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Gameday Thread: No. 13 Baylor Takes On No. 11 Tennessee in Baha Mar Championship

November 22, 2024
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No. 13 Baylor (4-1) takes on No. 11 Tennessee (5-0) in the championship game of the Baha Mar Championship Friday, Nov. 22 at 8:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

KenPom Prediction: Tennessee 74, Baylor 71

Torvik Prediction: Tennessee 72, Baylor 70

Haslametrics: Tennessee 76, Baylor 73


Coaches

  • Tennessee: Rick Barnes (70) 811-415 (207-101 at Tennessee); 28 NCAAs; 9 Sweet 16s; 4 Elite 8s;  Final Four
  • Baylor: Scott Drew (54); 469-254 overall (439-243 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship
  • Head to Head: 19-9 Barnes (9-6 Drew in last 15)

Tennessee Starters

  • Guard: Zakai Zeigler (SR) 5-9 172 lbs; 13 ppg; 3 reb; 7 asst; 46% FG; 37% 3pt; 80% FT
  • Guard: Jamai Mashack (SR) 6-4 202 lbs; 8 ppg; 4 reb; 3 st; 47% FG; 40% 3pt; 78% FT
  • Guard: Chaz Lanier (SR) 6-5 207 lbs; 16 ppg; 47% FG; 50% 3pt; 83% FT
  • Forward: Igor Milicic (SR) 6-10 225 lbs; 14 ppg; 7 reb; 3 asst; 64% FG; 42% 3pt; 82% FT 
  • Forward: Felix Okpara (JR) 6-11 235 lbs; 8 ppg; 6 reb; 2 blks; 57% FG; 58% FT

Tennessee Bench

  • Guard: Jordan Gainey (SR) 6-4 190 lbs; 10 ppg; 4 reb; 2 st; 52% FG; 31% 3pt; 87% FT
  • Forward: Darlinstone Dunbar (SR) 6-6 220 lbs; 4 ppg; 3 reb; 67% FG

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Jeremy Roach (SR) 6-2 180 lbs; 14 ppg; 4 asst; 45% FG; 42% 3pt; 69% FT
  • Guard: Jayden Nunn (SR) 6-4 190 lbs; 13 ppg; 4 reb; 2 st; 47% FG; 47% 3pt; 57% FT
  • Guard: VJ Edgecombe (FR) 6-5 190 lbs; 11 ppg; 7 reb; 4 asst; 2 st; 34% FG; 23% 3pt; 71% FT
  • Forward: Norchad Omier (SR) 6-7 245 lbs; 15 ppg; 10 reb; 57% FG; 13% 3pt; 64% FT
  • Forward: Josh Ojianwuna (JR) 6-10 255 lbs; 7 ppg; 5 reb; 2 st; 80% FG; 68% FT

Baylor Bench

  • Guard: Langston Love (JR) 6-5 215 lbs; 11 ppg; 3 reb; 47% FG; 48% 3p; 78% FT (2023-24 stats)
  • Forward: Jalen Celestine (SR) 6-7 215 lbs; 10 ppg; 3 reb; 45% FG; 45% 3pt; 100% FT
  • Guard: Rob Wright (FR) 6-1 180 lbs; 12 ppg; 5 asst; 47% FG; 54% 3pt; 83% FT
Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: No. 13 Baylor Takes On No. 11 Tennessee in Baha Mar Championship

8,994 Views | 138 Replies | Last: 3 hrs ago by Crawfoso1973
Quinton
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Just a horribly coached basketball team right now . Barnes is absolutely schooling them. Tn is not all that good.
MidWestBear2010
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VJ is so lost on defense and is way too relaxed.
IowaBear
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Big yikes! Good teams don't get their asses kicked like this multiple times. Drew needs to significantly dial back the non con going forward
Johnny Bear
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We ain't coming back from 27 tonight. I hate losing to that ****** Barnes.
IowaBear
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5-6th place finish in the SEC. We're imo going to finish 6-8th. We have a favorable schedule which will fluff us a bit
ladybears4eva
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Does this team have no real scorer? Only Omier in the paint?

