Baylor University came into this week hoping that both their men’s and women’s basketball teams would make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Instead, both highly seeded teams are heading home to Waco after shocking upsets.
First, it was the men, who were defending their national championship from last season. The Baylor Bears men’s team came into the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed with their eye on a repeat title. Instead, they were defeated in the Round of 32 by 8-seed North Carolina, 93-86. The loss marks the fifth straight season that the defending national champion has not made it out of the opening weekend.
TAR HEELS PULL OFF THE UPSET! 😱
(8) UNC takes down (1) Baylor, 93-86 in a WILD OT finish #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/YlQYfMPeb7
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2022
Then on Sunday, the Baylor women’s team, which won the national title in 2019, was looking to cruise to another Sweet Sixteen for the 13th consecutive year when they took on 10-seed South Dakota. Instead, the Coyotes shocked the 2-seed Lady Bears 61-47 and made the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history.
2 Baylor falls to 10 South Dakota.
Baylor had made the Sweet 16 in 12 straight tournaments, the 4th-longest streak all-time.
Baylor was 22-0 against double-digit seeds in the NCAA Tournament. It was the most wins without a loss against double-digit seeds in tourney history. pic.twitter.com/ndDAOSm0LY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 21, 2022
Not exactly the way the season was supposed to end for either Baylor team but, then again, they don’t call it March Madness for nothing. The early exits for both men’s and women’s programs caught the attention of a lot of people around the college basketball world, who took to social media to note their reactions.
Baylor has had better weekends. pic.twitter.com/pjJEzJaPBY
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) March 21, 2022
Baylor going down at home to a 10-seed. Worst basketball weekend in history. Both teams heavily favored can’t get out of the first weekend.
— BearsIllustrated (@BaylorBears247) March 20, 2022
Baylor 😳 (x2)
— Amanda Atwell (@AmandaMAtwell) March 21, 2022
Baylor had a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament and a No. 2 seed in the women's tournament. Each team has been eliminated in the second round. https://t.co/aXqxAHjl7x
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) March 21, 2022
When was the last time Baylor Men & Women both were eliminated in the 2nd round at the same time? I’m literally stunned of how bad Baylor WBB played.
— Nick Canizales (@NickCanizales) March 21, 2022
… that’s not the first time Baylor has been knocked out by a lower seed this weekend 👀😭
— Laieke Abebe (@StrikaNation24_) March 21, 2022
Perhaps both programs needed to feel the sting a little bit to get back a chip on their shoulders moving forward. We’ll see how they both respond next year while watching the rest of their respective tournaments from home.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.