College basketball Week 2: 5 biggest takeaways
By Chris Stone
2. The Baylor Bears are the second best team in the Big 12
The Big 12 was supposed to be Kansas and everybody else, but the Bears flashed their potential by trouncing the Oregon Ducks, 66-49, on Tuesday. Although the Ducks were without preseason All-American Dillon Brooks, Baylor’s performance was the most impressive win for a Big 12 team this season this side of the Jayhawks’ victory over Duke at the Champions Classic.
The two biggest questions facing the Bears entering the season revolved around the point guard spot and the hole left by the departure of big man Rico Gathers. Both of those questions were answered on Tuesday. Junior point guard Manu Lecomte dropped 18 points and dished out seven assists in the win. You might remember Lecomte from the Miami Hurricanes’ upset of Duke at Cameron Indoor in 2015, when the then sophomore combined with Angel Rodriguez to pick-and-roll the Blue Devils to death. The Belgian will now look to repeat that feat on the home floors of the Big 12’s toughest competition.
On the interior, junior college transfer Jo Lual-Acuil has answered the call. Although the 7-footer isn’t much of a go-to offensive presence, his physicality has helped make him a defensive anchor in the Bears’ zone. He grabbed 14 boards and blocked seven shots in the win over Oregon and is now averaging 10.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 block shots per game through three contests. Those are excellent numbers for someone playing against high major competition for the first time in their career. With its biggest questions answered, Baylor is establishing itself as the second best team in the Big 12.