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Baylor Basketball

Gameday Thread: No. 8 Baylor (0-0) at No. 6 Gonzaga (0-0)

November 1, 2024
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No. 8 Baylor (0-0) kicks off the 2024-25 season with a top-10 match-up in No. 6 Gonzaga's (0-0) backyard at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington, on Nov. 4, 2024, at 10:30 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

KenPom Prediction: Gonzaga 79, Baylor 76

Torvik Prediction: Gonzaga 77, Baylor 72

Evan Miyakawa: Gonzaga 83, Baylor 75

Haslametrics: Gonzaga 78, Baylor 73

Coaches

Gonzaga: Mark Few (61) 716-143 (263-188 at Gonzaga); 23 NCAAs; 13 Sweet 16s; 5 Elite 8s; 2 FFs

Baylor: Scott Drew (53); 465-253 overall (435-242 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship

Head to Head: 3-2 Few

Gonzaga Starters

  • Guard: Ryan Nembhard (SR) 6-0 180 lbs; 13 ppg; 4 reb; 7 asst; 45% FG; 32% 3pt; 75% FT
  • Guard: Khalif Battle (SR) 6-5 185 lbs; 15 ppg; 3 reb; 41% FG; 35% 3pt; 87% FT; Arkansas TR
  • Forward: Michael Ajayi (SR) 6-7 230 lbs; 17 ppg; 10 reb; 47% FG; 47% 3pt; 71% FT; Pepperdine TR
  • Forward: Graham Ike (SR) 6-9 250 lbs; 17 ppg; 7 reb; 61% FG; 37% 3pt; 78% FT
  • Forward: Ben Gregg (SR) 6-10 230 lbs; 9 ppg; 6 reb; 54% FG; 38% 3pt; 73% FT

Gonzaga Bench

  • Guard: Nolan Hickman (SR) 6-2 190 lbs; 14 ppg; 2 reb; 3 asst; 47% FG; 41% 3pt; 88% FT
  • Forward: Braden Huff (SO) 6-10 250 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 60% FG; 34% pt; 55% FT
  • Guard: Dusty Stromer (SO) 6-6 200 lbs; 5 ppg; 3 reb; 37% FG; 36% 3pt; 81% FT

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Jeremy Roach (SR) 6-2 180 lbs; 14 ppg; 3 reb; 3 asst; 47% FG; 43% 3pt; 84% FT; Duke TR
  • Guard: Jayden Nunn (SR) 6-4 190 lbs; 11 ppg; 3 reb; 2 asst; 46% FG; 44% 3pt; 71% FT 
  • Guard: VJ Edgecombe (FR) 6-5 190 lbs; 5 star freshman
  • Forward: Norchad Omier (SR) 6-7 245 lbs; 17 ppg; 10 reb; 55% FG; 35% 3pt; 75% FT; Miami TR
  • Forward: Josh Ojianwuna (JR) 6-10 255 lbs; 5 ppg; 3 reb; 73% FG; 63% FT

Baylor Bench

  • Guard: Langston Love (JR) 6-5 215 lbs; 11 ppg; 3 reb; 47% FG; 48% 3p; 78% FT
  • Forward: Jalen Celestine (SR) 6-7 215 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 45% FG; 44% 3pt; 72% FT; Cal TR
  • Guard: Rob Wright (FR) 6-1 180 lbs; 5 star freshman
Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: No. 8 Baylor (0-0) at No. 6 Gonzaga (0-0)

23,455 Views | 232 Replies | Last: 11 days ago by bear2be2
boognish_bear
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9:23a, 11/5/24
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IvanBear
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In reply to boognish_bear • 9:29a, 11/5/24
boognish_bear said:


That's great Scott but did you put together a roster capable of playing baylor basketball? There are legitimate questions about that.
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Quinton
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9:39a, 11/5/24
The most concerning was effort . We knew our defensive coaching is poor. But the effort was bad. Energy, sporadic effort, and defense has been a problem for years now. Play softer early games to get going.

