Baylor’s foul-line woes lead to loss at Kansas

By Matt Tait     Jan 20, 2014

The Keegan Ratings

Nick Krug
Kansas forward Jamari Traylor maneuvers for a bucket against Baylor forward Cory Jefferson during the first half on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Perry Ellis top Jayhawk vs. Baylor

Kansas 78, Baylor 68

Box Score

Although the game is complicated to the core in so many ways, sometimes the difference between winning and losing a basketball game can be boiled down to the simplest things.

No. 24 Baylor found that out the hard way on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse, where the Bears were outscored by 17 points at the free-throw line in a 78-68 loss to No. 8 Kansas.

It’s not like this was a Baylor team that has struggled all season from the free-throw line, either. In its lone Big 12 Conference victory so far this season, Baylor connected on all 21 of its trips to the foul line in a victory over TCU.

In the past two games, the Bears have missed that many free throws, going just 19 for 40 from the foul line in a two-point loss at Oklahoma and Monday’s 10-point setback at Kansas.

Asked after the game about his team’s recent struggles at the charity stripe, Baylor coach Scott Drew shrugged nearly to the point of laughter and simply said, “I don’t know. If you guys figure it out, let me know.”

In many ways, Baylor’s most recent trip to KU’s home barn was encouraging. In their most recent trips to Allen Fieldhouse, the Bears were beaten soundly by nearly 20 points each time. On Monday, BU (13-5 overall and 1-4 Big 12) trailed by just two at the break and actually controlled much of the first half. No early knockout blow. No easy victory for the home team.

Despite being firmly in the game after 20 minutes and heading to the locker room looking to reload instead of regroup, Drew said his team remained wary of a potential KU explosion.

“We knew it was a 40-minute game,” he said. “A couple of turnovers and the next thing you know, there’s the separation.”

The nearly inevitable run came midway through the second half in the form of a 17-4 spurt by Kansas than turned a 43-42 KU lead into a 60-46 advantage with 8:22 to play.

“Once it got up to 10, it was pretty tough for us to come back,” said Baylor sharp-shooter Brady Heslip, who led the Bears with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range.

The consolation prize of competing hardly mattered to the Bears, who spoke with the media following their fourth loss in their first five conference games this season.

“At the end of the day, losing’s tough,” Drew said. “We’ll keep working to get better and that’s what you gotta love about the Big 12. Each and every night you’ve got a chance to play against a great team and a team that’s gonna help your RPI. (It’s) the No. 1-ranked conference in the country and it’s a grind, but I think we’re on the upward swing so hopefully we keep that going.”

Added Heslip: “It was good that we fought hard, but we want to get some wins now.”

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.