The Oso

Podcast: Texas Bowl Recap

Peter Pope — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 17:04:01 +0000

Execution issues plagued the Bears in all three phases against the LSU Tigers in the 2024 Kinder’s Texas Bowl for the first time in quite a while. The Bears were missing key components to both their offense and defense and an early injury to Bryson Washington hampered the Bears’ rushing attack. It was a frustrating outing, to be sure, but not one that signals deeper issues with the 2024 team. Nor should it detract in any way from what ended up being a pretty special end to the season.

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Intro
03:05 - Baylor Schedules Samford for 2025
07:24 - LSU 44, Baylor 31: 50,000 foot view
15:14 - Pregame Report - Missing Players
22:07 - Flexion Points
33:13 - Controversy on Ashtyn Hawkins' TD
40:10 - 4th-and-1
42:38 - The Punt Return that Wasn't
44:34 - Baylor Moved the Ball, Just Didn't Execute
54:04 - CFP Recapping
1:03:58 - Big 12 Bowls
1:06:49 - MBB Minute
1:12:31 - Outro

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Baylor Roasts Utah 81-56

Michael Nichols — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:17:01 +0000

Impact Players

Norchad Omier is, quite simply, always himself. A 15/14 double-double on 7 shot attempts is something that only he can do on this Baylor team, and this is the seventh time he’s done it. He loves to play into the physicality of the game with his size and strength. His only misses today were from three, where he missed his first two attempts before hitting his third. That makes him 4-17 from three this season, a point of growth as he aspires to play at the next level.

VJ Edgecombe (19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 6-10 FG) was everywhere on the floor. Even when he didn’t get the rebound, he was tipping out of Utah’s hands to keep the action live. He was reaching in and poking balls away and disrupting ball-handlers. He, once again, soared through the air for a massive slam (see below). While he hasn’t yet shown the ability to take the ball and takeover a game, Edgecombe is clearly someone who will impact any game he plays in any way he can.

Oh My Moments

What’s more impressive, Omier running the break or the Edgecombe flush?

When Was the Game Over?

With one minute left in the first half and Baylor up 14, Jeremy Roach (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals) knocked down a pair of back-to-back threes: the first a gorgeous step-back, the other a nice pass back from Josh Ojianwuna (6 points, 6 rebounds) at the elbow. With a 20-point deficit and the vaunted, sharpshooting Madsen twins going a meager 3-12 from three on the day, Utah simply didn’t have the firepower to claw back into the game. From there, the second half was a cake walk.

The 11-0 start contributed a lot to the momentum of the game. And while Baylor sports a top 10 offense, it was the defense that really took the game over. Utah shot 31.8% from the floor and had an even assist-to-turnover ratio at 17 apiece, despite leading the country in assists (over 21 per game) and assist rate coming in. The Bears were aggressive jumping lanes and poking at the ball, never letting Utah’s scorers get comfortable.

Quote of the Night

Notables

Rob Wright (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) with another great game as the sixth man
Jalen Celestine (5 points, 5 rebounds) tweaked his ankle late. Hopefully his okay but had to go to the locker room before the game ended
Jayden Nunn was +23 despite going 2-10 for 6 points and not hitting a three till the 12-minute mark in the game
No Bear had to play more than 30 minutes, so hopefully some fresh legs for Ames on Saturday

PODCAST: Texas Bowl Preview, CFP Recap, MEGAPICKS

Peter Pope — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 19:02:14 +0000

We hope you’ve had a very Merry Christmas. We were originally going to get this episode out on Thursday morning, but holiday plans conspired against us, and it’s a day late. Fortunately, most of the content in the episode remains current! Save the very first of our MEGAPICKS. That’s some good news.

I won’t mince any further words, but get you straight to the content. We hope you enjoy this, the last episode of Podcast Del Oso in 2024. Also, stick around to the very end of the episode for some extra fun with numbers.

Show Notes

00:00 - Intro
03:12 - CFP Recap
16:34 - Basketball NYE Plug
19:34 - LSU Preview: The Tigers at a Glance
23:55 - LSU's Offense vs. Baylor's Defense
42:53 - Baylor's Offense vs. LSU's Defense
53:27 - M E G A P I C K S
1:12:14 - Outro

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PODCAST: Coaches, Bowls, Playoffs, Portals

Peter Pope — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:25:26 +0000

If you’ve been listening to PodcastDelOso for a while, you’ll know that back when we were still OurDailyPodcast we had something of a curse that followed the podcast around. No, I’m not talking about the curse of the Basketpod… I’m talking about the News Drop Curse. Any time we’d record an episode where there was news potentially on the horizon, invariably it would drop in the time it took me to edit the show and get it uploaded.

Well, it happened again.

You’ll hear us talk about the Transfer Portal on this episode of PDO, and how Baylor has yet to receive any commitments from players in the Portal. Of course, as I was wrapping up editing of the show on Friday morning, Baylor received its first portal commitment in Samu Taumanupepe, the Nose Tackle from Texas A&M. Tamanupepe will have three years to play, and he’s a big boy. We’ll definitely talk about him on next week’s show. And likely others, because I have a feeling that Baylor isn’t done yet, and we’ll see more commitments over the weekend.

So, our details on those commitments will have to wait until next week’s show. Until then, enjoy this smorgasbord of an episode!

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Bill Belichick and other coaches!
15:47 - Baylor to the Texas Bowl against LSU
25:14 - The Big 12 in Bowls
30:06 - College Football Playoff Talk
49:48 - Transfer Portal Season
1:03:01 - Outro

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JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION ON DISCORD!

Baylor Baptizes Abilene Christian 88-57

Michael Nichols — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 03:32:46 +0000

Impact Players

VJ Edgecombe (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block) was a menace in his return from a hamstring injury. His offense was the usual smooth scoring he gets in the flow of the game. His defense was more assertive. His 4 steals and 1 block lead the game. He was a major disruptor, particularly in a stretch where ACU was 1 for 10 from the floor and had scored more free throws (7) than field goals (6).

Jayden Nunn (18 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asst) was also a big part of Baylor’s big night. With Jeremy Roach out (concussion), Nunn was the steadying force offensively. Whenever things got bogged down, he took the ball into the paint or managed to hit the late-clock three.

Oh My Moment

Social media let me down, but when I tell you the Edgecombe blocked a three near the top of the arc, then ran down the floor to pick up the ball and yam it, I’m confident you can imagine what that was like.

Oh, and a guy made a half court shot in one of the timeout promotional contests!

When Was the Game Over?

Baylor’s 46-22 lead at halftime was just half a point under the -22.5 point spread for the entire game. The real offensive torrent came with 10:30 in the first half when the Bears scored on 7 of its next 10 possessions to balloon a 24-13 lead into 36-16. That was when Edgecombe was at his most disruptive and Langston Love (10 points, 4-9 FG), who looks better and better each game, hit a pair of threes.

Hitting the first 10 shots of the game is a pretty good way to start, too.

Quote of the Night

Brice Cherry: “Josh, I noticed in the game notes that you actually lead the team in dunks, just a little bit over VJ. Is that a little competition between y’all over the course of the year?”

Josh Ojianwuna: “It’s not a competition for me…VJ’s a great dunker. On the fast break, every time I’m celebrating for him, because that’s what the fans come to see.”

