Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-11, 7-8) at Baylor Bears (16-12, 5-10)
3 PM, Ferrell Center, Waco, TX
TV: Big 12 Network, ESPN FullCourt/ESPN 360; Radio: Husker Sports Network
The regular season ends today in a bit of an anticlimax. The Big XII's most disappointing team hosts its scrappiest in a preview of the rematch Wednesday morning. The Huskers are playing for one thing, and one thing only: finishing the season with a non-losing conference record for the first time in a decade. The Bears are playing for pride and senior day; the hopes of a 2nd straight NCAA appearance after being ranked most of the non-conference season evaporated when they lost 9 of their last 11 games.
This is a matchup of teams that are equal and opposite in many ways. Both teams are guard-heavy, but use them differently. The Huskers try for efficient offense and smothering defense, whereas Baylor tries for high-fire offense and occasional defense (part of the reason they have struggled).
On paper, Baylor is the better team, but their lack of defense -- and struggles with the efficient defenses of teams like Missouri, Texas, and Kansas -- casts doubt on their ability to handle the Huskers. On the flip side, Baylor's defense has been absolutely atrocious, but so has Nebraska's offense. The bright side: the Husker's O has been clicking the last two games.
This isn't the big game, though. These teams meet again in 4 days for the right to play Kansas in the Big XII Quarterfinals. That's the game both teams want to win; today is the warmup. The Huskers want to get to 8-8, but it's the last game for a couple Baylor seniors who've had to endure a roller coaster.