Baylor Faces Minnesota in Crown Tournament Matchup

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The Baylor Bears have accepted an invitation to play in the College Basketball Crown Tournament after missing out on the NCAA Tournament this season. In the first round, Baylor will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who have been playing with a six-man rotation since losing their top rebounder Jaylen Crocker-Johnson. Minnesota is led by scorer Cade Tyson, who averages 19.6 points per game, but the team struggles on offense overall, averaging just 70 points per game. Baylor will need to slow down Tyson and take advantage of Minnesota's vulnerability to three-pointers to advance in the tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup represents an opportunity for Baylor to extend its season and potentially make a run in the Crown Tournament after missing out on the NCAA Tournament. The Bears will need to be at their best to overcome a tough Minnesota squad that has played well defensively this season.

The details

With Jaylen Crocker-Johnson likely out, Minnesota has been relying on a six-man rotation, putting a lot of pressure on its starting five to carry the load. Cade Tyson has been the Gophers' go-to scorer, averaging 19.6 points per game on 50% shooting, including 42% from three-point range. Baylor will need to focus on slowing down Tyson, while also taking advantage of Minnesota's vulnerability to three-pointers, as the Gophers rank 15th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten in three-point defense.

• The Crown Tournament tips off on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 in Las Vegas.
• Baylor and Minnesota are scheduled for a late-night tip-off on Wednesday.

What’s next

The winner of the Baylor-Minnesota matchup will advance to the next round of the Crown Tournament.