Notables

I love quirky lineups. With 1:34 left in the first half, Drew put out Wright-Nunn-Edgecombe-Love-Omier. That lineup scored 2 of 3 offensive possessions, had 2 stops (one was a forced turnover), and closed +4. Not a bad time to try out a small lineup where Love gets some minutes at the four.
The first play of the game, Robert Wright (8 pts, 2 rebs, 4 asts) lobbed for Norchad Omier (15 pts, 6 rebs, 7-7 FG), creating out of the high pick and roll. That kind of shot creation is exactly why the freshman (who has a top 100 assist rate of 32%) got the start in place of Roach and will be a keystone in the rotation.
Jalen Celestine (8 pts, 5 rebs, 3-4 FG) had Baylor’s first put back basket, shocking given the presence of Omier and Ojianwuna on the team. Baylor had had just 1 offensive rebound to that point in the game. Related, the Bears had shot 77% from the floor to that point (18 minutes of play!).
Love had some throw back bully ball drives where he, quite simply, drove through his defender for a layup. Nice to see that again.
Josh Ojianwuna (13 pts, 8 rebs) is offensively limited, but one way he makes a meaningful impact is when he seals his defender in the paint to make a driving lane for others, as he did for a huge Edgecombe two-handed slam.

Baylor Scouting Report (MBB): Abilene Christian Wildcats

Jed Johnston — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Matchup: No. 26 Baylor Bears (5-3) v. Abilene Christian Wildcats (6-3)

Time: Monday, December 9, 2024, @ 7:00 PM CT

Place: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas

Where to Watch: CBSSN

Big Picture

The Bears enter this game after coming up short against UConn. Baylor now has 3 losses before Christmas for the first time since 2018. To be fair, the Preseason Top 4 teams in the country have combined for 10 losses already (6 of those being to unranked teams). The Bears will be looking to get back on track and build momentum heading into the holidays and Big 12 play.

The Wildcats have won back-to-back games. Their best wins this season have come against Texas State and New Mexico State. Their losses have come against Middle Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, and Montana State.

ACU is coming off back-to-back losing campaigns. They’ll be looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 when the Wildcats knocked out the 3-seed Longhorns in the First Round.

Wildcats’ Style

The Wildcats play at a slow pace (32nd percentile nationally).
Abilene Christian takes very few 3-point shots (only 27% of their shot attempts are from deep).

Wildcats’ Strengths

Getting to the free throw line. The Wildcats rank 4th nationally in FT Attempt Rate.
Takeaways. ACU ranks 27th nationally in steals per game this season.

Wildcats’ Weaknesses

Defensive Rebounding. Abilene Christian’s opponents this season are in the 99th percentile nationally in second-chance points.
Fouling. The Wildcats are getting called for more than 21 fouls per game this season (3rd percentile nationally).

Players to Watch

Leonardo Bettiol (Forward, No. 3, Junior, 6’8” 210 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (9 games): 15.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.1 APG on 62/25/79 splits. The Italian native is the team’s leading scorer this season. Given the Wildcats’ reluctance to shoot from the outside, having a physical low-post scorer like him is invaluable.

Quion Williams (Guard, No. 5, Junior, 6’4” 200 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (8 games): 14.1 PPG 5.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.0 SPG on 51/18/64 splits. The Oklahoma State transfer is off to a strong start with his new team, leading the Wildcats in assists and rebounding.

Hunter-Jack Madden (Guard, No. 21, Senior, 6’1” 180 lbs.): Last 2 Seasons’ Stats: 11.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.1 SPG on 39/39/83 splits. The Australian native is the team’s 3P specialist, accounting for nearly 35% of the team’s 3P attempts this season.

Predictions

Key(s) to the Game

Crash the Boards. Dominating the rebounding margin should allow Baylor a larger margin for error.
Stay out of foul trouble. In addition to injuries, fouling limited the playing time of several key contributors against UConn and the Bears need to improve in that area..

Player of the Game: Robert Wright III (Baylor): If you haven’t already, it is time to buy into all of the hype generated by this freshman guard through the first 8 games. He is leading the Bears in assists and is 2nd on the team in scoring, despite not having started a single game yet. If injuries keep piling up, Wright’s production should only increase.

Final Score: Baylor wins 85 - 67. The Bears will use this opportunity to bounce back after their disappointing trip to Connecticut in what should be the first of at least 3 straight wins heading into conference play. The final score may not be as lopsided as the team’s earlier buy-games, because ACU is likely going to limit the total number of possessions in the game and also because Baylor is a pretty banged-up team right now. Still, it’ll be nice to get back into the win column (knocks on wood). Sic em!

Baylor Football Headed to Houston

Matt Wilson — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 19:49:39 +0000

Per announcement from @TexasBowl on Twitter, Baylor has accepted an invite to the Kinder’s Texas Bowl in Houston. The game will be played on December 31st, 2024 at 2:30pm

As of 1:45pm CST on Sunday, Baylor’s opponent is not known. We will keep you posted!

PODCAST: National Signing Day Recap with Grayson Grundhoefer

Peter Pope — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:00:31 +0000

First: Apologies for the lack of a show notes article on the Kansas Recap podcast. It’s available on all the major podcast platforms, and if you haven’t listened, you should! It’s a good time. But we’re not here to talk about the past. We’re here to talk about the future.

Welcome Back Grayson Grundhoefer

Grayson Grundhoefer is back. He last made an appearance back towards the end of July to talk about the impressive run of success that Baylor had in recruiting during the month. The success continued after that show, with the Bears pulling down Kaleb Burns and others before it was all said and done. Even then we wondered whether Baylor would be able to hold onto this class, given the uncertain status of our coaching staff. At the midpoint of that season, the staff’s and, by extension, the recruiting class’s future looked very much in doubt. Six games and six wins later, Baylor inked its entire 2025 recruiting class. Between that unprecedented run and National Signing Day, the Bears lost only one commit.

It’s impressive enough that the Baylor recruiting staff put together the best recruiting class that the program has seen in seven or more years… but what’s more impressive is that the bulk of the work was done coming off a 3-9 season, at a time where the staff’s future was very much uncertain and the vibes surrounding the program were not exactly at their pinnacle. But the staff was undeterred and sold recruits on the direction of Baylor football, then went out and proved it in 2024, demonstrating that what’s happening at Baylor is something special.

We’re thrilled to have Grayson back on the show to talk about this amazing run as a bookend to the 2025 recruiting coverage on PDO. If you haven’t followed, Grayson co-hosts the Inside Baylor Sports podcast with Colt Barber, a daily podcast co-produced by SicEm365 and Baylor. Episodes range from 25 minutes to an hour, and the content that they’ve put together is fantastic. And, of course, you can catch his in-depth recruiting coverage on SicEm365.com, which you absolutely should do.

One other thing. Grayson brings it back up, and I said I’d link to it. Here’s the link to ODB’s coverage of the 2020 National Signing Day Release, aka The Puppets. Even five years later, debate still rages about these things. Some hate them. I contend they were marketing genius, because love them or hate them, you remember them. And everyone else does, too.

Now to the show.

