The No. 11-ranked Kansas Jayhawks have hit an unusual rut in their season, losing two of their last three games and going 3-3 over their last six.
Saturday’s 81-70 loss to Baylor only exasperated that problem after the team gave up a program-high 21-point lead.
The Jayhawks led 38-17 with less than a minute before halftime before the Bears kicked off their comeback attempt.
Baylor went on to double-up Kansas in the second half by a 60-30 margin, earning an 11-point victory that on its face looked like the Bears won with ease.
Freshman Rob Wright tallied 24 points and six assists for Baylor in the comeback effort, finding a new gear that easily broke down the Jayhawk defense.
Saturday’s rally was the second of its kind Kansas has given up in its last three games played. On Jan. 25, the then-No. 7 Houston Cougars took the Jayhawks to double-overtime after a last-minute comeback, producing a rare win at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas shot just 36 percent in the second half against Baylor, squandering a 20-0 edge its bench had provided in the first. The Bears bench outscored the Jayhawks 12-8 after the break.
Slipping to 6-4 in the Big 12 (15-6 overall), Kansas will need to reset quickly as No. 3 Iowa State visits on Monday. Baylor visits No. 22 Texas Tech on Tuesday looking to keep rolling from its momentum.
