Cory Jefferson, Isaiah Austin, finally play like Baylor’s twin towers

Baylor hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations that were expected to have this season. A preseason ranking has given way to losses to Northwestern, College of Charleston and Colorado — team’s the Bears are clearly better than on paper — and sandwiched in between there was the victory that handed John Calipari his first home defeat since taking over at Kentucky.

It’s been a weird season to this point for folks in Waco. But there’s one thing that’s pretty obvious, the Bears have the best defensive front-court in the nation when it comes to guarding the paint.

Tonight, the Bears beat Oklahoma State 64-54 to improve to 12-5 on the season. Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson combined for 11 blocks in the win.

Jefferson, a 6-9, 210-pound junior who took the Kelly Olynyk route by being a healthy redshirt in 2010-11 to improve his game, swatted six Cowboy shots, while Austin, the keystone of Baylor’s 2012 class, threw back five. On the season, Jefferson leads the team at 2.1 blocks per game, Austin with 1.1 per. Only one other team in the nation has two players that have averaged that, Kentucky with Willie Cauley-Stein and Nerlens Noel.

It was expected for Austin, seven-footer who, while he likes to play the mid-range and perimeter, had a reputation for blocking shots. Jefferson, though, had improved his block percentage this season over a full block.

The two big men also combined for 25 of the Bears’ 36 rebounds. It won’t happen every night, but the talent level of both Austin and Jefferson makes them about to grab at least 50-percent of the team’s rebounds.

Austin obviously has the size, but did a great job at making the Cowboys’ shooters adjust late in their drives or jumpers. Jefferson had his way down low with Philip Jurick and Jamari Murphy, who combined for 27 minutes, zero points, 0-for-3 from the field and three rebounds. That play made Oklahoma State rely heavily on their guards/swingmen (LeBryan Nash and Marcus Smart combined for 36 points).

The duo’s play against the Cowboys was something this team sorely needs for nights when they struggle on offense. In a size-heavy league like the Big 12, it’s something that could be a major factor in which side of the bubble coach Scott Drew’s team is on come March.

David Harten is the founder and editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.