When a 6' freshman is the most locked in guy on the floor you have a major problem
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BearFan33
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9:47a, 11/5/24
I'm going to watch it tonight (instead of election coverage).
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LIB,MR BEARS
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In reply to BearFan33 • 9:56a, 11/5/24
BearFan33 said:
I'm going to watch it tonight (instead of election coverage).
your liable to be just as pissed rather way
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MrGolfguy
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10:20a, 11/5/24
Big stinking turd all the way around

Flush it and forget it
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Johnny Bear
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10:29a, 11/5/24
Our D was obviously bad all around in that game, but the thing I've gotten the most tired of seeing these last few seasons is our 3 point defense - especially when playing man defense. Why is it so easy for any decent or better opponent to constantly get wide open 3 point looks (as in no defender within 20 feet of the shooter) if they're simply patient enough to execute 5-6 passes or less?
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BearFan33
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10:49a, 11/5/24
By mid season last year I was hoping we would go back to the zone. Since Tang left we haven't been any good at man.
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IvanBear
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In reply to BearFan33 • 11:35a, 11/5/24
BearFan33 said:
By mid season last year I was hoping we would go back to the zone. Since Tang left we haven't been any good at man.


We haven't been any good at zone either. Good teams and good players don't play zone, it's not a defense for championships.
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Crawfoso1973
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12:44p, 11/5/24
Just now replying, this game was pretty much exactly what I predicted and expected. We have an entire new rotation playing its first game on the road against a top 6 team which is already a cohesive, well-oiled machine with almost all of its rotation intact.

Our defense looks absolutely horrid even by our standards, especially our transition D and perimeter D. No communication and guys completely lost especially in transition. Team defense is reliant upon team cohesion, so part of that is to be expected with an entirely new rotation. Unfortunately I am not confident in this staff's ability to coach 'em up on the defensive end. We have a massive amount of improvement needed to even sniff being a mediocre defensive team. Not sure we will get there. Our offense will sizzle but our defense has to be at least be mediocre come tournament time to avoid another round-of-32 disappointment.

Wright was terrific and hit the floor running, and what I like the most is we may get 2 or even 3 years from him in a Baylor uniform. Edge played tentative and hesitant, but for now I chalk that up to first game jitters. It's prudent not to panic over a one game sample size when the bad game is your first college game on the road vs. a top 6 opponent. Give him time to find his niche on our team and his talent will shine. He was an absolute stud this summer and was the best player on a Bahamas team that included Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton.

I know we run a guard-oriented offense, but think we need to find a way to get Omier more offensive touches. If he can provide us consistent inside production it would open up space for cleaner looks on the perimeter.

Overall this team still has time to gel so not panicking over a loss to a team of this caliber. Plenty of room for improvement and evidence on tape to motivate the players to learn from.
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LitigiOSO
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In reply to Crawfoso1973 • 12:45p, 11/5/24
Crawfoso1973 said:
Road game and 7 of Gonzaga top 8 rotation players are returning players. Huge advantage over us in the first game of the season since we have an entirely new rotation. I think we lose this one, potentially convincingly. It will help us get better immediately though.
SPOT. ON.
LitigiOSO
B.A. '92, J.D. '95
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Crawfoso1973
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In reply to LitigiOSO • 12:47p, 11/5/24
Thanks.
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Guitarbiscuit
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In reply to Quinton • 12:51p, 11/5/24
Quinton said:
The most concerning was effort . We knew our defensive coaching is poor. But the effort was bad. Energy, sporadic effort, and defense has been a problem for years now. Play softer early games to get going.

When a 6' freshman is the most locked in guy on the floor you have a major problem


There were times when even I, a basketball layperson, wondered what we were doing on D. I remember one play Gonzaga's post player was wide open. I told myself I hoped Gonzaga's point didn't notice. He noticed.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Guitarbiscuit • 1:34p, 11/5/24
Guitarbiscuit said:
Quinton said:
The most concerning was effort . We knew our defensive coaching is poor. But the effort was bad. Energy, sporadic effort, and defense has been a problem for years now. Play softer early games to get going.

When a 6' freshman is the most locked in guy on the floor you have a major problem


There were times when even I, a basketball layperson, wondered what we were doing on D. I remember one play Gonzaga's post player was wide open. I told myself I hoped Gonzaga's point didn't notice. He noticed.
The fact that Wright and Nunn routinely ended up on their post players, while Josh O slipped out to guard the perimeter is all you needed to see to realize the flaw in our defensive design.

