ANALYSIS: Baylor shakes the blues and keeps its season going

First round games of tournaments comprised of three letters and not four can be the toughest for a proud program to handle.

The opponent can be the least of the worries.

Baylor felt it deserved to go to the NCAA tournament. It had the resume, enough quality wins and the roster to compete on Thursday or Friday at some distant location.

But on Sunday, the Bears found out they playing on Tuesday at home in the NIT.

“It’s tough for all of us,’’ senior guard Manu Lecomte said. “We’ve got winners in the locker room, we’ve got competitors. And we know we’re an NCAA team. but it’s not up to us to decide. Now we’ve moved on, and it’s another goal now. It’s the NIT. And that’s what we’re all about now.’’

Overall talent overcame periods of erratic play. The No. 1 seed Bears were really never threatened and ran away from No. 8 seed Wagner, 80-59, before just 1,988 at the Ferrell Center.

The Bears (19-14) now wait to see what happens between No. 4 Mississippi State and No. 5 Nebraska on Wednesday. The Bears will host the round of 16 game but can only play on Saturday or Monday because of the women hosting their NCAA tournament games Friday and Sunday.

“Obviously being the first four out in the tournament is tough and you always worry how guys are going to respond,’’ Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “At the same time you’re really blessed to continue to play basketball. If we had gone to the tournament, we would have been one of only 10 schools to go five straight years. Going to the postseason seven straight years we’re one of 16 schools. So out of 351 schools to be one of 15 is a great honor and achievement for these guys.’’

The first game of these tournaments is pretty much a walk through the forest. Baylor played a team in the Seahawks that it knew it didn’t have to play its “A Game” to win. Well, Baylor played about a “C Game”.

They were sloppy with 19 turnovers. They were out rebounded 39-37 and allowed Wagner to grab 20 offensive rebounds. Baylor was the much taller team.

But the Bears held Wagner to 29 percent shooting. They shot 52.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc. They had 21 assists on 30 field goals.

To Lecomte’s credit, he played like someone who didn’t want his career to end. He scored 24 points and had five 3-pointers.

I know what you’re thinking. “Where was this during the Big 12 season?” Well, Wagner isn’t exactly West Virginia. There’s a talent gap. The undersized Seahawks weren’t physical enough to stay with the Bears when the game reached physical moments.

Now, Baylor is through the blues of not making the tournament. The business of pursuing the program’s second NIT championship in school history awaits. The Bears are two wins away from getting back to NYC.

There’s going to be a better opponent, so that will get this team’s attention. If it’s Nebraska, then call it a Big 12 reunion. If it’s Mississippi State, you’re wondering how much former Bulldog Mario Kegler – transferred from Mississippi State last summer and has to sit out – would be itching to get into this game.

Well, there will be a story line. That’s the good news. The season isn’t over. If there are more games to play, you might as well try to win them.

Baylor got its 19th win of 2017-18.