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Intro & Recruiting Class Overview
13:47 - Grayson's Class Tiers
14:26 - Kamauryn Morgan (EDGE - South Oak Cliff)
24:05 - Kaleb Burns (LB - Cy Falls)
32:09 - Caden Knighten (RB - Pauls Valley, OK)
38:46 - Tier 2: Michael Turner (RB), Taz Williams (WR), Edward Griffin (QB)
46:48 - Tier 3
54:06 - Rest of the Class - Highlights
1:06:45 - Portal Strategy
1:18:34 - Championship Picks of the Week
1:34:53 - Outro

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2025 Baylor Signing Day Recap

Brian Horn — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 22:29:52 +0000

One of my most favorite days of the year has finally come: Signing Day. Baylor will be bringing in (as of Tuesday evening) 21 new Bears that have them sitting 3rd in the Big XII recruiting rankings and 34th nationally overall. As a whole, this class is incredible for Baylor as they bring in some awesome talent.

I think every single person in this glass does something well and can contribute to Baylor. Each newcomer has put something ton film that stands out from someone else in this class. So I will say again, this class was extremely tough for me to rank.

So let’s dive into it as we look at what could be Baylor’s highest ranked class since 2018.

21. Rhett Armstrong (K) - Monument, CO

He’s a kicker that brings some actual excitement with him.

Armstrong holds the record for most kick points in the state of Colorado and has made a 61-yard field goal.

Having yet another kicking cannon on the roster would be massive. He was also a QB on his HS team so the possibility of some fakes is absolutely there.

20. Matthew Parker (OL) - Jackson, MS

The only reason he’s this low is that there is just not a lot of film on him on his HUDL at

this moment. But I hope you like pancakes, becuase his film is STACKED witht them.

19. Brody Wilhelm (TE) - Austin, TX

Watching what this offense has done with Trigg has me excited for any TEs this staff

hand picks to fit the role. Listed at 6’5”, there’s plenty of time to hang some meat on him and

make him a matchup nightmare. He’s also shown the ability to line up wide and cause

headaches to corners that can’t match his size.

18. Jackson Blackwell (DL) - Lorena, TX

Having Blackwell this low could very easily come back to bite me… and I hope it does. When he gets his motor going, Jackson is so hard to stop from getting in the backfield. If he keeps his speed as he bulks up, he will be a force to reckoned with.

17. Harrison Cluff (OL) - Columbia, MS

Wanna see a dead body? Harrison has a 16-minute tape on HUDL that’s full of them. I’m not sure if roots will take or not in turf, but Harrison is still going to try to garden there while he plants D line and linebackers.

16. Chase Collier (WR) - Jacksonville, FL

Chase is going to be your do it all WR of this very large group of receivers in this class.

He’s going to be used quite a bit to get short yardage chunks and first downs but he has the

ability to stretch the field when defenses are sleeping on him. Reminds me a lot of Jay Lee from

years ago.

15. Leo Almanza (DB) - Trophy Club, TX

Leo is unbelievably athletic and has really made a name for himself as a WR for his high school team, but it is at corner where he will shine as a Bear. What he does with the ball in his hands is great, he’s just going to have to work a little harder now to show that off to the crowd.

14. Jacorey Watson (WR) - Pearland, TX

Jacorey will likely make me look very foolish putting him in the middle of the pack when he’s ranked higher, but it comes down to not a lot of film out at the moment and playing QB some as well. You have to go back two years where he shows off his WR skills and they are awesome. Let him settle in and really focus on one position and he will shine.

13. Christopher Johnson (DL) - Rosharon, TX

This man is a bully and will abuse some O linemen. His film makes people look silly.

Unfortunately, only his junior film is available so I am going based off of that. Assuming his senior film is the same or even more dominant, then that means this spot is entirely too low for him.

12. Bo Onu (S) - Carrolton, TX

I could put the same word in every single description going forward for any of the guys playing on the defensive side of the ball and it is the perfect description: Chaos. Bo has been great at forcing turnovers as a junior, while, as a senior, has stepped up in stopping the run more.

11. Trent Spence (LB) - Spring, TX

I know we are all a little sad to see Matt Jones leave, but have you ever stopped and considered maybe another Matt Jones but as an incoming freshman? Their film is very similar for each of them coming out of high school and Trent is a blitzing nightmare. Did I mention chaos?

10. Ke’Breion Winston (LB) - Lancaster, TX

Chaos. Had to get that out of the way. This defense looks to take a page out of Remember the Titans: “YOU BLITZ. ALL. NIGHT!”

Midseason Highlights

www.hudl.com/v/2QWMWZ

Winston does an incredible job in his blitz game and he flies to the ball. He’s only been committed for a few days, but he is a bright spot in this class and this defense as we enter the top 10.

9. Colin Peacock (ATH) - Gunter, TX

I had trouble figuring out where to put Colin on this list, and I think Baylor may have trouble figuring out where to put Colin on the field, because he does a lot of things extremely well.

Senior Season

www.hudl.com/v/2QcNfB

First and foremost, his acceleration is top tier. That alone would make him work well on defense as a linebacker or STAR/safety. However, I don’t really want to take the ball out of his hands either because of what he shows in his film when he has it. This is very similar to Dawson Pendergrass and his senior film when it was rumored that Baylor may bring him in on thedefensive side of the ball.

I’m glad Baylor has him, and I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision on where to stick him.

8. Ashton Jones (WR) - Pearland, TX

Likely the most improved on this list in my eyes. Ashton has become and will be a redzone freakshow when he steps on the field. 6’4” with great hands is hard to defend against when he can high point the ball from the stratosphere. Ashton can also be a versatile deep threat too.

2025 Ashton Jones- Senior Year Tape

www.hudl.com/v/2QqJgE

7. Taz Williams (WR) - Red Oak, TX

The recruiting leader of this class and it isn’t even close. On top of that, he is likely the most all around receiver that Baylor is bringing in where his route running sets him apart from the rest. An injury is the only thing preventing him from being higher on this list.

Taz Williams Jr. Junior Szn

www.hudl.com/v/2LkSHf

6. Demetrius Brisbon (ATH) - Tyler, TX

Another stellar athlete that Baylor will be bringing in. He made some clutch plays at corner this year but again, it will be difficult to move him to defense and take the ball out of his hands. WR is the most obvious spot, but with him being more of a running quarterback in high school, I can see him possibly staying in the backfield.

Senior Year

www.hudl.com/v/2PsujZ

Note: Any of the guys in the top 5 have a valid case to be number one.

5. Edward Griffin (QB) - Coppell, TX

If you’ve followed me on X or in the Discord, then you know my thoughts on how good

Edward is and what he brings to the table. His running ability takes him to the next level at QB.

Junior Full Season Highlights

www.hudl.com/v/2Mee9h

He has also learned to use his legs to his advantage, taking off full sprint to the LoS and then running parallel at the last second, drawing defenders up and leaving his receivers open deep.

He could very easily push for a starter spot in two years after Sawyer leaves.

4. Caden Knighten (RB) - Pauls Valley, OK

Baylor is likely bringing in the best running back duo in the Big XII and possibly the nation. Caden is a beast, a true downhill runner. He is just shifty enough to make a man miss, but his goal is north south. He sees the hole and he hits it and then it’s off to the races.

3. Kaleb Burns (LB) - Cypress, TX

“Athletic freak” is putting it mildly. Arguably, the recruit most in the spotlight this recruiting cycle, he stays in the spotlight on the field too. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time whether it’s forcing a turnover or making a play in the backfield. He may not be my number one, but he is certainly Baylor’s Crown Jewel for this class.

Senior Season Lights

www.hudl.com/v/2QwD3N

2. Michael Turner (RB) - North Richland Hills, TX

The other piece of the running back duo. Turner has all the best qualities of a running back and he excels at them all.

