Baylor Basketball

Game Thread: Baylor Opens College Basketball Crown Tournament against Minnesota

Bears take on Gophers.
By Ashley Hodge
March 30, 2026
19k Views
111 Comments
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada- Baylor men’s basketball (16-16) takes on Minnesota (15-17) in the first round of the College Basketball Crown Tournament on Wednesday, April 1, at 9:30 p.m. CT, at MGM Grand. The game will be televised on FS1.

Computer Models

  • Torvik: Baylor (47), Minnesota (57)
    • Prediction: Baylor 75, Minnesota 74
  • KenPom: Baylor (51), Minnesota (76)
    • Prediction: Baylor 75, Minnesota 72
  • Haslametrics: Baylor (48), Minnesota (71)
    • Prediction: Baylor 73, Minnesota 70
  • Evan Miyakawa: Baylor (46), Minnesota (84)
    • Prediction: Baylor 76, Minnesota 71

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Obi Agbim (5Sr.) 6-3, 185 (11 ppg; 3 asst)
  • Guard: Isaac Williams IV (So.) 6-1, 190 (11 ppg; 3 asst)
  • Guard: Tounde Yessoufou (Fr.) 6-5, 215 (18 ppg; 6 reb; 2 steals)
  • Guard: Cameron Carr (RSo.) 6-5, 175 (19 ppg; 6 reb; 3 asst)
  • Center: Caden Powell (Sr.) 6-9, 225 (7 ppg; 6 reb)

Baylor Bench

  • Forward: Michael Rataj (Sr.) 6-8, 230 (8 ppg; 5 reb; 2 asst)
  • Forward: Dan Skillings (Sr.) 6-7, 200 (10 ppg; 6 reb; 2 asst) 
  • Center: James Nnaji (Fr.) 7-0 250 (2 ppg; 2 reb)

Minnesota Starters

  • Guard: Isaac Asuma (So.) 6-3, 205 (11 ppg; 4 reb; 4 asst)
  • Guard: Langston Reynolds (Sr.) 6-4, 215 (12 ppg; 4 reb; 5 asst)
  • Forward: Cade Tyson (Sr.) 6-7, 195 (20 ppg; 5 reb; 2 asst)
  • Forward: Bobby Durkin (Jr.) 6-7, 220 (10 ppg; 3 reb)
  • Forward: Grayson Grove (Fr.) 6-9, 220 (4 ppg; 3 reb)

Minnesota Bench

  • Guard: Kai Shinholster (Fr.) 6-5, 175 (2 ppg)
111 Comments
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Basketball College Basketball Crown Baylor vs. Minnesota Basketball Baylor Minnesota 2025
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Game Thread: Baylor Opens College Basketball Crown Tournament against Minnesota

9,542 Views | 111 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by BUBradley
bear2be2
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In reply to bear2be2 • 11:53p, 4/1/26
bear2be2 said:
We have as many assists in the first five minutes of the second half as we had in the entire first half.

Scott has got these guys playing much better offense since halftime.

We haven't had an assist since I posted this.
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bear2be2
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In reply to BearFan33 • 11:55p, 4/1/26
BearFan33 said:
Gonna need some offense from skillings

Skillings only has one field goal attempt, and it was on a putback. He hasn't been looking for his shot/offense at all tonight.
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BUBradley
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11:56p, 4/1/26
We get to 68+ and we win this game. Have to keep the momentum up
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bear2be2
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11:57p, 4/1/26
Yessoufou's lack of offensive polish has been really apparent tonight. Even that last possession, he made a terrible pass out of a double team that Obi had to reach for. If he hits him in the chest, it's probably a rhythm 3.
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bear2be2
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11:58p, 4/1/26
Foul trouble late in the first half completely took Williams out of this game. it's unfortunate, too, because he was playing really well until he picked up his second foul. Since then, he's been completely out of rhythm and sync.
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boognish_bear
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11:58p, 4/1/26
Gophers 21 3-pt attempts at 14%...oof. A rare team that can't hit 3s on us.
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bear2be2
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12:00a, 4/2/26
Tounde's a really interesting player because the things he does well, he does really well. But he's done almost nothing to shore up his weaknesses this season.
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bear2be2
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In reply to boognish_bear • 12:01a, 4/2/26
boognish_bear said:
Gophers 21 3-pt attempts at 14%...oof. A rare team that can't hit 3s on us.

To be held under 50 points by us takes talent.
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BUBradley
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12:05a, 4/2/26
This Minnesota team beat:

#10 Mich St
#19 Iowa
#22 Indiana
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BUBradley
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12:06a, 4/2/26
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bear2be2
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12:07a, 4/2/26
Powell with another clean baby hook. We need to get him more post touches.
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BUBradley
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12:08a, 4/2/26
BRING IN THE WHITE GUYS!
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BearFan33
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12:08a, 4/2/26
Tounde's reverse layup was sick.

