Baylor Basketball

Game Thread: Baylor Closes Out Players Era Festival against San Diego State

Baylor men’s basketball (4-1) will conclude the Players Era Festival against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-2) on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 9:30 p.m. CT.
By Ashley Hodge
November 26, 2025
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173 Comments
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Baylor men’s basketball (4-1) will conclude the Players Era Festival against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-2) on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 9:30 p.m. CT, at Michelob Ultra Arena. The game will be televised on TruTV. 

Computer Models

  • Torvik: Baylor (39), San Diego State (50)
    • Projected Score: 75-74 Baylor
  • KenPom: Baylor (29), San Diego State (45)
    • Projected Score: Baylor 79-77
  • Haslametrics:  Baylor (28), San Diego State (33)
    • Projected Score: 75-74 Baylor
  • Evan Miyakawa:  Baylor (43), San Diego State (57)
    • Projected Score: 76-74 Baylor

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Obi Agbim (5Sr.) 6-3, 185 (10 ppg; 4 asst)
  • Guard: Tounde Yessoufou (Fr.) 6-5, 215 (15 ppg; 6 reb)
  • Forward: Cameron Carr (RSo.) 6-5, 175 (24 ppg; 5 reb)
  • Forward: Dan Skillings (Sr.) 6-7, 200 (12 ppg; 6 reb)
  • Forward: Michael Rataj (Sr.) 6-8, 230 (9 ppg; 6 reb)

Baylor Bench

  • Center: Caden Powell (Sr.) 6-9, 225 (6 ppg; 6 reb)
  • Guard: Isaac Williams IV (So.) 6-1, 190 (10 ppg; 3 asst)

Projected Lineups

San Diego State Starters

  • Guard: Taj DeGourville (So.) 6-5, 215 (4 ppg; 3 asst)
  • Guard: Reese Dixon-Waters (Sr.) 6-5, 215 (15 ppg; 4 reb)
  • Guard: Miles Byrd (Jr.) 6-6, 190 (11 ppg; 3 reb, 3 asst)
  • Forward: Miles Heide (Jr.) 6-9, 240 (6 ppg; 6 reb)
  • Forward: Magoon Gwath (So.) 7-0, 210 (13 ppg; 5 reb)

San Diego State Bench

  • Forward: Pharaoh Compton (So.) 6-7, 235 (7 ppg; 3 reb)
  • Forward: Jeremiah Oden (Sr.) 6-8, 215 (8 ppg; 3 reb)
  • Guard: Elzie Harrington (Fr.) 6-5, 190 (10 ppg)
  • Guard: BJ Davis (So.) 6-2, 175 (11 ppg)
173 Comments
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Scott Drew Game Thread Las Vegas Players Era Festival Baylor vs. San Diego State Basketball Baylor 2025
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Game Thread: Baylor Closes Out Players Era Festival against San Diego State

13,348 Views | 173 Replies | Last: 7 days ago by boognish_bear
IowaBear
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:16p, 11/26/25
It's the freedom he's given. And I truly hate it. I will never understand why Drew allows it
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Adriacus Peratuun
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:16p, 11/26/25
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
Baylor's low dollar buys have all shown to be better than anticipated investments.
the high dollar buys have all shown to be the opposite.

Same as last season (except for Omier).

Rataj is starting to settle into a really important role. And his numbers would be better if we had Bodo Bodo and he could play his natural position.

I think he and Agbim will both be good in time.

We paid him high scorer money. If we paid important role player money, great. But we paid up.

We paid him to be a stretch four and circumstances have made him our five. That's not his fault.

And his scoring is improving by the game.

How is a Stretch 4 being guarded by a 5 limiting his scoring?

it should create problems for him on D not on O……
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IowaBear
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10:17p, 11/26/25
Off topic but Michigan is hammering Gonzaga. Up 40!
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bear2be2
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In reply to Adriacus Peratuun • 10:19p, 11/26/25
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
Baylor's low dollar buys have all shown to be better than anticipated investments.
the high dollar buys have all shown to be the opposite.

Same as last season (except for Omier).

Rataj is starting to settle into a really important role. And his numbers would be better if we had Bodo Bodo and he could play his natural position.

I think he and Agbim will both be good in time.

We paid him high scorer money. If we paid important role player money, great. But we paid up.

We paid him to be a stretch four and circumstances have made him our five. That's not his fault.

And his scoring is improving by the game.

How is a Stretch 4 being guarded by a 5 limiting his scoring?

it should create problems for him on D not on O……

Because he's being asked to set a bunch of ball screens and crash the offensive boards. And he's spending way more time on the block now than he has in the past, when he played almost exclusively on the perimeter or high post.

