No. 7 Kansas Hands No. 3 Baylor First Loss

by David Cassilo / @dcassilo

Going up against defending Big 12 champion No. 7 Kansas gave No. 3 Baylor a chance to make a statement that it was serious about challenging the Jayhawks for the conference title. But in the end it was Thomas Robinson making the statement, using 27 points and 14 rebounds to fuel Kansas past Baylor, 92-74.

The Bears were 17-0 entering the contest, but the Jayhawks looked like the superior team from the opening tip. Robinson, one of the leading candidates for National Player of the Year, was too athletic and physical for any player on Baylor to stop. The junior forward connected on 11-of-18 shots and turned the ball over just once.

In the backcourt, senior guard Tyshawn Taylor was just as electric. One game after putting up a career-high 28 points against Iowa State he matched that total against Baylor.

When those two are at the top of their game, Kansas is tough to beat.

From the Topeka Capital-Journal:

“In big games your best players have to play,” coach Bill Self said. “We had the best big man, in my opinion, in the country today, and we may have had the best point guard in the country today. I thought those guys were just fabulous. “

With Baylor falling, only two unbeatens remain — No. 1 Syracuse and No. 12 Murray State. The Orange travel to Notre Dame on Saturday, while the Racers go to Morehead State Wednesday.