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Baylor Basketball

Gameday Thread: No. 25 Baylor Concludes Grand Canyon State Swing Trip against Arizona

January 13, 2025
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No. 25 Baylor (11-4, 3-1) completes its two-game road trip in Arizona on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 10 p.m. CST at Arizona (10-5, 4-0). The game will be televised on ESPN.

Predictions

KenPom: Arizona 78, Baylor 74

Torvik: Arizona 78, Baylor 72

Evan Miyakawa: Arizona 77, Baylor 73

Haslemetrics: Arizona 77, Baylor 73

Coaches

Arizona: Tommy Lloyd (50) 98-25 3 NCAAs; 2 Sweet 16s

Baylor: Scott Drew (54); 477-259 overall (457-248 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship

Head to Head: 0-0 

Arizona Starters

  • Guard: Jaden Bradley (Jr.) 6-3 200 lbs; 12 ppg; 3 reb; 4 asst; 48% FG; 32% 3pt; 77% FT
  • Guard: Caleb Love (Sr.) 6-4 205 lbs; 16 ppg; 5 reb; 3 asst; 40% FG; 32% 3pt; 87% FT
  • Guard: Anthony Dell’ Orso (Jr.) 6-6 190 lbs; 9 ppg; 43% FG; 44% 3pt; 88% FT
  • Forward: Trey Townsend (Sr.) 6-6 235 lbs; 10 ppg; 4 reb; 51% FG; 23% 3pt; 81% FT
  • Forward: Tobe Awaka (Sr.) 6-8 250 lbs; 8 ppg; 7 reb; 59% FG; 33% 3pt; 56% FT

Arizona Bench

  • Guard: KJ Lewis (So.) 6-4 210 lbs; 11 ppg; 4 reb; 51% FG; 22% 3pt; 84% FT
  • Forward: Henri Veesaar (So.) 7-0 235 lbs; 7 ppg; 5 reb; 57% FG; 28% pt; 68% FT
  • Forward: Carter Bryant (Fr.) 6-8 225 lbs; 5 ppg; 3 reb; 49% FG; 31% 3pt; 53% FT

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Jeremy Roach (Sr.) 6-2 180 lbs; 12 ppg; 4 asst; 41% FG; 34% 3pt; 68% FT
  • Guard: Jayden Nunn (Sr.) 6-4 190 lbs; 11 ppg; 3 reb; 41% FG; 47% 3pt; 68% FT
  • Guard: VJ Edgecombe (Fr.) 6-5 190 lbs; 12 ppg; 6 reb; 3 asst; 2 st; 41% FG; 32% 3pt 71% FT
  • Forward: Norchad Omier (Sr.) 6-7 245 lbs; 16 ppg; 11 reb; 2 steals; 60% FG; 27% 3pt; 74% FT
  • Forward: Josh Ojianwuna (Jr.) 6-10 255 lbs; 8 ppg; 7 reb; 77% FG; 61% FT

Baylor Bench

  • *Guard: Langston Love (Jr.) 6-5 215 lbs; 7 ppg; 3 reb; 36% FG; 29% 3pt; 75% FT 
  • *Forward: Jalen Celestine (Sr.) 6-7 215 lbs; 8 ppg; 3 reb; 39% FG; 38% 3pt; 100% FT
  • Guard: Rob Wright (Fr.) 6-1 180 lbs; 12 ppg; 5 asst; 47% FG; 43% 3pt; 78% FT
  • Forward: Jason Asemota (FR) 6-8 200 lbs; 2 ppg; 2 reb; 36% FG; 25% 3pt; 33% FT

*sat out the last three games with injuries

Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: No. 25 Baylor Concludes Grand Canyon State Swing Trip against Arizona

967 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 8 hrs ago by Mitch Henessey
ImABearToo
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12:09p, 1/13/25
10:30pm tip? Oh my! A late night Sic em!
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Mitch Henessey
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10:23p, 1/13/25
Keys to the game:

1) U of A is undersized, and just got pummeled on the defensive glass by UCF on Saturday, giving up 20 offensive rebounds. Omier and Ojianwuna need to assert themselves down low.

2) Foul trouble. We're incredibly thin right now, so it's important that we keep our small rotation in the game. The McKale Center is a tough place to play, and I don't expect us to get a friendly whistle. Maintaining defensive integrity without fouling is going to be massive, as is Omier avoiding silly fouls 80 feet from the basket.

3) Be mindful of Caleb Love. He's an inefficient chucker, as we know from facing him when he was at UNC, but he's not lacking in confidence. If we let him get going early, he's liable to shoot us out of the game. If we make things tough on him, he's liable to shoot Arizona out of it.

4) Get contributions from Nunn and Roach. Both guys have been in something of a slump lately, although both made some positive plays down the stretch in Tempe. If that can carry over and we get efficient, double-digit scoring from both guys, I like our chances.

5) Big Josh keeps playing big. He's been great lately, especially on the boards. As long as he plays within himself and doesn't try to do too much, I think he'll have a good game against a team whose tallest starter is 6'8".

6) Freshmen continue to grow. At this point, we kind of know what we'll get from VJ: solid defense, great effort, good slashing to the basket. If his shot is falling and he can hit the occasional corner 3, that would be huge. Wright needs to tighten up his ball security and stay aggressive. He could be the X-factor in this one. Anything Asemota gives us is a bonus, and he's been solid in his increased role of late. He needs to finish stronger at the rim, though.

Overall, you have to like our chances, even though Arizona has been playing much better lately. At some point, we need to get a win against a team that's around the same rank and talent level as we are. May as well start on Tuesday in Tucson!
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