Maybe they need to run plays for omier…
vanillabryce
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Big12Fan2024 said:

I know we all want the old Langston, but I'm afraid it's not all rust. His injury was not as bad as EJ's knee, but I'll be surprised if we ever see him play at the level he previously did. He basically can't move laterally.


Agreed. He was not a quick explosive player before, and he's clearly hindered by an injury. If you can't move laterally, you can't play. It sucks because he had a lot of potential and would give this team needed size at guard.
IvanBear
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I get roasted last night because a lucky bucket, but now everyone agrees Drew is not coaching well today. Sorry this team has been the same all year.

Until Drew changes how he's recruiting this will repeat next year too, and bad news he's already forced us into the same recurring situation next year. Hopefully he tries to recruit all 5 positions from the portal not just 2 guards and centers.
vanillabryce
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MidWestBear2010 said:

VJ is so lost on defense and is way too relaxed.


He got beat back door and his man had practically scored before he noticed
Quinton
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It's a trademark the last several years to put our players in bad situations. Love wasn't going to do well in the first few games. Hasn't played real ball and recovering. He'll be fine but the defensive coaching probably can't be fixed.
ladybears4eva
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The offense looks bad…. We have no real center.

All perimeter players.
IvanBear
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It's time to ask were the assistant coach hires good?
IowaBear
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No… Drew HAS to get a defensive assistant on staff that knows what the **** he's doing
boognish_bear
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I had been hoping the Gonzaga game was some weird one off deal...but now it's looking like it was the canary in the coal mine
Quinton
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IvanBear said:

It's time to ask were the assistant coach hires good?


We've been saying they need a real tough defensive specialist on staff. Honestly the culture is a little soft. This has been a running issue among all the major Bu sports. The other stuff is nice but you're here to kill and win games first and foremost.

2022 injury plagued season took a lot out of the fire out of this program. Probably took something out of Drew too.
IowaBear
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Unfortunately this team is going to get its ass kicked on the regular this year. Will win some shootouts. But will have games like this where we get absolutely stomped.
Big12Fan2024
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Quinton said:

It's a trademark the last several years to put our players in bad situations. Love wasn't going to do well in the first few games. Hasn't played real ball and recovering. He'll be fine but the defensive coaching probably can't be fixed.
You're not gonna be fine when you can't move laterally with any efficiency whatsoever. I have no doubt he'll give 1,000% just like EJ did, but when you're body won't let you move then you can't move.
IowaBear
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I just don't understand not recruiting over Josh o in the portal. I also don't understand why there seems to be zero emphasis on defense. I admittedly missed almost the entire 1st half, does Drew seem pissed? Where the **** is the emotion
Quinton
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Big12Fan2024 said:

Quinton said:

It's a trademark the last several years to put our players in bad situations. Love wasn't going to do well in the first few games. Hasn't played real ball and recovering. He'll be fine but the defensive coaching probably can't be fixed.
You're not gonna be fine when you can't move laterally with any efficiency whatsoever. I have no doubt he'll give 1,000% just like EJ did, but when you're body won't let you move then you can't move.


His movement never came back after the acl. He's looked labored in his movement his whole career but still effective. He moves "heavy" and his lateral quickness was not there last year. I think he'll play into shape. This was a terrible two games to get him started.
Big12Fan2024
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IvanBear said:

It's time to ask were the assistant coach hires good?
We hired:

1) a high school recruiter
2) a guy whose defenses finished (in order from his first year to his last) #127, #169, #163, #293, #252, #271, #313, #332

3) two former players (1 who was at least an NBA assistant for several years)


