Two unbeaten teams – the Baylor Bears and Florida Gators – will meet in the NIT Tip-Off Championship title game on Friday afternoon at the Barclays Center. Both teams have impressive records and are hungry for a championship. Let’s analyze the strengths of both teams and predict the outcome of this exciting matchup.
Baylor Bears: A Dominant Force
The Baylor Bears enter the championship game with a perfect 5-0 record, showcasing their impressive offense and defense. Ja’Kobe Walter leads the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game, showcasing his marksman skills and ability to create scoring opportunities. Jayden Nunn contributes 13.2 points per game and Ray J. Dennis averages 11.8 points per game and leads the team with 5.6 assists. Langston Love is averaging 10.8 points per game and scoring in double figures.
On the rebounding side of the ball, Eve Means is grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game to ensure Baylor’s control of the paint. As a team, the Grizzlies are averaging 89.6 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. 72.5 percent free throw shooting further highlights their efficiency and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Florida Gators: Balanced Offense
The Florida Gators also impressed with a 5-0 record, showcasing a balanced offense and solid rebounding ability. Walter Clayton Jr. leads the team in scoring and assists, averaging 16.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, respectively, while also contributing four rebounds. Tyrese Samuel shows his dominance on the boards by contributing a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game.
Zion Poulin contributes 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while Riley Kugel averages 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Will Richard and Alex Condon are also averaging double-digit scoring at 10.4 and 10 points per game, respectively, with Richard contributing three rebounds per game and Condon 4.8 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Gators are averaging 85.4 points per game, shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. They are shooting 62.1 percent from the free throw line, indicating a need for improvement in that area.
Chris’ Pick: Baylor Bears over Florida Gators
While the Florida Gators are playing exceptionally well, I think the Baylor Bears have the edge in this game. The Baylor Bears’ offensive efficiency and three-point shooting and top-100 free throw shooting gives them a slight edge.
While the Gators’ balanced offense and strong rebounding ability is impressive, their lower free throw shooting percentage could cost them dearly in an evenly matched game. In a matchup of two evenly matched teams, I expect the Bears’ attention to detail and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities to come into play. Make me look for the Baylor Bears to win this exciting title game.