Junior Year

www.hudl.com/v/2Mf54W

All his runs exhibit one stand out factor: Power. He constantlyputs people on their backs by lowering a shoulder or a strong stiff arm. An injury is likely what is keeping him from being #1.

1. Kamauryn Morgan (DE) - Dallas, TX

He’s my number one. He’s been number one. He never moved from number one.

Kamauryn Morgan Highlights

www.hudl.com/v/2QJWcv

Everything that I have said about any other defensive commit in this class, Kam has it. He is fast, smart, and will light you up in the backfield. Paired with the LB corps of this class and offenses are in for a really bad time.

Baylor Scouting Report (MBB): UConn Huskies

Jed Johnston — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:00:52 +0000

Matchup: No. 15 Baylor Bears (5-2) @ No. 25 UConn Huskies (5-3)

Time: Tuesday, December 4, 2024 @ 5:30 PM CT

Place: Gampel Pavillion, Storrs, Connecticut

Where to Watch: FS1

Big Picture

The early part of the season has had its highs and lows for the Bears who have dominated the cupcakes on their schedule and split their contests against higher quality opponents. Baylor enters this game after demolishing New Orleans last week, just before Thanksgiving.

While Feast Week was something of a mixed bag for Baylor (featuring a glorious 18-point comeback win on a buzzer-beater in double overtime and also a humbling 15-point loss to Tennessee), it was an outright disaster for UConn who went to Maui as the AP No. 2 team in the nation and after losing to three unranked opponents and finishing 8th out of 8 teams in that event, are now considered by many to be undeserving of a place in the Top 25. This game represents a huge get-right opportunity for the Huskies. For Baylor, this game may not seem as daunting as it did a week or 2 ago.

UConn has won back-to-back national titles and had high hopes of contending for a third straight title before stumbling in Hawaii last week. They need to get back on track in the worst of ways.

Huskies’ Style

UConn plays at a very slow pace (25th percentile nationally).
The Huskies take a ton of three-pointers (93rd percentile nationally in 3PA Rate) and shots in the paint and at the rim (49% of their shots come from these 2 areas).
UConn’s offense grades much better than their defense so far. KenPom ranks them 7th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (84th on defense).
Tarleton’s defense primarily uses man-to-man.

Huskies’ Strengths

Ball movement. The Huskies are averaging nearly 21 assists per game which ranks 2nd nationally.
Rim protection. UConn is averaging 7.4 blocks per game this season which ranks 2nd nationally.

Huskies’ Weaknesses

Fouls. The Huskies are getting called for nearly 20 fouls per game (ranks 310th nationally).
No freebies. Not only does UConn commit a lot of fouls, they also struggle getting to the charity stripe (their FT Attempt Rate is in the 33rd percentile nationally).

Players to Watch

Hassan Diarra (Guard, No. 10, Super Senior, 6’2” 200 lbs.): This Season’s Stats as a Starter (last 3 games): 9.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, and 1.7 SPG on 59/63/67 splits. The native of Queens is in his 5th collegiate season and third with the Huskies (he spent his first 2 seasons with Texas A&M). Last season, Diarra appeared in 40 games for the national champions. Over the last few games, Diarra has moved into the starting lineup.

Solo Ball (Guard, No. 1, Sophomore, 6’3” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (8 games): 12.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 1.9 APG on 51/46/67 splits. The Virginia native is an off-ball guard who is 2nd on the team in scoring and 3P shooting.

Liam McNeeley (Forward, No. 30, Freshman, 6’7” 210 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (8 games): 12.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.9 APG on 41/35/80 splits. The Texas native is a potential one-and-done guy. He is a three-level scorer and above-average defender. In the absence of Karaban, expect much of UConn’s offense to flow through McNeeley. It is worth noting though, that McNeeley has been playing through a hip injury recently.

Samson Johnson (Center, No. 35, Senior, 6’10” 230 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (8 games): 6.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 80/NA/67 splits. The Togo native has started every game this season for UConn. He is a poor rebounder for his size and doesn’t contribute much offensively. Still, his shot blocking ability make him a valuable part of the Huskies’ starting lineup.

Tarris Reed, Jr. (Center, No. 5, Junior, 6’10” 260 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (8 games): 11.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.5 BPG on 77/NA/70 splits. The Michigan transfer serves as the backup big. He is, of the team’s 2 primary big men, the far better scorer and rebounder. He lacks some of the quickness of Johnson and isn’t as effective defensively, but the pair make an effective one-two punch down low.

Note: Alex Karaban, arguably the team’s best player, will be unavailable due to injury.

Predictions

Key(s) to the Game

Weather the storm. This will be as hostile of an environment as Baylor will face all season. It is critical for Baylor to not let the crowd and a potential hot start from UConn spiral and turn into a big deficit.
Drive the ball to the rim. This is a team that fouls a lot and is playing shorthanded. I’d also love to see Dan Hurley erupt and give us some technical foul free throws if his squad gets called for fouls early and often.

Player of the Game: Jeremy Roach (Baylor) - I think UConn’s frontcourt will cause Omier some headaches and with Edgecombe either not available or not at 100%, Roach and Nunn will need to step up. I expect to see the version of Roach that lifted the Bears over St. John’s in the Bahamas to make another appearance tonight in Connecticut.

Final Score: Baylor wins 81 - 80. Yes, Baylor is playing the two-time defending national champs on the road. Yes, it will be an incredibly hostile environment. Yes, Dan Hurley and his team are going to be fired up and focused for this game. Yes, Baylor’s performances against Gonzaga and Tennessee are cause for concern. Yes, V.J. Edgecombe’s injury situation is scary. But c’mon, I can’t pick against my own team against a squad that lost to Dayton by 18 points last week. This one will come down to the wire (much like the St. John’s game), and we are the more battle-tested team (they still haven’t faced a ranked opponent this season, let alone beat one). Sic em!

PODCAST: Previewing Baylor's Matchup with Kansas

Peter Pope — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:16:10 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

We’re thankful for you, dear listener. It was more than a little scary making the jump from Our Daily Bears to The Oso, from ODP to PDO. We didn’t know whether people would seamlessly make the jump with us even though all we did was change the name of the podcast on the hosting platform, which should have kept podcast subscriptions intact. For the most part, that turned out to be the case. I’m extremely thankful for that.

I’m continually thankful for the words of support and encouragement that y’all have given over the years, but especially this season. Podcasting through the team’s dry spells can be an exhausting and deflating affair, but I deeply appreciate those that stuck with us. Having gone through those tough times makes the good times, like the back half of this season, all the more fun. And honestly, this season may have been the most fun to cover as a podcaster.

I’m also extremely thankful for my fellow host, Fank. Even before he agreed to step in and become a regular on the show back in 2016 or so, Fank is the only other person that’s appeared in every season we’ve done of the podcast. When I was lost and had no idea what I was going to do, Fank agreed to step in and bring his unique blend of hilarity and knowledge to the show. Over the years when I reached the point of burnout, Fank has always been there with an encouraging word and a nudge to just keep going a little longer. And I’ve never regretted listening to him. Not once. Thank you, my brother. We did that.

Okay. Let’s talk Kansas. I am excited/scared for this game.

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Intro
01:28 - Kansas vs. Baylor: General Info
10:15 - Snapshot of the Kansas Jayhawks
15:02 - Kansas' Offense: Very, Very Good
35:34 - Kansas' Defense: Also Solid
50:19 - Picks of the Week
1:02:04 - Outro: Happy Thanksgiving!

