Flo Thamba
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) goes up for a shot as Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan (1) defends in the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, March, 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
North Carolina Tar Heels at Baylor Bears 3/19/2022

Mar. 19, 2022 12:56 PM EDT

Baylor guard James Akinjo (11) drives against Norfolk State guard Christian Ings (0) during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Defending champ Baylor opens with 85-49 win over Norfolk St

By Stephen Hawkins Mar. 17, 2022 04:26 PM EDT

FILE -Marquette head coach Shaka Smart reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in Milwaukee. First-year Marquette coach Shaka Smart is back in Texas, going into this NCAA Tournament without any underlying questions or pressure about his future. That is much different than last March, when Smart was still coaching the instate Longhorns. Only about a week after their third consecutive first-round NCAA loss, he left to take a new job in his home state of Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
East Preview: Smart back in Texas without future questions

By Stephen Hawkins Mar. 16, 2022 06:44 PM EDT

Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, left, shoots under pressure from Oklahoma guard Umoja Gibson (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Fresh to Baylor, Sochan and Brown big for defending champs

By Stephen Hawkins Mar. 15, 2022 02:52 AM EDT

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski works the bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Syracuse during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Conference USA - Quarterfinal 2 (win) at Conference USA - Quarterfinal 1 (win) 3/11/2022

Mar. 10, 2022 01:18 PM EST

Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan (1) drives against Iowa State forward George Conditt IV (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Waco, Texas, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
No. 3 Baylor beats Iowa St 75-68 for share of Big 12 title

By Stephen Hawkins Mar. 05, 2022 08:30 PM EST

Baylor head coach Scott Drew, right, reacts to a call during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Texas, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Baylor, Kansas to decide Big 12 title in 2 games Saturday

By Dave Skretta Mar. 04, 2022 02:28 AM EST

Baylor guard Kendall Brown (2) looks to pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Texas, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Flagler, Akinjo lead No. 3 Baylor past No. 21 Texas 68-61

By Jim Vertuno Feb. 28, 2022 11:44 PM EST

Kansas guard Christian Braun, right, runs the offense as Baylor guard James Akinjo defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
No. 10 Baylor rallies to beat No. 5 Kansas 80-70 in Big 12

By Stephen Hawkins Feb. 26, 2022 10:42 PM EST

TCU center Eddie Lampkin reacts after injuring his leg during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Sochan and shorthanded No. 7 Baylor get past TCU 72-62

By Stephen Hawkins Feb. 19, 2022 02:35 PM EST

Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua lays on the court with an apparent leg injury during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
Baylor big man has surgery to repair multiple knee ligaments

By Stephen Hawkins Feb. 15, 2022 06:26 PM EST

Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) is helped from the court as he leaves the game with an apparent leg injury during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
No. 10 Baylor beats No. 20 Texas 80-63 after losing big man

By Stephen Hawkins Feb. 12, 2022 02:33 PM EST

FILE - Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, bottom, covers his face after getting injured on a play in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Baylor has gotten banged up over the last month, going from the undefeated No. 1 team to 4-4 over its last eight games. (AP Photo/Emil Lippe, File)
Injuries lead to inconsistency in Baylor slide from top spot

By Stephen Hawkins Feb. 08, 2022 05:06 PM EST

West Virginia guard Sean McNeil (22) looks for room to make a pass as Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan (1) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Waco, Texas, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
West Virginia Mountaineers at Baylor Bears 1/31/2022

Jan. 31, 2022 09:56 PM EST

Alabama guard Jaden Shackelford (5) shoots a long 3-point shot in front of Baylor guard/forward Jordan Turner (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama tops No. 4 Baylor; 3rd win over '21 Final Four team

Jan. 29, 2022 07:03 PM EST

Baylor guard Matthew Mayer (24) shoots as Oklahoma guard Elijah Harkless (55) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Flagler, Cryer lead No. 5 Baylor past Oklahoma 65-51

By Cliff Brunt Jan. 22, 2022 05:23 PM EST

Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) dunks the ball while being guarded by West Virginia guard Taz Sherman (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (William Wotring)
Cryer, Mayer lead No. 5 Baylor past West Virginia 77-68

By John Raby Jan. 18, 2022 07:26 PM EST

West Virginia forward Jalen Bridges (11) protects the ball from Baylor guard Kendall Brown (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (William Wotring)
Baylor Bears at West Virginia Mountaineers 1/18/2022

Jan. 18, 2022 05:58 PM EST

Oklahoma coach Porter Moser reacts to a call against the team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Top-ranked Baylor beats Oklahoma 84-74 for 20th win in row

By Stephen Hawkins Jan. 04, 2022 09:31 PM EST

Baylor guard Kendall Brown (2) looks for a shot past Iowa State forward George Conditt (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Ames. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Top-ranked Baylor holds on to beat No. 8 Iowa State 77-72

Jan. 01, 2022 04:41 PM EST