WACO, Texas — Kansas faced a historic setback on Saturday, surrendering a massive 21-point lead in an 81-70 defeat against Baylor. Despite the disappointment, coach Bill Self retained his sense of humor, jokingly attributing the team’s struggles in the second half to the oranges provided by Baylor during halftime. This loss marks the largest lead ever blown by the program, exceeding the 20-point lead they relinquished to Arizona back in January 2003.
The Jayhawks had showcased a strong performance in the first half, leading 40-21 after establishing a hefty lead of 38-17. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the second half as Baylor surged back into contention, starting with a 26-6 run that allowed them to take a 47-46 advantage. This revival was highlighted by freshman Robert Wright III, who scored 20 of his 24 points after halftime, energizing the enthusiastic crowd at Foster Pavilion.
Kansas found themselves in a comfortable position, having extended their lead back to eight points with six minutes left. However, Baylor closed out the game with a staggering 26-7 response, showcasing an exceptional ability to rally after being down significantly. Jalen Celestine further solidified the Bears’ comeback with a pivotal three-pointer that broke the tie and put them ahead with four minutes remaining.
In an impressive turn of events, Baylor managed to achieve this remarkable comeback despite the absence of their top scorer, VJ Edgecombe, who left the game with an injury after contributing 14 points. Baylor’s head coach Scott Drew emphasized the importance of their passionate home crowd in fueling the team’s performance, noting the low number of assists but implying that the crowd played a significant role in their success.
Coach Self acknowledged the worry stemming from the game, pointing out the stark contrast between the two halves. The Jayhawks initially dominated, holding a 20-0 advantage in bench scoring at halftime; however, this lead diminished significantly as Baylor’s Celestine lit up the court with four three-pointers after the break, ultimately narrowing the final bench scoring margin to 28-12 in favor of Kansas.
Though the Jayhawks recorded fewer turnovers than the Bears, they struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities off turnovers, allowing 15 points to slip away in the second half alone. Hunter Dickinson led Kansas with 20 points, but the team lacked consistent scoring support, leaving them unable to respond effectively to Baylor’s second-half resurgence.
Overall, the game served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of college basketball, with Kansas learning the hard way that leads can evaporate in a matter of minutes.
