Kansas Jayhawks Continue Their Giant-Killing Spree; Baylor Bears Latest Victim

Published 02/28/2021, 12:59 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Kansas Jayhawks are just third in the Big 12 Conference right now. They have won only 18 games and are currently ranked #17 on the AP Poll. All of these are far from the standards the Jayhawks have set for themselves.

Despite these struggles, the Jayhawks are the best team when it comes to taking down the big names. Following their huge upset win over the Baylor Bears tonight, the Jayhawks have now got their seventh win over a ranked opponent this season. This list features Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Creighton, Kentucky, and now Baylor.

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Tonight’s win was their biggest of the season. The Bears were unbeaten all season and were arguably the second-best team in the country after Gonzaga. But the Jayhawks had no regard for these rankings, as they had an inspired performance and came away with the win.

Can the Kansas Jayhawks carry this form into the Big 12 tournament?

The Jayhawks started their season with a loss against the Gonzaga Bulldogs but bounced back with an eight-game winning streak. Inconsistent displays halted their momentum and killed their hopes of a successive regular-season title. Despite the title being out of their hands, the Jayhawks are focusing on a strong finish and have won six of their last seven games.

USA Today via Reuters

The Jayhawks face the UTEP Miners in their final game of the season on March 4, before beginning the Big 12 Conference tournament. The Jayhawks lost in the finals to Iowa State in the previous edition in 2019. They will aim to improve from that display, but they are not the favorites this time.

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The Jayhawks are behind the Bears and the Mountaineers, who are the top two favorites to win the tournament. The Bears have never won it before and that will motivate them, while the Mountaineers last won it in 2010. Both of them have been more consistent throughout the season, which is why they are favorites.

USA Today via Reuters

But tonight’s win is a reminder that the Jayhawks are not a team to overlook. Despite not being at their best tonight, they outclassed the Bears. They will hope to carry this form into the tournament when it commences on March 10.

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Written by:

Aaron Mathew

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Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror.
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