Big 12 Tournament 2012: Baylor's Blueprint to Steamrolling Missouri

Baylor will be the 2012 Big 12 tournament champions if they can follow this simple blueprint. It is not too big of a stretch to think that they will. 

They are playing wonderful basketball. They are fresh off of an 81-72 upset against No. 1 seed Kansas. Of course, it certainly isn't a given either. 

The last time these two met, Missouri won 72-57. So let's take a look at what they have to do avoid another defeat. 

Close Out

The Tigers are 14th in the nation from the three-point line, shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. Baylor cannot let them stand behind the line and get comfortable. That is what happened last time these two met, and Baylor was crushed. 

In that contest, Missouri went 14-of-28 from three-point land. The first time these two matched up, Baylor lost by just one, and they did a much better job of limiting Tigers from three. They were just 7-of-16 in that one. 

Baylor must focus their defense from the outside in for this game. If that means giving up a few easy two-point buckets, so be it. That is the price they will have to pay to keep Missouri from getting in a rhythm from distance. 

Get Quincy Acy Going

This 6'7" forward is averaging 12.0 points per game this season. He is an integral part to the offense. Yet, the last time these two met, he had just three shots and seven points. 

That is not enough. Baylor must make sure that he gets involved and is active early. They must make it a focus of the offense to get it down low to him early and often. 

When they lost by one to Missouri, he was 8-of-13 for 18 points. The Bears must make sure he gets off at least double digits in shots again. 

Slow Down

It is not in Baylor's nature to play deliberate. They are 38th in the nation in points per game. However, they will be well-served to ensure this game doesn't turn out into an all out track meet. 

Missouri is the nation's seventh-highest scoring team. They love to get out and run, and they do this by pressuring the ball and causing turnovers. 

Baylor must be poised and careful when they have the ball. They can't afford turnovers, and they have to work for good shots. 

They want Missouri starting their possession from out of bounds and under the hoop.