It's a whole different position for him.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:19p, 11/26/25
Baylor 34
SDSU 31

1:57
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Adriacus Peratuun
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10:19p, 11/26/25
Most teams divide the Shot Clock into thirds/quarters.

We shoot soooooooooo many acceptable late shot clock shots early in the shot clock.
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Adriacus Peratuun
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10:20p, 11/26/25
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:21p, 11/26/25
Good grief Michigan spanking the hell out of Gonzaga. I would say Michigan looks like grown ass men but Gonzaga's average age is 24.8 years old so they should be too.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Adriacus Peratuun • 10:22p, 11/26/25
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 10:22p, 11/26/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
Good grief Michigan spanking the hell out of Gonzaga. I would say Michigan looks like grown ass men but Gonzaga's average age is 24.8 years old so they should be too.

Michigan is the best team in the country right now. They look freaking scary.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:23p, 11/26/25
We fouled a guy shooting 14% from the field and 16% from 3?
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bear2be2
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10:24p, 11/26/25
Horrible foul by Carr to end the half. Can't do that.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:24p, 11/26/25
And of course he hits all 3 FTs.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 10:25p, 11/26/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
And of course he hits all 3 FTs.

Good half overall, but that stupid foul puts a little bit of a damper on it.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:26p, 11/26/25
Baylor 40
SDSU 36

HALF

Balanced scoring

Rataj 9
Carr 7
Williams 7
Yessoufou 6


Bears lead on the boards 14-12


Baylor shooting 54% from the field and 33% from 3
SDSU shooting 50% from the field and 44% from 3
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Adriacus Peratuun
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:27p, 11/26/25
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?

Hate the dribble weave….everyone knows how to defend it.

Watch KU when someone plays high on wings….they have automatic pressure response plays.
We need timeouts before we start slipping screens and back cuts.

Would kill to see us run some side to side and diagonal motions.

and our percentages are somewhat inflated by competition…….see SJU game.
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Big12Fan2024
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:27p, 11/26/25
Would have been nice going in 7 up at the half. No way was he going to hit that heave of a shot from just inside half court.
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BearFan33
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10:29p, 11/26/25
I like the energy level on both offense and defense.

Keep it up guys!
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bear2be2
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In reply to Adriacus Peratuun • 10:29p, 11/26/25
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?

Hate the dribble weave….everyone knows how to defend it.

Watch KU when someone plays high on wings….they have automatic pressure response plays.
We need timeouts before we start slipping screens and back cuts.

Would kill to see us run some side to side and diagonal motions.

and our percentages are somewhat inflated by competition…….see SJU game.

Scott Drew puts a top-20 offense on the floor virtually every year. Most year's it's in the top 10. It just seems odd to me take major exception with that end of the floor, when it has been a consistent strength for us.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:30p, 11/26/25
One of the positives I'm taking out of this tournament and the 3 games against valid comp is that we are a much better scrappy rebounding bunch than I thought we would be. I thought that would be a problem all year given our lack of height and no Bodo Bodo.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Big12Fan2024 • 10:31p, 11/26/25
Big12Fan2024 said:
One of the positives I'm taking out of this tournament and the 3 games against valid comp is that we are a much better scrappy rebounding bunch than I thought we would be. I thought that would be a problem all year given our lack of height and no Bodo Bodo.

I agree. I thought that would be an ongoing weakness, and it really hasn't the last few games.
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Adriacus Peratuun
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:34p, 11/26/25
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?

Hate the dribble weave….everyone knows how to defend it.

Watch KU when someone plays high on wings….they have automatic pressure response plays.
We need timeouts before we start slipping screens and back cuts.

Would kill to see us run some side to side and diagonal motions.

and our percentages are somewhat inflated by competition…….see SJU game.

Scott Drew puts a top-20 offense on the floor virtually every year. Most year's it's in the top 10. It just seems odd to me take major exception with that end of the floor, when it has been a consistent strength for us.

Again…..look at the percentages against top teams.
Out athletic-ing lesser competition thereby creating great stats is lovely……beating top teams is better.

since the NC, we meet top teams (especially athletic teams) and the O bogs down big time. Creating easy buckets with designed motion that doesn't require iso at the end isn't some wild thought.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:41p, 11/26/25
Another positive I'm taking away has been our FT shooting. We've hit 75%, 88% and tonight 80% thus far.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:41p, 11/26/25
Yes! Gwoth picks up a quick 3 in the first 10 seconds.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Adriacus Peratuun • 10:42p, 11/26/25
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?

Hate the dribble weave….everyone knows how to defend it.

