There’s been a lot to like about Baylor and its Division I-leading 25 turnovers forced per game through the first week of the regular season.
The next test will come on Tuesday when it welcomes Ivy League contender Yale to Waco, Texas.
The Bears (2-0) tied a program record with 21 steals in a 109-53 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff last Friday, holding the Golden Lions to 13 first-half points on their way to a stress-free victory.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys that are bought into being aggressive on the defensive end, a lot of athleticism,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.
“And then with depth, you can play hard and then sit down and someone else comes in and plays hard, so you can wear people down.”
That depth was on display as the Bears’ bench outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s reserves 59-28, led by Isaac Williams’ career-high 26 points.
The Bulldogs (1-1) will be a big step up in competition for Baylor. They have represented the Ivy League in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments, including back-to-back appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Yale coach James Jones believes strongly in the culture he’s established over 28 seasons in charge, especially with the program’s recent success.
“We’ve won a championship – the regular season, the conference tournament or both — in each of the last seven years,” Jones told The Field of 68, “And these guys don’t want to be that class that doesn’t get it done.”
“They’re going to make sure they give everything that they have – and I’m confident that they will.”
Yale is playing its second straight Big 12 opponent after falling 87-75 at UCF on Friday night, failing to hold on to a three-point halftime advantage.
Riley Fox scored 24 in a losing effort, making four of six from 3-point range, after posting 19 points in the Bulldogs’ season-opening win against Howard.
Baylor can exact some revenge in this game, as Yale beat them 79-75 in a 12-5 upset in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.