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PODCAST: Recapping Baylor's Win over Houston

Peter Pope — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:12:32 +0000

It may not have been the prettiest win, but there are still some significant things to take away from the Bears’ 20-10 win over the Houston Cougars on Saturday. Maybe most notable is the fact that the Bears keep finding ways to win games. Before, the offense was getting chunks and dominating games to cover for a somewhat lackluster defense. Against Houston, though, it was the offense that sputtered and the defense stepped up to propel the Bears to victory. The Bears forced 4 turnovers on defense and special teams to seal the victory and keep their win streak intact, which now stretches to five games.

It’s a good time to be a Baylor Bear. The team has won seven games, something few (if any) of us foresaw when the team was 2-4 at the midway point of the season.

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Intro
01:41 - Quick MBB Hitter
08:46 - Peter's Visit to TDECU Stadium
14:51 - Baylor 20, Houston 10: 50,000 foot view
20:02 - Defensive Performance
37:56 - Offense Inconsistent
56:52 - Special Teams
1:03:15 - Chaos in the Big 12
1:14:25 - Outro

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PODCAST: Previewing the Houston Cougars

Peter Pope — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:13:03 +0000

This has been a Week. I wasn’t able to get a show notes post up for the podcast after Baylor’s big win over West Virginia in Morgantown, their first ever. This one will be truncated just because of time. But, I promised a graphic, so I give you a graphic. Take a look at this, courtesy of gameonpaper.com:

That’s not really a pretty thing. For context: the farther out each point on the graph and the bigger the area, the better your offense is considered. This is Houston’s offense.

Anyway, Sic ‘em Bears.

What We’re Talking About

00:00 - Intro
03:17 - MBB Talk
08:18 - Baylor vs. Houston Preview
16:03 - Houston's Offense
36:25 - Houston's Defense
52:04 - Big 12 "Contenders"
54:57 - Picks of the Week
1:10:26 - Outro

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Baylor Scouting Report (MBB): St. John's Red Storm

Jed Johnston — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Matchup: No. 13 Baylor Bears (3-1) v. No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm (4-0)

Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, @ 6:00 PM CT

Place: Baha Mar Convention Center, Nassau, Bahamas

Where to Watch: CBSSN

Big Picture

Following their dismal season opener against Gonzaga, the Bears have now won three consecutive games, including knocking off a ranked Arkansas team and then scoring 100+ points in back-to-back games for the first time in 35 years. Baylor now finds themselves in the Caribbean, competing in the Baha Mar Hoops - Bahamas Championship.

St. John’s comes into this game undefeated with their average margin of victory being over 22 points. Of course, they haven’t played a single game away from home and their toughest opponent thus far has been New Mexico (ranked 57th nationally in KenPom). This game represents their first true test.

The Red Storm is now in the 2nd season of the Rick Pitino era and is coming off a 20-win season (their first since 2019). They’ll be looking to make it back to the Big Dance for the first time since 2019 (when Chris Mullin was the coach).

Storm’s Style

Expect the Storm to play fast. More than 26% of their points this season come in transition (98th percentile nationally).
St. John’s doesn’t take many three-pointers. Only 35% of their field goal attempts have been from beyond the arc this season (26th percentile nationally). They have been excellent on mid-range shots so far (converting 44% of those attempts, the national average FG% on mid-range shots is 35%).
The Storm’s easy early schedule has led to them having elite ratings on both ends of the floor. They appear to be slightly better defensively than offensively, but this a very balanced opponent.

Storm’s Strengths

Rim protection. St. John’s is in the 97th percentile nationally in Block Rate.
Offensive rebounding. The Storm is coming down with an offensive board on 39% of their missed shots (92nd percentile nationally).

Storm’s Weaknesses

Turnovers. The Storm is averaging 13.5 giveaways per game (37th percentile nationally).
Defensive Rebounding. For as good as St. John’s has been on the offensive glass, they’ve struggled rebounding on the other end. Their opponents are getting more than 20% of their points on second-chance opportunities (6th percentile nationally).

Players to Watch

Deivon Smith (Guard, No. 5, Super Senior, 6’0” 180 lbs.): Last 2 Seasons’ Stats (partially with Utah): 12.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.9 APG, and 1.3 SPG in 32 games played (24 starts; 29.6 MPG) on 46/39/67 splits. The veteran guard is on his 4th team in 5 collegiate seasons, having previously played for Utah, Georgia Tech, and Mississippi State. He is a do-it-all point guard. Smith has been excellent this season scoring in transition, setting up his teammates in the halfcourt, and coming up with takeaways defensively. The one thing he’s struggled with thus far is turnovers (he’s in the 21st percentile of players in Turnover Rate).

Kadary Richmond (Guard, No. 1, Super Senior, 6’5” 200 lbs.): Last 4 Seasons’ Stats (primarily with Seton Hall): 11.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.9 SPG in 98 games played (88 starts; 29.0 MPG) on 43/34/75 splits. The Brooklyn native is in his first season with the Storm after 3 seasons with Seton Hall (and a freshman year with Syracuse). He is a quality secondary ball handler and has been elite at grabbing offensive boards (he’s in the 98th percentile of players in Offensive Rebounds per Game). Like Smith, Richmond has turned it over a lot this season (he’s in the 5th percentile of players in Turnovers per Game).

Aaron Scott (Forward, No. 0, Senior, 6’7” 210 lbs.): Last 2 Seasons’ Stats (partially with North Texas): 10.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.2 BPG in 38 games played (37 starts; 29.2 MPG) on 43/36/79 splits. The Houston-area native spent his first 3 collegiate seasons with the Mean Green before arriving at St. John’s this season. He is a 3-and-D wing and has been very disruptive defensively without committing a ton of fouls. He has also been very effective scoring on fast break opportunities.

RJ Luis, Jr. (Forward, No. 12, Junior, 6’7” 220 lbs.): Career Stats (partially with UMass): 11.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG in 54 games played (23 starts; 22.1 MPG) on 44/28/75 splits. The Miami native has been the team’s best player this season. KenPom has him ranked 6th in their National Player of the Year rankings at this point. He is in the 98th percentile (or better) of players nationally in scoring per 40 minutes, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, and paint scoring. The only downside to his performance in the first part of the season is that he occasionally gets himself into foul trouble.

Zuby Ejiofor (Forward, No. 24, Junior, 6’9” 240 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 8.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.5 BPG on 46/33/63 splits. The Garland, Texas native is a former Kansas transfer. Ejiofor has been an excellent shot-blocker this season (he’s in the 98th percentile of players blocked shots). He has, like several of his teammates, struggled with turnovers in the early goings (9th percentile of players in Turnovers per Game).

Simeon Wilcher (Guard, No. 7, Sophomore, 6’4” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 11.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG on 59/30/88 splits. The New Jersey native is essentially the team’s sixth starter. Like several of his teammates, he is at his best in the open floor (almost half of his points this season have come in transition).

Brady Dunlap (Forward, No. 44, Sophomore, 6’7” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 10.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG on 67/57/100 splits. The California native is a long wing who can light it up from deep. He leads the team in 3PA Rate, 3P%, and (naturally) made three-pointers.

Predictions

Key(s) to the Game

Sprint back every time. Keeping St. John’s out of transition will be key to slowing down their offense.
Battle of the boards. Both teams could have a big day in terms of second-chance points. If the Bears will block out on defense and cash in on any offensive boards they’re able to get, that could go a long way in determining the winner of this contest.