In fairness you have to get time for a staff to come together and they are all new, so that can't be easy. But at the same time it is readily apparent we weren't able to land a top level D1 defensive assistant with a lot of skins on the wall. Drew has had some really good staffs of assistants. It may take awhile for this group to reach that same level.
Quinton
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This switch defense is terrible. 10 guys on the sideline and can't execute a basic college level defense
Guitarbiscuit
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Big12Fan2024 said:

IvanBear said:

It's time to ask were the assistant coach hires good?
We hired:

1) a high school recruiter
2) a guy whose defenses finished (in order from his first year to his last) #127, #169, #163, #293, #252, #271, #313, #332

3) two former players (1 who was at least an NBA assistant for several years)


In fairness you have to get time for a staff to come together and they are all new, so that can't be easy. But at the same time it is readily apparent we weren't able to land a top level D1 defensive assistant with a lot of skins on the wall. Drew has had some really good staffs of assistants. It may take awhile for this group to reach that same level.



I'd be willing to bet all the money in my coffee can that none of these assistants are or ever will be on Jerome Tang's defensive level.
IowaBear
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No way these guys are all this horrendous defensively. This is on Drew
IvanBear
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Big12Fan2024 said:

IvanBear said:

It's time to ask were the assistant coach hires good?
We hired:

1) a high school recruiter
2) a guy whose defenses finished (in order from his first year to his last) #127, #169, #163, #293, #252, #271, #313, #332

3) two former players (1 who was at least an NBA assistant for several years)


In fairness you have to get time for a staff to come together and they are all new, so that can't be easy. But at the same time it is readily apparent we weren't able to land a top level D1 defensive assistant with a lot of skins on the wall. Drew has had some really good staffs of assistants. It may take awhile for this group to reach that same level.


They have the same amount of time every other staff in the country has had. No excuses for them being bad, Drew is looking a lot more like Tony Bennett than Jay Wright these days…
Guitarbiscuit
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I am not able to watch. Is it a lack of effort that has us down or just lack of execution? Hoping it's not lack of effort.
Quinton
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IowaBear said:

No way these guys are all this horrendous defensively. This is on Drew


100. Again I'm absolutely certain Self or Sampson would have this exact group top 40 defensively. It's a huge failure unless we have a miracle season turnaround. But last three years suggest otherwise. Trying to stay positive.
BearFan33
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At least holding even in the second half

Determined effort to get ball into Omier has helped get some open looks from outside and some points down low
IowaBear
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I said it last night. But it really does feel like the staff goes into each game hoping to outgun the opponent. They sure as **** don't go in thinking defense is gonna win them the game.
Big12Fan2024
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Not an effort issue. Just fundamentally unsound. They've looked lost.
Johnny Bear
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Quinton said:

This switch defense is terrible. 10 guys on the sideline and can't execute a basic college level defense

We Seem to constantly end up with a 6-2 guard on a 6-11 post player. It's maddening.
IowaBear
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It's hard to find positives with 2 ass beating of this proportion this early and another coming in 2 weeks vs UCONN. It's gonna be one of those seasons where we win a few shootouts against ok/good teams and get absolutely wrecked by the elite teams
Quinton
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Vi's ball handling has been terrible so far this year. Show some fire.
Guitarbiscuit
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Quinton said:

IowaBear said:

No way these guys are all this horrendous defensively. This is on Drew


100. Again I'm absolutely certain Self or Sampson would have this exact group top 40 defensively. It's a huge failure unless we have a miracle season turnaround. But last three years suggest otherwise. Trying to stay positive.


Is it possible that defense is just not Drew's expertise? If so, I find that hard to believe with all the success he has had. Surely it wasn't all Jerome Tang on that side of the ball.
Guitarbiscuit
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Big12Fan2024 said:

Not an effort issue. Just fundamentally unsound. They've looked lost.


Thanks
IowaBear
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Drew has had some horrendous defenses in his tenure even with Tang. He's never been known as a defensive guy.
 
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