Watch KU when someone plays high on wings….they have automatic pressure response plays.
We need timeouts before we start slipping screens and back cuts.

Would kill to see us run some side to side and diagonal motions.

and our percentages are somewhat inflated by competition…….see SJU game.

Scott Drew puts a top-20 offense on the floor virtually every year. Most year's it's in the top 10. It just seems odd to me take major exception with that end of the floor, when it has been a consistent strength for us.

Again…..look at the percentages against top teams.
Out athletic-ing lesser competition thereby creating great stats is lovely……beating top teams is better.

since the NC, we meet top teams (especially athletic teams) and the O bogs down big time. Creating easy buckets with designed motion that doesn't require iso at the end isn't some wild thought.

KenPom's offensive efficiency numbers are adjusted for opponent. And our post-turnaround offensive rankings are as follows ...

2025-26 -- 20
2024-25 -- 16
2023-24 -- 6
2022-23 -- 2
2021-22 -- 8
2020-21 -- 2
2019-20 -- 17
2018-19 -- 20
2017-18 -- 62
2016-17 -- 23
2015-16 -- 14
2014-15 -- 13
2013-14 -- 10
2012-13 -- 20
2011-12 -- 13
2010-11 -- 99
2009-10 -- 5
2008-09 -- 14
2007-08 -- 19

That's a pretty damn good offensive track record.
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bear2be2
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10:43p, 11/26/25
Nice take by Agbim. I'd like to see him do a little more of that while he tries to find his shooting touch.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:44p, 11/26/25
Negatives: we've given up too many wide open 3's in the past 2 games, shades of last year. In the first game Creighton hit some, but we had a hand in face on those.
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bear2be2
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10:44p, 11/26/25
My snap judgment on Rataj was wrong. He's a really smart, crafty basketball player. He's going to be really important for us this year.
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Adriacus Peratuun
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:45p, 11/26/25
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
bear2be2 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
OMFG we actually backcut for a bucket. Twice.

We're shooting 52 percent from the field today and 46 percent for the season. What's your major issue with our offense?

Hate the dribble weave….everyone knows how to defend it.

Watch KU when someone plays high on wings….they have automatic pressure response plays.
We need timeouts before we start slipping screens and back cuts.

Would kill to see us run some side to side and diagonal motions.

and our percentages are somewhat inflated by competition…….see SJU game.

Scott Drew puts a top-20 offense on the floor virtually every year. Most year's it's in the top 10. It just seems odd to me take major exception with that end of the floor, when it has been a consistent strength for us.

Again…..look at the percentages against top teams.
Out athletic-ing lesser competition thereby creating great stats is lovely……beating top teams is better.

since the NC, we meet top teams (especially athletic teams) and the O bogs down big time. Creating easy buckets with designed motion that doesn't require iso at the end isn't some wild thought.

KenPom's offensive efficiency numbers are adjusted for opponent. And our post-turnaround offensive rankings are as follows ...

2025-26 -- 20
2024-25 -- 16
2023-24 -- 6
2022-23 -- 2
2021-22 -- 8
2020-21 -- 2
2019-20 -- 17
2018-19 -- 20
2017-18 -- 62
2016-17 -- 23
2015-16 -- 14
2014-15 -- 13
2013-14 -- 10
2012-13 -- 20
2011-12 -- 13
2010-11 -- 99
2009-10 -- 5
2008-09 -- 14
2007-08 -- 19

That's a pretty damn good offensive track record.

And we stop the dribble weave and immediately start stacking positive O possessions……so guess there is that item.
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Big12Fan2024
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In reply to bear2be2 • 10:46p, 11/26/25
bear2be2 said:
My snap judgment on Rataj was wrong. He's a really smart, crafty basketball player. He's going to be really important for us this year.

I think you kind of nailed it earlier, because I wondered the same. It looks like he was adjusting to a little bit different role than what he had been asked to do previously.
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bear2be2
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10:47p, 11/26/25
This is a fun pace. This has been a fun game between two teams that are still kind of finding their way.
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Big12Fan2024
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10:48p, 11/26/25
Rataj has been a really good facilitator of the offense from the top of the post in this tournament.
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bear2be2
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10:48p, 11/26/25
Great pass by Rataj. His ability to play the point forward role adds to his value, too.
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bear2be2
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10:48p, 11/26/25
Harrington is a hell of a shooter. He's hit a couple of well-guarded 3s for them.
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bear2be2
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10:50p, 11/26/25
Skillings works really hard on the boards. His rebounding ability has been huge with Bodo Bodo's injury reducing our rotation to one big.

I love his game. Have for a long time.

If he can improve his consistency just a little, he'll be the perfect blue-collar glue guy.
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