variety of elite-level players, "You can't stop him. You can only hope to contain him."

That may be true about Thomas Robinson, who is the No. 2 rebounder in the country and has already put up a dozen double-doubles this season.

Baylor has plenty of bigs that they can throw at Robinson.

In fact, the Bears may have as much frontcourt depth as just about anyone in the country.

Just keeping TRob under his averages of 17.2 points per game and 12.2 rebounds would be considered an accomplishment.

2. Hold KU to 40 Percent FG Shooting

Kansas is a pretty good shooting team this year, hitting on 48 percent of their field-goal attempts.

In their three losses this season, the Jayhawks' opponents have held them under their overall average: Kentucky (33.2 percent), Duke (42.9 percent) and Davidson (40.3).

Baylor is holding their opponents to 37.2 percent from the field (No. 11 in the nation).

If Baylor could keep KU to 40 percent or below, they may roll out of Lawrence with a W.

3. Get Hot from Beyond the Arc

As much as people talk about the Baylor frontcourt, the Bears backcourt is doing a great job this season too.

The additions of transfers Pierre Jackson and Brady Heslip (pictured) have pumped life into the BU lineup.

As a team, Baylor is shooting 41.6 percent from three-point land (No. 6 in the nation).

Jackson is hitting 49.2 percent of his threes and Heslip is right behind him at 48.1 percent.

Together, they have hit 79 shots from downtown.

If the Bears can get it going from beyond the arc, it will also loosen things up in the middle.

4. Quincy Miller: The X-Factor

Quincy Miller, the Bears' super-talented freshman forward is finding his groove.

In the four Big 12 games, Miller is averaging 14 points and six rebounds.

Against Oklahoma State, he put up a career-high 21 points, connecting on 3-of-5 threes.

If Miller can bring it again tonight like he has been doing in conference play, that may be enough to put the Bears over the top.