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The Baylor Bears men's basketball team started the season with 17 straight wins before they lost their first game to the Kansas Jayhawks. At that time, they were considered a contender to head into the NCAA tournament with a No. 1 seed. However, they now have a 23-5 record and have lost three of their last five games. Two of those losses came to the Jayhawks (again) and to the Missouri Tigers (also, for the second time this season) and the other came to the Kansas State Wildcats. The Bears are still heading to the tournament, but not likely as a top seed.
In SB Nation's latest NCAA basketball power rankings, Mike Rutherford lists the Bears as the 11th best team in college basketball.
BU's season from this point on is almost a foregone conclusion. They'll put up a valiant effort at Missouri because the Tigers will allow them to score enough to not let their focus wander; they'll beat most of the teams they should beat in the Big 12 but will drop another game or two to a Kansas State or an Iowa State; they'll earn a bye in the league tournament but will beaten by Kansas (again); they'll win at least a pair of games in the NCAA Tournament because of their talent, but will fall when a team with slightly less talent but infinitely more resolve puts them in a pressure situation.
The Bears have three very winnable games left on their schedule before the regular season is over. For more on the Bears, head to Our Daily Bears.