No. 25 MBB Opens Conference Slate against Utah

[Roberts, Matt]

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25/21 BAYLOR BEARS (8-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Location: Waco, Texas
Conference/Affiliation: Big 12
Head Coach: Scott Drew (Butler, 1993)
Roster<https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2024-25> | Stats<https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats> | Game Notes (PDF )<file:///documents/2024/12/23/BU_MBB_Game_Notes_11_ABU_24-25.pdf>
UTAH (8-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. 25/21 BAYLOR (8-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Dec. 31, 2024 • 1:00 p.m. CT
Waco, Texas • Foster Pavilion (7,500)

LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast<https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=bay>
WATCH: ESPN+
Talent: Rich Hollenberg (pxp), Chris Spatola (analyst)
LISTEN: Baylor Sports Media Network via ESPN 1660 AM / 92.3 FM in Central Texas and worldwide at centexsportsfan.com<http://www.centexsportsfan.com>
Talent: Pete Sousa (PBP), Pat Nunley (Analyst)
SIRIUS XM: SiriusXM 385 or on the SXM App<https://www.siriusxm.com/sports/mens-college-basketball>

Baylor Social Media: [X icon] <https://twitter.com/BaylorMBB> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​ [instagram png] <https://www.instagram.com/baylormbb> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​ [Facebook PNG] <https://www.facebook.com/BaylorMBB> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​

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Utah Utes (8-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Location: Sal Lake City, Utah
Conference/Affiliation: Big 12
Head Coach: Craig Smith (North Dakota, 1996)
Roster<https://utahutes.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster> | Stats<https://utahutes.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024-25> | Game Notes (PDF)<file:///documents/2024/12/30/12_-_at__25_Baylor.pdf>
Media Materials Folder<https://baylor.app.box.com/s/pixj7k5dq7uo84maocw4vv2vhlhzh1c8>
Story lines
• No. 25/21 Baylor closes its 4-game home stand with the Big 12 Conference Opener against Utah at 1 p.m. on ESPN+
• Baylor is offering free admission to the first 5,000 fans as a way to thank the community for their support and invite them to experience Baylor Basketball at Foster Pavilion
• Tuesday marks just the second time since 2013-14 the Bears have opened conference play at home
• Baylor has won four of its last five conference lid-lifters and is 11-10 in the Drew Era
• The Bears and Utes are meeting for the first time since 1960 and the first time as conference foes
• BU is 171-111 in Big 12 play in 14 seasons since 2010 after going 59-149 in the league's first 13 seasons
• Baylor is the only team in the Big 12 with 11+ conference wins in a Power conference in 5-straight seasons
• The Bears are averaging 98.0 points per game in six home tilts this year, while giving up an average of just 57.8 points, for an average margin of 40.2 points per game
• Last time out the Bears blasted Arlington Baptist 107-53, the 54-point win was the 10th largest margin of victory in program history and the second-largest this season
• Seven Bears scored in double figures for the second time this season, a feat that had not been previously accomplished since 2013
• The Bears pulled down 66 rebounds, the fifth-most in program history and the most since grabbing 70 against Texas A&M on Jan. 23, 2008
• Scott Drew secured his 450th win at Baylor and the 470th of his career overall earlier this month against ACU
• Drew is one of just seven active coaches with at least 450 wins at their current institution (Mark Few, Tom Izzo, Bill Self, Greg Kampe, Randy Bennett, Matt Painter)
• One of six active coaches who have won a national title, Drew will see four of the five other coaches as a part of its regular season schedule. Drew has wins against John Calipari & Rick Pitino, with his only loss coming to Dan Hurley in Dec.
• Hailing from basketball families, the Drews are the second winningest father-son combination in NCAA history, compiling 1,380 wins between Scott, Bryce and Homer, trailing only the Iba family (1,624) for the most by a family in NCAA history.
• Over the last six seasons the Bears are 135-38, the second-best record among power-conference teams for the duration of that span
• Baylor is one of five programs to be ranked inside the top-10 in each of the last six seasons
• The Bears have played five ranked teams in its first nine games of the season, the first time in program history they have played five ranked teams before January
• The Bears are led by Miami transfer, Norchad Omier, The NCAA's active leader in career rebounds (1,432), double-doubles (74) and rebound average (10.9), while sitting 10th in career points (2,001)
• The senior is just 68 rebounds from becoming the 14th player in NCAA history with 2,000 points and 1,500 rebounds
• Freshman Rob Wright ranks second on the team in scoring averaging 12.9 points and 5.7 assists. Already with 63 assists, Wright is on pace to shatter the freshman assists record held by John Lucas (120)
• Duke Transfer Jeremy Roach ranks third on the team in points per game (12.2), and second in assists per game (4.4), and joins Omier with Final Four experience


Matt Roberts | Director of Athletic Communications (MBB/MGOLF/ WGOLF)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-227-2280
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