Postgame Podcast & Takeaways: Baylor 88 Auburn 82

Great college basketball game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as the Bears start the 2023-24 season in winning fashion.  Here are my takeaways.  

Positives

• As a coach, you couldn’t have asked for more.  The Bears faced a high quality opponent who played well.  Auburn plays an aggressive style of defense and throws a lot of quality depth at you.  Auburn got the better of Baylor in the first half 43-34.  But rumor has it, there are two halves.  The Bears outscored the Tigers 54-39 in the second half to get the victory.  
• The freshmen were terrific.  Miro Little did some great things in his first half minutes, including a drive as the shot clock was expiring to get a bucket.  Ja’Kobe Walter kept the Bears within striking distance the entire game with 28 points (the most ever for a Baylor freshman debut).  Yves Missi’s play in the second half turned the tide of the contest (10 points, 2 steals, 2 blocks). 

• RayJ Dennis, Jayden Nunn and Langston Love with clutch guard play in the second half.  Tough offensive night for Nunn, but great defense on Holloway down the stretch and he did a really good job handling the ball with Dennis in foul trouble.  RayJ made the shots when needed and zero turnovers in the second half.  
• Jalen Bridges with an efficient night, 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, no turnovers.  Good to see Caleb Lohner embrace his roll well in 12 minutes- 223 offensive rating.  

Needs Work

• RayJ Dennis- 7 turnovers in the first half.  You expect him to be a 3-1 assist to turnover guy.  Need to clean that up, a recurring issue after high level scrimmages.  I chalk it up to not playing together enough and that it will get better as the season goes along.  
• A lot on defense needs to get cleaned up and I think it will.  Again, defense is about togetherness, communication, wingspan and competitiveness.   The competitiveness and wingspan is there.  The togetherness and communication will get better as the season goes along.  
• Finishing in the paint, plenty of easy shots missed.  Jayden Nunn missed some bunnies.  Josh fumbled an easy dunk.  

Needs Prayer

• Everyday Jon,  you can see he is not healed and I would want nothing but full healing for him.