Baylor will renew a storied rivalry with a high-stakes twist this weekend, facing former Big 12 foe Oklahoma in the Baylor Oklahoma CBB Crown Semifinals. The matchup, scheduled for April 4 at 12:30 p.m. CT, will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., with national coverage provided by FOX.
While Oklahoma holds the historical advantage in the overall series with a 46-25 lead, the recent tide has shifted decisively toward the Bears. Baylor has claimed victory in 10 of the last 11 meetings between the two programs, establishing a psychological edge as they enter this postseason clash.
For Baylor, the game is about more than just a semifinal victory. The program is currently pursuing a unique piece of collegiate history, seeking to become the first in the nation to secure championships in the NCAA Tournament, the NIT, and the College Basketball Crown. A win in Las Vegas would move them one step closer to that “triple crown” of postseason basketball.
The contest arrives at a pivotal moment for head coach Scott Drew, who recently joined an elite group of 25 active Division I head coaches with 500 career wins. Drew, 55, reached that milestone following a 101-75 victory over Utah to close the regular season. He remains one of the youngest coaches in that bracket, trailing only Bart Lundy and Mick Cronin.
Postseason Pedigree and Tactical Shifts
This game marks the 17th postseason appearance for Baylor under Drew, who has maintained a rigorous standard of consistency in Waco. Discounting the 2020 season due to the pandemic, the Bears have earned a postseason bid every year since 2012. Under Drew’s guidance, the program has posted a 32-14 (.688) record in postseason play.
Despite a first-round exit at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City—a 79-83 loss to Arizona State—Baylor enters the semifinals with significant momentum. The team has shown a marked improvement in offensive efficiency, shooting 51.4 percent from the field and averaging 81.0 points over their final five regular-season games. This is a sharp contrast to the start of their conference slate, where they averaged only 66.8 points and shot 40.1 percent.
| Metric | Baylor Bears | Oklahoma Sooners |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 17-16 | 20-15 |
| Conference | Big 12 (6-12) | SEC (7-11) |
| Head Coach | Scott Drew | Porter Moser |
| Recent Series | Won 10 of last 11 | Trailing recent matchups |
The Impact of the Freshman Class
Much of Baylor’s current success is rooted in a prolific scoring duo that has redefined the program’s offensive ceiling. Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou have combined for 1,218 points this season, making them the first pair of 500-plus scorers for the Bears since the 2009-10 season, when LaceDarius Dunn and Ekpe Udoh led the way.
Carr has emerged as a historic force in his debut year, recording 628 points. This marks the highest scoring output by a Baylor player in their first year since Vinnie Johnson in 1977-78, placing Carr among the top 10 all-time scoring season leaders for the program. His contributions earned him a spot on the All-Big 12 Third Team and the All-Newcomer Team.
Yessoufou has provided complementary brilliance, totaling 590 points. His performance is particularly notable given his trajectory; he previously broke the freshman program record at UCF, passing Aaron Bruce’s 2004-05 mark. For his efforts this season, Yessoufou was recognized as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Defensive Grit and the “X-Factor”
While the scoring has garnered headlines, Baylor’s resilience is anchored by a defense that has faced some of the toughest tests in the country. According to KenPom, the Bears hold the No. 2 toughest opponent defensive strength of schedule nationally, with an overall strength of schedule ranked 24th in the country and 6th within the Big 12.
A key component of this defensive identity is Isaac Williams IV. Despite being 6’4″ or shorter, Williams has recorded 17 blocks on the season, the most for a player of his height at Baylor since 1993-94. He currently ranks tied for third nationally in blocks among players 6’1″ or shorter.
Williams has evolved into a multi-dimensional threat over the last five games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.2 assists. His efficiency from the perimeter has been particularly striking, shooting 70 percent from three-point range and 56.1 percent from the field during this stretch.
Game Day Logistics
Fans can follow the action via the Stat Broadcast live feed or tune in to FOX to hear Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson on the call. Local listeners can access the Baylor Sports Media Network through ESPN 1660 AM or 92.3 FM, featuring John Morris and Pat Nunley.
The result of this semifinal will determine who advances toward the College Basketball Crown title. The next confirmed checkpoint for the program is the tip-off at T-Mobile Arena this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on this rivalry and the Bears’ championship pursuit in the comments below.