We got our moneys worth with Powell
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bear2be2
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In reply to BUBradley • 12:09a, 4/2/26
BUBradley said:
This Minnesota team beat:

#10 Mich St
#19 Iowa
#22 Indiana

And will finish three games below .500.
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boognish_bear
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12:09a, 4/2/26
CSD now guaranteed this won't be a losing season
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BearFan33
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12:10a, 4/2/26
Tweety was going for a 3 there
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BUBradley
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In reply to boognish_bear • 12:10a, 4/2/26
Incorrect. If we lose the next one, it will be a tied season like it was before this game.

We have to make it to the championship game to have a winning season.
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boognish_bear
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12:11a, 4/2/26
Wasn't sure what to expect from the boys tonight… but always nice to get a somewhat stress-free win. Although the last 10 minutes were kind of ugly.

A matchup with OU will be fun.
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BearFan33
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12:11a, 4/2/26
Nice win!

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bear2be2
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12:11a, 4/2/26
If you take away the points Rataj gave up being a cone on defense, we would have held Minnesota to like 40 points tonight.

I wasn't impressed by our offensive game plan or execution against their zone, but that was a heck of a defensive effort from a team not at all known for its defense.
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boognish_bear
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In reply to BUBradley • 12:12a, 4/2/26
BUBradley said:
Incorrect. If we lose the next one, it will be a tied season like it was before this game.

We have to make it to the championship game to have a winning season.


Yep... I only said this guarantees he won't have a losing season.
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BearFan33
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In reply to bear2be2 • 12:12a, 4/2/26
bear2be2 said:
BearFan33 said:
Gonna need some offense from skillings

Skillings only has one field goal attempt, and it was on a putback. He hasn't been looking for his shot/offense at all tonight.


Other teams pick up on that and sag off accordingly
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BUBradley
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In reply to boognish_bear • 12:13a, 4/2/26
I stand corrected!
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BUBradley
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12:13a, 4/2/26
Let's beat our ole rival ou!
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boognish_bear
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12:17a, 4/2/26
Nice to see Drew and the team having some fun in that post-game interview.

Drew's hair comment made me laugh

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william
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8:10a, 4/2/26
pro ecclesia, pro javelina
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Johnny Bear
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In reply to bear2be2 • 8:14a, 4/2/26
bear2be2 said:
If you take away the points Rataj gave up being a cone on defense, we would have held Minnesota to like 40 points tonight.

Even factoring in he was on balance playing against weaker competition last season, how in the world did anyone ever think the guy was worth recruiting out of the portal at all, let alone worth offering 7 figure NIL $$? What a spectacular and highly costly swing and miss.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 8:26a, 4/2/26
Johnny Bear said:
bear2be2 said:
If you take away the points Rataj gave up being a cone on defense, we would have held Minnesota to like 40 points tonight.

Even factoring in he was on balance playing against weaker competition last season, how in the world did anyone ever think the guy was worth recruiting out of the portal at all, let alone worth offering 7 figure NIL $$? What a spectacular and highly costly swing and miss.
Last night was the best example yet of why Agbim and Rataj shouldn't be lumped together when talking about portal busts.

Agbim is a capable player who has just shot poorly most of the year. Rataj is legitimately one of the worst rotation players of the Scott Drew era. He wouldn't have been a top four or five player on either of Scott Drew's first two Baylor teams.
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Delmar 2.0
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8:58a, 4/2/26
W
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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Johnny Bear
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11:24a, 4/2/26
Is Nnaji not with the team for the tournament (didn't see him last night)?
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BUBradley
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 12:30p, 4/2/26
Johnny Bear said:
Is Nnaji not with the team for the tournament (didn't see him last night)?

I thought the same thing but he was there. He didn't play. Even when the scrubs came in but was standing and clapping and giving high fives as players came to the bench.
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Big12Bear
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In reply to BUBradley • 1:26p, 4/2/26
BUBradley said:
Johnny Bear said:
Is Nnaji not with the team for the tournament (didn't see him last night)?

I thought the same thing but he was there. He didn't play. Even when the scrubs came in but was standing and clapping and giving high fives as players came to the bench.

Back issues.

I have a hunch we part ways and snag Samson Aletan (World Games teammate, Lake Highlands HS) as a backup next year.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Johnny Bear • 1:30p, 4/2/26
Johnny Bear said:
Is Nnaji not with the team for the tournament (didn't see him last night)?

He was there. Just didn't play. They showed him before the game and you could see him on the bench from time to time. Never took off his shooting shirt.
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Quinton
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1:34p, 4/2/26
Watched the recording, credit Drew for getting them to play hard. I hope they can get Tounde back. With some refinement dude would be really, really good in year 2
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bear2be2
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In reply to Quinton • 1:46p, 4/2/26
Quinton said:
Watched the recording, credit Drew for getting them to play hard. I hope they can get Tounde back. With some refinement dude would be really, really good in year 2

I think a full offseason working on his ball-handling and jump shot would do wonders for Yessoufou. But he really needs that development to have any hope of a fruitful NBA career. I hope the right people are giving him advice.

I honestly believe he could be a lottery pick if he makes the necessary progress in a second college year. I don't think he'll get taken in the first round of this draft, and that would basically doom his career.
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