Ja'Kobe Walter shares mindset of Baylor locker room after two straight losses
The road was unkind to Baylor this week as they dropped both conference games after jumping back into the Top-10. Even so, Ja’Kobe Walter, the freshman guard and team’s leading scorer, knows the Bears aren’t going to let the skid get to them.
Walter spoke about the energy in their locker room following the 75-73 loss at Texas that they suffered at the buzzer. He said that their group was just trying to keep their heads up and not let the two defeats get to them.
“We’re just trying to stay positive in the locker room. Stay together, no negative thoughts,” said Walter.
Baylor started the week with a 68-64 overtime loss at Kansas State on Tuesday. In what was a back and forth affair, the Bears managed to take a six-point lead with over three minutes to go. However, the Wildcats closed the half on a 9-3 with seven coming from Cam Carter and Tylor Perry. Then, in overtime, Baylor again held a five-point lead with just over a minute to go. That was before a 9-0 burst for K-State, including a four-point play from Arthur Kaluma, sealed it inside Bramlage Coliseum.
In their next game, Baylor returned to their home state with a date in Austin against Texas. It was yet another close contest in the Moody Center with both teams keeping it within a couple possessions. Still, after facing an early deficit, the Bears earned themselves a six-point lead in the second half.
That was short-lived, though, as the Longhorns tied it up with just under five to go. With the game in the balance again, the teams traded blows before, eventually, Tyrese Hunter landed the knockout with a game-winning layup at the end.
Life on the road isn’t easy for any team, especially in conference play and certainly in the Big 12. That’s why, after doubling their loss total in one week with another two-game losing streak, Walter doesn’t want to see his team discouraged. He knows they just need to get home, make their adjustments, and be prepared to get back in the win column next weekend against TCU.
“Just going to get back to Waco and just get back in the lab,” Walter said. “Just get better and learn from it.”
Hunter scores buzzer-beating layup to defeat No. 9 Baylor
Texas defeated Baylor on Saturday thanks to a buzzer-beating drive to the basket by Tyrese Hunter.
Hunter grabbed the hand off from Dylan Disu three-quarters of the way down the court. He then sped past the Baylor defense and made the leaning basket to win the game for the Longhorns.
The play came just after Jalen Bridges‘ step-back three-pointer tied the game with 5.1 seconds left. Despite this, Texas drew up the game-winning play and Hunter executed it to perfection.