NIT Semis: BYU vs. Baylor

National Invitation Tournament Semifinals

#3 BYU Cougars vs. #2 Baylor Bears

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York.

Monday, April 2, 2013, 4:00 PM PDT.

Baylor hails from the Big 12 conference. The Bears are 21-14 on the season, 9-9 in Big 12 regular season play, 6-9 away from home and currently on a three game winning streak.

BYU is 24-11 on the season, 10-6 in WCC regular season play, 7-8 away from home and currently on a three game winning streak.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front, KMGR 95.9 FM in Manti, KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City, KDXU 890 AM in St. George and KTHK 105.5 FM in Idaho Falls.

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143.

Online: Live audio from KSL and video from ESPN3.

Comparison of the Cougars' stats over the season, in the NIT and in their first game against Baylor. Colors are 100% subjective. Click for full size view.

This should be one heck of an exciting game. With a spot in the NIT Championship Game going to the winner there is a lot on the line. Both BYU (12th nationally in possessions per 40 minutes) and Baylor (79th nationally) like to play a fast paced game. Also, BYU got hammered by Baylor, at Baylor, earlier this season and no doubt would like to avenge that loss. That's an enticing trio, certainly worthy of Madison Square Garden.

Baylor has had the more efficient offense and defense, though not by a whole lot, over the course of the season. BYU has been the hotter team over the course of the NIT. The Cougars have even managed to do something they were unable to do all season long, beat a team favored to win (and on the road no less).

In the first game, as you can see in the chart above, BYU had an awful shooting night. The Cougars led for much of the game but a drought in the second half, to the tune of a 21-2 Bears' run, doomed the Cougars to a 79-64 loss. The Cougars shots have been falling in the NIT unlike they were in Waco, in particular note the difference in three point percentage between then and now.

If the Cougars can continue with their excellent offensive execution it's hard to imagine this talent laden Baylor team managing to keep up. Like I said, back on December 21st it took a BYU slump for Baylor to pull ahead.