Player of the Game: V.J. Edgecombe (Baylor) - If you don’t think the Bahamian star is going to dominate in what is effectively a homecoming game for him, I don’t know what to tell you.

Final Score: Baylor wins 83 - 76. Both teams come into this game hot. However, the Bears are battle-tested, having already played multiple ranked opponents away from home. That, combined with Baylor’s incredible talent and good coaching, should enable them to come out on top in yet another Top 25 showdown. This one will probably come down to the final few minutes, but give me the Bears. Sic em!

Baylor Bears Toy with Tarleton State Texas 104-41

Michael Nichols — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 03:54:27 +0000

Player of the Game

Jalen Celestine had his first breakout game for Baylor with 20 points on 4-7 from deep. His dead-eye shooting warps the defense and punishes even the slightest misstep when his defender steps in to contest one of Baylor’s driving guards. With how Baylor has to split the minutes of Norchad Omier and Josh Ojianwuna, Celestine’s minutes are really crucial.

VJ Edgecombe certainly came away with some highlights (see below), and the trio of Robert Wright III, Jayden Nunn, and Jeremy Roach combined for 37 points. They also had 17 assists to just 6 turnovers. Not bad from your guard trio.

Oh My Moment

Baylor — in man defense, no less — forced consecutive shot clock violations in the first half. Yeah, this isn’t Gonzaga or Alabama, but given where the defense was to start the season, it was good to see a locked in squad on that end.

Oh. Yeah. Probably this, too.

https://x.com/BaylorMBB/status/1858325957053944178

Or this.

When Was the Game Over?

Earrrrrrrllly. Baylor went on a 26-2 run in the first half to effectively slam the door on the a Tarleton team that was, well, short. Literally. For long stretches of this game, Tarleton played lineups that were all 6-3 and under. Facing a team as athletic and big as Baylor, that was never going to end well. They’re starting center (still only 6-6!?) fouled out just two minutes into the second half. Brutal.

But to be even meaner, Drew played the entire game with full-court, man-to-man pressure to the tune of 15 steals and 46 points off turnovers. Come on, Scott. Have a heart! Is it not enough that they’re little!?

Truly, though, this was a non-competitive game from the jump. Baylor’s talent was far superior, but you could also see the team gelling a bit more. Sure, there were still a handful of plays where it looked like some guys miscommunicated on one end or the other. For instance, Josh Ojianwuna and Edgecombe both took the same man on a switch, opening up a lane to the basket for Bubu Benjamin. Luckily, Ojianwuna was able to reach back in and poke the ball away for a steal and a fast break layup by Edgecombe. It’s not something you’d want to see against St. Johns on Thursday, but you like to see the two guys who made the mistake finishing the play with a couple of highlights.

If the man defense can be this physical and handsy in the coming games, then maybe this team has a chance to be respectable on that end.

Quote of the Night

Notables

15 steals + 15 threes + 22 assists is pretty nasty
Nunn hit the big 1K in total career points

Baylor ended the 27-8 run the last 8 minutes, and had a 26-2 run over ten minutes in the first half
Tarleton’s 41 points were the fewest allowed by Baylor since holding Villanova to 36 points in 2021 and effectively ending the Jay Wright era in Villanova.

Baylor Scouting Report (MBB): Tarleton State Texans

Jed Johnston — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Matchup: No. 8 Baylor Bears v. Tarleton State Texans

Time: Sunday, November 17, 2024, @ 7:00 PM CT

Place: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Big Picture

The Bears have now won back-to-back games after bludgeoning Sam Houston State in their home opener this week in a game where Baylor had SEVEN players score in double figures, including V.J. Edgecombe and Norchad Omier each of whom posted a double-double.

The Texans are still searching for their first win against a D-I opponent in the young season. They’re coming off a 31-point victory against Tabor (NAIA). Before that, Tarleton had lost their first 3 games by an average of over 27 points, including a 29-point drubbing by Sam Houston State.

Tarleton is coming off a 25-win campaign, their only winning season since joining Division I in 2020. They are coached by Billy Gillespie the former head coach at Kentucky, Texas A&M, UTEP, and Texas Tech (and was an assistant coach at Baylor under Harry Miller in the 90s).

Texans’ Style

Expect the Texans to play a lot of 4-guard lineups and try to turn up the tempo. They are in the 83rd percentile nationally in pace of play.
Tarleton takes a ton of mid-range shots. Over 30% of their shots come from this area (the D-I average is 11%). They rank 354th nationally in three-point attempts per game and get very few shots (less than 19%) at the rim.
The Texans are off to a horrifically slow start offensively. KenPom ranks them 306th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. Their defensive performance has only been marginally better.
Tarleton’s defense primarily uses man-to-man and will frequently press off made shots.

Texans’ Strengths

Getting to the free throw line. The Texans are in the 89th percentile nationally in FT Attempt Rate and are drawing an average of 21.3 personal fouls per game (84th percentile nationally).
Rim protection. Tarleton is averaging 4.3 blocks per game (72nd percentile nationally). Edgecombe and Omier will put those stats to the test.

Texans’ Weaknesses

Turnovers. Tarleton is averaging 21.5 turnovers per game (which ranks 354th out of 360 D-I teams). They are coughing up the ball on 26.6% of their offensive possessions.
Defensive Rebounding. The Texans have really struggled on the defensive glass, ranking 357th nationally in Defensive Rebound Rate. They are allowing an offensive rebound on over 43% of their opponents’ missed shots.

Players to Watch

Bubu Benjamin (Guard, No. 11, Sophomore, 6’7” 200 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 16.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.5 SPG on 50/25/79 splits. The Canadian native has been the team’s best player to start the season. He is elite in transition and is a great offensive rebounder (98th percentile nationally in offensive rebounds per game). He also plays a ridiculous amount of minutes. He is averaging 38.0 MPG the teams 3 games against D-I opponents.

Nick Krass (Guard, No. 21, Sophomore, 6’3” 200 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 7.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.3 SPG on 39/22/63 splits. The Oregon State transfer is a disruptive defender and is adept at drawing fouls (he is in the 93rd percentile nationally in fouls drawn per FGA).

Chris Mpaka (Forward, No. 23, Junior, 6’6” 230 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 10.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 2.3 BPG on 50/NA/59 splits. The Congo native is an undersized big man, but he plays extremely hard down low. He often has to front larger guys in the paint.

Caleb Evans (Guard, No. 15, Freshman, 6’4” 180 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (3 games): 8.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.3 APG on 59/50/65. The Houston native is the first player off the bench for Tarleton this season.

Matt Krass (Guard, No. 1, Freshman, 6’2” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (4 games): 7.8 PPG on 44/58/100 splits. The younger brother of starter, Nick Krass, Matt is a 3P specialist.

Predictions

Key(s) to the Game

Stay out of foul trouble. The charity stripe can be an equalizer in games where there is a big talent disparity. Don’t give them too many trips to the line and limit your starters’ playing time by getting into foul trouble.
Be patient and hunt good shots. If they Bears have good shot selection, they should blow Tarleton out of the water.

Player of the Game: Norchad Omier (Baylor) - The Miami transfer is a walking double-double and should be able to bully his way to plenty of high-percentage shots in this one. Add in some second-chance points and Omier could be poised for a big game.

