Browsing: Men’s Basketball

True to his quiet, reserved nature, freshman forward Perry Jones III first looked to his father on his right, then his mother on his left, before announcing his decision regarding his future.

Selection Sunday brought record levels of eye-rolling and scoffing. Columnists complained and analysts agonized about a weaker-than-ever NCAA tournament field that included seven teams with at least 13 losses. The expanded tournament just meant more unworthy teams, the line of thinking went.

On Thursday, the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement denied Baylor’s appeal to immediately reinstate freshman Perry Jones III, who was declared ineligible on March 9.

The fourth time won’t be a charm for Baylor men’s basketball this year. Hoping to make their fourth straight postseason appearance, the Bears found out Sunday their season is finished without an NCAA tournament or NIT bid.

Freshman Perry Jones III is suspended from tonight’s Big 12 tournament game between Baylor and Oklahoma for violations committed before enrollment at Baylor, an official Baylor release stated.

When Baylor and Texas tip off at 8 p.m. Saturday, head coach Scott Drew will watch from the bench knowing the importance of the game on several levels. “I don’t know if there’s ever been a bigger regular season college game in Baylor’s school history,” Drew said. “[ESPN’s] College GameDay is as big as it gets. It’s obviously a much-needed game for us win-wise.”

It’s been a while since the Baylor Lariat, the university’s student newspaper, has seen so many letters to the editor on a single topic. Current students, alumni and faculty all want us to spread the word about ESPN’s College GameDay coming to Waco.

Baylor’s path to the NCAA tournament became exponentially more difficult after falling 71-60 to Oklahoma State on Tuesday night in Stillwater, Okla.