Game Thread: Baylor Men's Basketball Open Season against UT Rio Grande Valley

FTs again are gonna be an issue as well it appears

Man, defense still looks terrible in the short clips I've seen. Hopefully early kinks but not good.

Concerning Rataj hasn't shown much in real competition since summer.

Quinton said:

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Man, defense still looks terrible in the short clips I've seen. Hopefully early kinks but not good.

Concerning Rataj hasn't shown much in real competition since summer.

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He's been the puzzling one for me. Well, he and JJ White. I only saw Rataj once last year and he looked ok, but the word on the street was that he had the ability to take over games. He showed that at the World University games playing for his country, but in the 2 exhibitions and so far this half, he's been almost invisible. I'm hoping he's just learning his way and getting comfortable because he's gotta be performing at a high level by the time we go to Vegas.

IowaBear said:

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Carr & Agbim are the guys BU needs to play through this season imo.
Tonde has given the Bears really good minutes since he re entered

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If Yessefou focuses on being a hustle player/slash-and-finish guy, I'll like him. If he's trying to be an alpha scorer, I won't. It's really that simple.

Scott Drew isn't going to rein his game in. His shot selection will be up to him.

Offensive Boards:

Baylor - 8
RGV - 0

The role he's played since he came back in should be his role imo. If he's chucking relentlessly then it's going to really hamper BU.

Your latter statement is what worries me because it's true.

Quinton said:

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Man, defense still looks terrible in the short clips I've seen. Hopefully early kinks but not good.

Concerning Rataj hasn't shown much in real competition since summer.

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Rataj looks surprisingly unathletic. That's concerning.

IowaBear said:

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The role he's played since he came back in should be his role imo. If he's chucking relentlessly then it's going to really hamper BU.

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100 percent. If he sticks to that role, I'll like him a lot.

Carr has made 4 incredibly lazy passes

There we go. Maybe that gives Rataj some confidence and flow.

IowaBear said:

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Carr has made 4 incredibly lazy passes

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He's averaged something like 4 or more TOs in all the summer games and exhibitions. I'm afraid that's the weakness we're gonna see.

SKillings needs to be way more aggressive. He can get past these guys literally anytime he wants

WOW. Nice mix there with the Skillings board, pass and Tounde's 3!!!!!!!!

That's how you end a half! I'll say this Yess has a swagger BU has needed the last few years

Nice first half close out.

Nice finish to an all over the place first half.

Very good finish to the half for Yessefou. He was much, much better after getting benched for the second time.

If he plays within himself and the team, he'll be good. He's obviously very talented.

2 standout weaknesses I see. Overall defense and lack of ball handling point guard will get exposed by every good team we play.

We need a big desperately

No announcement has been made relative to Bodo Bodo's season, or did I miss it? Sure would like to have someone known for a defensive presence available.

williams looks like he could be that but not shone much so far

Smashmouth said:

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2 standout weaknesses I see. Overall defense and lack of ball handling point guard will get exposed by every good team we play.

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We're gambling a lot defensively tonight (and losing). But this team has length that we haven't had in years. I bet we get better on that end as these guys familiarize themselves with each other.

Smashmouth said:

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2 standout weaknesses I see. Overall defense and lack of ball handling point guard will get exposed by every good team we play.

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I think Drew thought he had the ball handling guard when he signed White. Unfortunately, thus far White has not stepped up to that role. I said in an earlier thread he was one who has puzzled me (as I suggest he probably has the staff too) because he was pretty good at handling the ball and being a floor general at Omaha. He seems to still be trying to adjust to high major instead of mid major size. Don't know whether it's a confidence thing or what but we need him to come around quickly.

bear2be2 said:

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Quinton said:

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Man, defense still looks terrible in the short clips I've seen. Hopefully early kinks but not good.

Concerning Rataj hasn't shown much in real competition since summer.

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Rataj looks surprisingly unathletic. That's concerning.

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It is. He was never a great athlete but he showed some fluidity in prior years. His movement doesn't look great, I agree. Hopefully it's early season nerves / getting comfortable in new system before he loosens up.

Glad to see Carr look his potential. Would be a great returner if we could keep him for next year and surround him with excellent guard play (way too soon I know).

Big12Fan2024 said:

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No announcement has been made relative to Bodo Bodo's season, or did I miss it? Sure would like to have someone known for a defensive presence available.

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He's our one legit rim protector (or at least that's what he was supposed to be) so naturally he's out hurt indefinitely.

i know it hasn't looked great so far, but remember this team have never played together (besides preseason)

Big12Fan2024 said:

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Smashmouth said:

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2 standout weaknesses I see. Overall defense and lack of ball handling point guard will get exposed by every good team we play.

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I think Drew thought he had the ball handling guard when he signed White. Unfortunately, thus far White has not stepped up to that role. I said in an earlier thread he was one who has puzzled me (as I suggest he probably has the staff too) because he was pretty good at handling the ball and being a floor general at Omaha. He seems to still be trying to adjust to high major instead of mid major size. Don't know whether it's a confidence thing or what but we need him to come around quickly.

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I thought he'd be better/more impactful, too. Hopefully he figures out because we're likely going to need him.

Bearsalwayswin said:

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i know it hasn't looked great so far, but remember this team have never played together (besides preseason)

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We played pretty well from about the eighth minute on. It was just a jarringly poor first impression.

Big12Fan2024 said:

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Smashmouth said:

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2 standout weaknesses I see. Overall defense and lack of ball handling point guard will get exposed by every good team we play.

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I think Drew thought he had the ball handling guard when he signed White. Unfortunately, thus far White has not stepped up to that role.

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Drew is too smart for that.

We talked about this right after the signing but White just isn't a high D1 talent imo. I think he can be a nice backup scoring punch with secondary ball handling. Anything more is unrealistic. Would love to be proven wrong.

I'm watching the Arizona - Florida game on my other TV. Arizona looks LONG and talented. We were really third for Koa Peat behind Arizona and Houston, but man does he look good. Doesn't look like a freshman in this game at all. He has 27 points, 6 boards and not intimidated by Florida's tall, physical front line at all.

Yep. But I think by then Drew and his GM were looking more for a money value since they had so many positions to fill and White was one of the GM's stats better ones in the market. I know Scott doesn't believe he needs an ace PG to run his offense but it's been frustrating to see the "2" position guys we've tried to stuff into that role over the past few years (post Natty).

do want to add though that we have to remember rob weight leaving us at the last moment.

No question. The staff got screwed over BIG TIME by that #$%@#%$% and his dad.