Final Score: Baylor wins 101 - 64. If the Bears are even half as good in this one as they’ve been in the last couple of games, they should absolutely crush the Texans. This is Baylor’s final game before feast week when the team will travel to the Bahamas to take on St. John’s and either Tennessee or Virginia. Hopefully guys like Wright and Asemota get some extended minutes in this one. Sic em!

PODCAST: Previewing West Virginia

Peter Pope — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:32:10 +0000

Nothing special again this week. If you’re one of those making the move from Twitter/X to BlueSky, we don’t yet have a podcast presence on the platform, but that may change depending on if people want it or not. We’ll see. Both Fank and I are on it, though.

Show Notes

00:00 - Intro & Fank's Trip to Neyland
06:44 - Basketball Talk
14:31 - West Virginia Preview: Injury Report
16:30 - Dom Richardson No Longer With the Team
19:06 - WVU Injury Updates
21:30 - Garrett Greene's Impact on WVU's Offense
25:12 - WVU Overall & Offense
44:20 - WVU's Defense
59:00 - Picks of the Week
1:16:16 - Outro

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Men's Basketball Shoot Around

Michael Nichols — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:38:52 +0000

Let’s hop around the Bears first three games of the season and see what we can glean, shall we?

Midnight Murder in Spokane

If you had said the Bears were 2-1 to start the season, no one would have blinked an eye. “Oh yeah, starting with Gonzaga in Spokane and then Arkansas right after? No big to drop one of those.” But if you followed up with the fact that Baylor beat Sam Houston State by 37 and is still only +4 in total points on the season, that might have raised some eyebrows.

Certainly, the wails on Tuesday morning shortly after the close of the 101-63 loss to the Bulldogs had some merit. The sky wasn’t falling, but it was clear that the Zags were a cohesive team in a way Scott Drew’s reformed squad simply wasn’t that night, particularly on defense. Baylor played tentatively, giving Gonzaga the breathing room it needed to cut and pass the Bears to death. Star freshman VJ Edgecombe and top transfer Jeremy Roach both struggled from the floor (5-20 FG and 5 turnovers combined), and third year player Josh Ojianwuna doesn’t look to have advanced much at all over the previous two seasons. That left folks to wonder if the pieces maybe just weren’t there in the way people expected prior to the season.

Yet, a few bright spots shone through the darkness. First, the college basketball world got its first real glimpse of the athleticism and absolutely disrespectful attitude of Edgecombe in the open court.

You’ve seen it, but I doubt you’ll mind another couple of looks:

My personal favorite part of the clip is at the end, where Baylor freshman Robert Wright III grabs hold of his plentiful hair in a plaintiff cry for Joe Few’s immortal soul.

Speaking of Wright, he was the other real bright spot that night. He’s got such great poise with his dribble under the basket, and early on he looks like the only true point guard on the team.

Thus far he’s sporting a 14-4 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season and will absolutely be on the floor for some crucial moments as the season goes on.

Dallas Redemption

The Arkansas game was the bounce back the Bears wanted. Beating a top 20 team 72-67 ain’t bad, but the manner of the win just meant more.

Physicality.

Effort.

Edgecombe and Norchad Omier, in particular, will be the tone setters this season for Baylor’s hustle play. Omier got the first of his two double-doubles this season against Arkansas, often through the brutal work shown in the clip above. I’ll admit I’m a touch worried he can’t finish with his left hand, and his discipline defending in the zone is questionable when he’s not in the center, but he’s going to bury guys under the hoop all season. The more he’s able to focus his game there, the better it will be for Baylor.

In the offseason, Edgecombe had drawn Dwyane Wade comparisons from some corners. With defensive plays like these, it’s not hard to see why he brings the guard king of the chase down to mind:

Overall, Baylor showed against Arkansas that its defensive identify will rest in the 1-3-1 zone, while the offense will come primarily out of drive and kicks, particularly to Jayden Nunn, who has been a lights out 45% from deep through three games and seems to be the steadiest guard on the team so far. He’s confident in his shot, knows when to attack, and is the best defensive communicator on the floor at the top of the zone. It’s easy when making, “Imagine this cool likeup” lists to leave him off, but he might be the most essential man on the floor for the Bears right now.

No Problem to Report, Houston

Nunn’s essential qualities were really highlighted on Tuesday night in the home opener against Sam Houston State:

And Nunn’s impact spread over the rest of the team for this one. He’s an important release valve for guys like Edgecombe and Wright, and guys like Jalen Celestine need Nunn to draw a little attention to get open on the left wing for those dagger threes.

Sam Houston is one of those programs that’s just been killing it for the last decade. Even after a 37-point loss, they’re still just outside the KenPom top 100. And when 44% of your shots are from three, you’ve always got a chance to make it close. But Baylor managed to totally outpace the Bearkats from deep with 14-32 shooting over 10-28.

Of course, Baylor also just had dudes who could go out and make plays when the moment called:

In the end, Baylor’s athletic and talent advantage really overwhelmed Sam Houston. That’s sort of what you hope for in a game like this, and the Bears delivered that reassurance that some fans may have needed. This team needs more time to gel, but when the talent can click together, it’s going to be trouble for whoever’s on the other side.

Baylor vs. Sam Houston State Live Notes

Jacob Smith — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 03:26:43 +0000

Coming home from a road trip showcasing a “neutral” site game vs. No. 5 Gonzaga in Spokane and No. 16 Arkansas in Dallas, Baylor (1-1) will have an easier matchup vs. Sam Houston State (1-1). The Bearkats, 15.5 pt underdogs, are coming off a 16-point loss to unranked Nevada last Monday. Langston Love is not dressed, so we will have to wait at least one more week for his debut, but that does mean Baylor’s depth will have one more chance to get significant minutes and feel comfortable before the lineup becomes more clogged. Stay Tuned for updates every media timeout!

First Half

BOOM! That is one way to start a game. An ally-oop is given to Josh and the top blows off the student section. Norchad Omier is VERY good at basketball, and so is VJ Edgecombe. Omier already has 6 points; the man has the control of a guard but is ridiculously large. As I typed this he smothered an SHSU guard and got a block. VJ has had incredible awareness while knocking down a three-ball. Rob Wright attacked the lane before dishing the ball out to Roach, who knocked down a trio from the corner. SHSU Timeout, Bears lead 15-5 with 15:35 remaining in the first half. Jalen Celestine still looks very new and as if he’s not yet comfortable on the court. He hasn’t done anything wrong necessarily, but he has been unassertive on the boards and doesn’t have a feel for soft spots in the defense as I expected him to come into this year (he has now missed 2 open threes and allowed one by drifting off of his man). Rob Wright III is so so smooth. Pressured by an older and more athletic guard, Rob torched the defense by nailing a floater off of a jab step. Roach still has had a few boneheaded turnovers, but he has consistently facilitated beautiful offensive possessions. He continues to be the most composed offensive player. One concern so far, though Baylor leads by 17 as of now, is the Baylor Zone (mainly 1-3-1) is being picked apart at times. SHSU has rarely found themselves scrambling to find an open shot, but they also have not hit many of those good looks. Baylor is completely dominating the boards, as they should, but Josh Ojanwuna has not impressed. He has consistently failed to grab rebounds, and even when he does he can’t finish at the rim. Jayden Nunn is extremely good at this whole basketball thing, I’m not sure what more needs to be said about him. He is easily our best defender and might be the best shooter on the floor… he is breaking out. I’m still concerned with the defense: SHSU (aka Lamar Wilkerson) continues to find very open looks regardless if Baylor runs Box&1, 1-3-1, or man defense. They likely need some more chemistry and a feel for where their teammates will be on the floor. As the game progresses, it’s becoming more clear that Drew is experimenting tonight, he has run 5+ defenses without settling on one. I love our man defense tonight and I bet that Drew will use it when we are simply more athletic than whoever we play. END OF FIRST HALF, Bears lead 54-37.

