SFA / #2 Baylor

SFA (3-0) vs. #2 Baylor (3-0)

WHEN: DEC. 9 (WED) 7:00 P.M.
WHERE: Ferrell Center (Waco, TX)
WATCH: ESPN+/B12Now

Anyone that watched the first half of Sunday’s game knows what reality tastes like, but you can just spit that out of your mouth. SFA is going to get to play Baylor tomorrow night, and it’s time to start dreaming again. 

Part of the mystique that Keller has sold to his players is their ability to win the big games - the games other teams see as David and Goliath stories. They’re not. This is why these guys came to play here. To beat these “top” teams. Two years ago on some random Tuesday in December, the Jacks were in the midst of a terrible road trip that started with losing their point guard for illness, saw their top recruit get benched, and ultimately was the breaking point that led to two players getting dismissed. In the midst of that, Keller somehow got a limping team to give all they have and down Baylor. It ended something like this:

Unbelievable and Shannon Bogues mean the same thing tonight. #AxeEm pic.twitter.com/0tVKBcxvKo

— SFA Basketball (@SFA_MBB) December 19, 2018

Baylor is a better team. SFA is a better team. On paper, the #2 team in the nation that just blew the doors off of Brad Underwood’s #5 Illinois by double digits should absolutely do the same to our team. Maybe that will happen, maybe we’ll lose by 25 like everyone says we should, or maybe, there’s still some holiday magic that hasn’t worn off from Keller’s jackets.

You can talk stats and matchups for the next 24 hours or so waiting for the game to start. But, this game is going to come down to heart. It’s the kind of heart that sees David drill a three with 10,000 fans screaming at him or Roti fighting to deflect the ball that’s going for an easy bucket or Gavin diving on the floor knowing there is no way that he is not coming up with it...or even a guy with a bad back and two bum knees running 70 feet to score the most important layup of his life. Who’s got heart? Not a team that wears yellow and green. Real hearts bleed purple.

Axe’ em!