NCAA Profile: Baylor Bears

Team: Baylor Bears

Conference: Big-12

Record: 22-11, 10-8

KenPom Ranking: 24

Good wins: SF Austin, Vanderbilt, Iowa State (sweep), Texas Tech (on the road), Texas (sweep)

Impact Players: Taurean Prince (15.5 ppg, 42.8% shooting), Rico Gathers (11.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg), Al Freeman (volume scorer, 11.5 ppg), Johnathan Motley (the X-factor, 11.0 ppg, 62% shooting)

How did they get in: The Bears finished fifth in the best conference in all of college basketball and they also won some valuable road games. Scott Drew's team has an RPI ranking of 25 and they have 10 wins against the top 100. On top of all the wins against strong competition, the Bears don't have a single "bad loss" - their worst loss was Texas Tech at home.

How far can this team go: Baylor has a really difficult first round match-up against the Yale Bulldogs, who haven't been to the Big Dance since 1962. On top of the hungry mentality from the Ivy League school, Yale is playing in Providence where there should be a large contingent of Bulldog fans in The Dunk. If the Bulldogs get past Yale, their front line could cause problems in the West region, especially with their potential second round opponent, Duke, lacking in the interior without Amile Jefferson.

Last time in the NCAA Tournament: Last year when they were shocked by R.J. Hunter and Georgia State in the opening round.