Bluejays exploit a faulty defense

DENVER — Baylor won the 2021 national championship with a defense that literally suffocated opponents and destroyed their confidence.

The Bears are going home after the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament because Creighton had so much room to breathe that Denver’s high altitude wasn’t even a factor.

A highly efficient Creighton offense buried 45.8 percent of its 3-pointers and hit all 22 free throws to blow by the third-seeded Bears for an 85-76 win on Sunday night at Ball Arena.

Baylor’s faulty defense has been an issue all season, but there was some hope after the Bears limited UC Santa Barbara to a 30.4 field goal percentage in the second half to propel a 74-56 win in Friday’s tournament opener in the South Region.

But the sixth-seeded Bluejays (23-12) hit nine of their first 14 shots to quickly fly to a double-digit lead. They stayed hot most of the game to advance to the Sweet 16 against No. 15-seed Princeton on Friday in Louisville. The Bears finished with a 23-11 record after losing three of their last four games.

“Normally the second game, you have tired legs, and 11-for-24 (of Creighton’s 3-point shots) definitely didn’t show that,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew. “So credit them for making shots, 22 from the free throw line is outstanding, especially in the second game, to go to a Sweet 16. Defensively, they’re the No. 1 defense in the Big East. They’ve got length on the perimeter, did a good job making it tough for us.”

For the second straight season, Baylor lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a 93-86 OT loss to North Carolina in Fort Worth last season.

After Creighton 7-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a season-high 31 points in Friday’s 72-63 win over North Carolina State, the Bears focused on stopping him.

The Bears limited Kalkbrenner to 10 points and seven rebounds, but guard Ryan Nembhard erupted for 30 points as he hit 8-of-13 shots, including 4-of-6 3pointers, while sinking all 10 of his free throws.

Baylor guard LJ Cryer delivered a big game with a career-high 30 points while hitting 4-of-11 3-pointers. Guard Adam Flagler added 15 points while Jalen Bridges finished with 12 points and six rebounds, but the Bears hit just 5-of-22 3pointers. In possibly his last game for the Bears, likely NBA lottery pick Keyonte George hit just 1-of-10 shots and had three of the team’s five assists.