2nd Half

It seems the beginning and end of each half is the Omier and Nunn show, and today’s program has not disappointed. Norchad has made a three, taken an and-one, and has controlled the paint even with Ojanwuna on the floor. I don’t know what Scott said at halftime, but it’s working. Hands are EVERYWHERE in the passing lanes and bodies are flying to the ball off of a miss (we ended up running box and 1, 2-2-1, 1-3-1, man, and a nice full-court press during the second half). I need Celestine and Ojanwuna to wake up… the duo has accounted for several turnovers and has no feel for the floor on O or D whatsoever, which is not ideal for your two tallest players. ROBERT WRIGHT, please don’t be a 1-and-done, he genuinely could go top 3 in the draft if he stayed here. He took a fastbreak down-court pass from VJ into a double team and drew an and-1 while fading away from the rim… truly insane. WHAT ON EARTH VJ EDGECOMBE YOU ARE NOT REAL!!! SPORTSCENTER TOP TEN PLAY FROM THE FRESHMAN. I fell out of my seat, just WOW.

Yet another ally-oop to VJ and this one is getting nasty, bears UP by 35. The Bears shifted into another gear this half, the ball movement on offense looks fantastic, and even after a miss, we continue to make 1 extra pass before finding a wide-open shooter. ASEMOTA sighting!!! The freshman finally got his opportunity and nailed a corner 3, assisted by VJ. Marino Dubravcic, Adegbola, and Hubbard have checked in, this one is over. Oh man this team is incredibly deep, Omar splashed a three from the corner and finished a NASTY and-1. Wouldn’t be surprised if that sequence earned him some more minutes. HUBBARD a bucket and the BEARS WIN, 104-67. Baylor moves to 2-1 after the thumping and will look to continue meshing against Tarleton State on Sunday night. The boys are so back. SIC’EM

Baylor Scouting Report (MBB): Sam Houston State Bearkats

Jed Johnston — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Matchup: No. 12 Baylor Bears (1-1) v. Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-1)

Time: Tuesday, November 12, 2024, @ 7:00 PM CT

Place: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Big Picture

This will be the Bears’ home opener as they’ll look to make it back-to-back wins after beating ranked Arkansas over the weekend.

The Bearkats are coached by Chris Mudge who is in his 15th with the program (and 2nd as head coach). Mudge was an assistant under Rick Barnes at Texas back when guys like Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge were there.

Sam Houston has had a winning record in 11 consecutive seasons including seven 20+ win seasons. However, the Bearkats haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2010. Their team is led by a three-pronged backcourt featuring a returning star, a Big XII transfer, and an incoming freshman. This season, they lost their opener to Nevada before blowing out Tarleton State over the weekend.

Kats’ Strengths

Three-point shooting. Through their first 2 games, Sam Houston is 24/51 (47%) from deep. That’s good for 12th nationally in 3P%.
Offensive rebounding. In the Bearkats’ first couple of games, they have come down with offensive boards on nearly 38% of their missed shots (83rd percentile nationally).

Kats’ Weaknesses

Turnovers. The Bearkats are turning the ball over on 17.5% of their offensive possessions (leading to 16 points off turnovers per game thus far).
Fouling. Sam Houston has been called for 24.5 fouls per game (7th percentile nationally), leading to 25 free throw attempts allowed per game.

Players to Watch

Marcus Boykin (Guard, No. 5, Senior, 6’1” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (2 games): 12.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 2.5 SPG on 57/25/73 splits. Boykin is an old-school, pass-first point guard. His coaching staff sometimes has to encourage him to be more aggressive in taking shots.

Dorian Finister (Guard, No. 2, Junior, 6’5” 190 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (2 games): 13.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.0 BPG on 45/57/80 splits. The Kansas State transfer never saw much of the court in his 2 seasons in Manhattan. He is fitting right in with his new team, leading the Bearkats in scoring and rebounding thus far.

Lamar Wilkerson (Guard, No. 3, Senior, 6’5” 210 lbs.): Last Season’s Stats: 13.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 31 games played (all starts; 29.7 MPG) on 43/35/83 splits. After earning All-CUSA honors last season, Wilkerson returns for a senior campaign in which he we will be relied upon heavily, especially on the offensive end.

Cameron Huefner (Forward, No. 25, Senior, 6’8” 230 lbs.): Last 2 Seasons’ Stats: 8.9 PPG and 3.0 RPG on 41/38/80 splits. The Australian native is a stretch four who helps with the team’s spacing. In SHSU’s last game, Huefner rolled his ankle in the 2nd half and I wouldn’t be surprised if he misses this matchup with Baylor.

Kalifa Sakho (Center, No. 34, Senior, 6’11” 240 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (2 games): 4.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 36/NA/33 splits. The Utah State transfer is the team’s starting big man. His statistical production has been underwhelming thus far, but if Huefner misses time, that could lead to increased opportunities for the French native.

Kian Scroggins (Forward, No. 40, Super Senior, 6’7” 240 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (2 games): 11.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG on 56/50/73 splits. He doesn’t have the same range as Huefner, but he’d be the logical choice to take Huefner’s starting spot if his teammate is forced to miss with injury. Scroggins has been a beast at getting to the FT line this season. He’s averaging 7.5 FTAs per game (96th percentile nationally).

Josiah Hammons (Guard, No. 57, Super Senior, 6’2” 190 lbs.): Last Season’s Stats (with Incarnate Word): 12.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG in 30 games played (23 starts; 29.5 MPG) on 37/36/83 splits. This Chicago native is a three-point specialist (nearly 90% of his shots this season are from beyond the arc).

Brennen Burns (Guard, No. 0, Super Senior, 5’10” 180 lbs.): This Season’s Stats (2 games): 6.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 6.5 APG on 67/100/100 splits. The Oklahoma native serves as the team’s backup point guard, taking over primary passing responsibilities when Boykin goes to the bench.

Predictions

Key(s) to the Game

Attack downhill. The Bearkats have sent their opponents to the charity stripe a lot through their first 2 games. Drawing contact, getting their starters into foul trouble, and getting to score with the clock stopped should be a recipe for success for the Bears.
Start fast. Letting a team like this hang around early could be dangerous for the Bears. They need to come out aggressive and keep their foot on the pedal throughout.

Player of the Game: V.J. Edgecombe (Baylor) - Edgecombe is off to a slow start as a shooter (he’s 5/23 from the field [22%] and 1/10 from deep). Still, his eye-popping athleticism has made the highlight reel more than once. Against a mid-major opponent, I expect V.J. to find his footing offensively and put someone on a poster.

Final Score: Baylor wins 91 - 73. Sam Houston State is a deceptively good opponent. Their three-point shooting ability could give them a chance to hang around throughout. Still, I expect the Bears to maintain a comfortable lead down the stretch, even if they don’t fully pull away. You don’t really think that we’re going to lose our home opener to a team that doesn’t even know how to spell their own name, do you? Sic em!