It is fitting and rare that the two best teams in college basketball face off in the final game of the season. Gonzaga and Baylor deserve this opportunity more than most. Each team was projected to be a 1-seed last year, but robbed of the chance to claim a first-ever national championship.
Every title contender wasn’t as fortunate to retain — or enhance — its core. So before tipoff, let’s pour one out for poor Dayton, which could have also reached this point last year, but lost Obi Toppin, finished seventh in the Atlantic 10 and will likely never be in position to get to the national title game again.
Baylor (+4.5) over Gonzaga
In a best-of-seven series, I’d probably take the Zags in 7. With a gun to my head, I’d probably pick Gonzaga to win this game. Mark Few may have one of the best teams of all time, but his team’s undefeated season was a Johnny Juzang charge away from ending. If not for Jalen Suggs’ miracle shot, Gonzaga could still be battling UCLA.
Unlike the Bruins, Baylor doesn’t just believe it can beat Gonzaga. The Bears believe they are better. They, too, have future first-round picks. They, too, are deep and brilliant on both ends of the floor. They, too, have been dominating for the past two seasons. It wasn’t long ago that Gonzaga and Baylor were viewed as equals. It was barely over a month ago that both were chasing the first perfect season since 1976. But a three-week COVID-related pause prevented Baylor from sustaining its momentum, resulting in a pair of losses, as Gonzaga remained undefeated. Switch the circumstances and ask yourself what each team’s record would be. Switch their conferences and ask yourself which team would be undefeated. In five tournament games, Baylor has played its way back to its peak, entering Monday off a flawless blowout of 2-seed Houston. For the first time this season, the Bears will be underdogs. It’s an edge they don’t need, but will happily embrace. As UCLA demonstrated in its incredible performance, Gonzaga will only be beaten by a team that lights up the scoreboard. Baylor — the best 3-point shooting team in the nation — fits the bill.
Another classic will take place Monday night. It’s easy to envision either juggernaut winning a game two years in the making — and it’s hard to pass up free points.
This season: 30-26
2011-20 record: 261-223-9
