Postgame Takeaways: Italy 88, Baylor (USA) 77

Postgame Thoughts

Positives

• Keyonte George gave us a glimpse of greatness.  He scored 32 points in 27 minutes on only 14 shots.  He didn’t play a perfect game by any stretch.  He took some ill advised shots.  He had a few defensive lapses.  But overall it was a really impressive first outing for the 5-star talented guard.  
• Dale Bonner had a good all around game.  He had 14 points on 12 shots.  He had a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio (4 assists, 2 turnovers).  His defense was the best on the team in my view.  He ended up with 4 steals.  If Dale Bonner ends up being your fifth best guard, you have a heck of a backcourt.  Probably the best in college basketball.  
• I thought Dantwan Grimes competed well on both ends of the court- 9 points in 29 minutes.  He played hard and aggressive.  The mistakes were there but those will subside as he gets more experience.  
• Caleb Lohner looked the part as a great athlete who rebounds and sets picks.  He had a couple strong finishes in the paint against an aggressive shot blocking team in Italy (11 blocks).  He also hit 1-2 from 3 and had good form on both shots.  He ended up with 7 points and 8 rebounds.  

Needs Work

• Obviously 11-1 on blocked shots is pretty bad.  We have to be more aggressive in the paint.  Italy outrebounded us 45-32.  Rarely do you see a Scott Drew team get worked in the paint like we got worked in this game.  Italy also was 24-42 in the paint (almost 60%).  
• Our veteran guys didn’t play with the physical edge that you would hope for.  Flo Thamba had trouble finishing around the rim and only 4 rebounds.  He ended up with 8 points and 4 rebounds and some of his defensive possessions were not typical of what he is capable of.  He’s got to play better.  Jordan Turner, Zach Loveday and Jalen Bridges played hard but all 3 need to get more assertive.  I think Bridges is still adjusting to a new team and system.  I have no doubt he will be fine. 
• I’m a little more concerned about Thamba, he could be such a valuable player but modern day basketball is going away from the traditional big man and if you don’t bring the aggression and punish your opponent in the paint, I could see Lohner and Josh Ojianwuna (who is a similar skill set to Everyday Jon) carving out minutes by the end of the season.  Thamba has to be a double double machine every time he steps on the court.  
• Baylor played without 3 of their 4 best offensive players in Love, Cryer and Flagler.  All 3 of those guys are likely to be double figure scorers this year.  

Bottom Line

• This team is a national championship contender when Flagler, Love and Cryer are healthy and Ojianwuna joins the team.  Nothing from this game suggested otherwise.  It just confirmed to me that Bonner is valuable.  Lohner gives us what we most needed as a glue guy.  And Keyonte George may leave Baylor as the best freshman in Baylor basketball history.