The switch-everything defense is so easy to exploit. It's maddening that we're still doing that **** with players who aren't remotely capable of doing it effectively.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Crawfoso1973 • 1:38p, 11/5/24
Crawfoso1973 said:
Just now replying, this game was pretty much exactly what I predicted and expected. We have an entire new rotation playing its first game on the road against a top 6 team which is already a cohesive, well-oiled machine with almost all of its rotation intact.

Our defense looks absolutely horrid even by our standards, especially our transition D and perimeter D. No communication and guys completely lost especially in transition. Team defense is reliant upon team cohesion, so part of that is to be expected with an entirely new rotation. Unfortunately I am not confident in this staff's ability to coach 'em up on the defensive end. We have a massive amount of improvement needed to even sniff being a mediocre defensive team. Not sure we will get there. Our offense will sizzle but our defense has to be at least be mediocre come tournament time to avoid another round-of-32 disappointment.

Wright was terrific and hit the floor running, and what I like the most is we may get 2 or even 3 years from him in a Baylor uniform. Edge played tentative and hesitant, but for now I chalk that up to first game jitters. It's prudent not to panic over a one game sample size when the bad game is your first college game on the road vs. a top 6 opponent. Give him time to find his niche on our team and his talent will shine. He was an absolute stud this summer and was the best player on a Bahamas team that included Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton.

I know we run a guard-oriented offense, but think we need to find a way to get Omier more offensive touches. If he can provide us consistent inside production it would open up space for cleaner looks on the perimeter.

Overall this team still has time to gel so not panicking over a loss to a team of this caliber. Plenty of room for improvement and evidence on tape to motivate the players to learn from.
I think we'll be fine offensively. But I don't know how we intend to defend for 30-plus games, 40 minutes a game with two bigs.

We don't have enough post depth with both Omier and Josh O healthy and out of foul trouble. If either gets hurt or has to sit due to fouls we are absolutely screwed.

If our plan is to play Celestine or Asemota at the four, we might as well count on an opponents scoring average in the 80s.
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Crawfoso1973
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In reply to bear2be2 • 1:54p, 11/5/24
Yeah, I think the plan all along was to have Celestine fill the Bridges role at stretch 4. Unfortunately nowhere near the length or defensive ability of Bridges.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Crawfoso1973 • 1:55p, 11/5/24
Crawfoso1973 said:
Yeah, I think the plan all along was to have Celestine fill the Bridges role at stretch 4. Unfortunately nowhere near the length or defensive ability of Bridges.
He's a guard on both ends. It was never fair to expect him to fill that role IMO.
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BearFan33
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In reply to IvanBear • 2:12p, 11/5/24
IvanBear said:
BearFan33 said:
By mid season last year I was hoping we would go back to the zone. Since Tang left we haven't been any good at man.


We haven't been any good at zone either. Good teams and good players don't play zone, it's not a defense for championships.
Fair enough but I'd like to see us use it some, depending on personnel on the floor. Teams shooting above their averages has been a big problem for us since Tang departed.

I'm not worried about offense. Its the defense that needs help.
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william
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2:58p, 11/5/24
it's all upside from here!

- el kkm

viva donaldo!!!

arriba arriba!!!!!

{ el a-do-ra-ble BHJ tirando pistolas }

pro ecclesia, pro javelina
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historian
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3:15a, 11/6/24
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BearFan33
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In reply to BearFan33 • 10:13p, 11/11/24
BearFan33 said:
IvanBear said:
BearFan33 said:
By mid season last year I was hoping we would go back to the zone. Since Tang left we haven't been any good at man.


We haven't been any good at zone either. Good teams and good players don't play zone, it's not a defense for championships.
Fair enough but I'd like to see us use it some, depending on personnel on the floor. Teams shooting above their averages has been a big problem for us since Tang departed.

I'm not worried about offense. Its the defense that needs help.


After the hogs Zone may be new normal we will see. Drew can coach zone.
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bear2be2
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In reply to BearFan33 • 11:54p, 11/11/24
BearFan33 said:
BearFan33 said:
IvanBear said:
BearFan33 said:
By mid season last year I was hoping we would go back to the zone. Since Tang left we haven't been any good at man.


We haven't been any good at zone either. Good teams and good players don't play zone, it's not a defense for championships.
Fair enough but I'd like to see us use it some, depending on personnel on the floor. Teams shooting above their averages has been a big problem for us since Tang departed.

I'm not worried about offense. Its the defense that needs help.
After the hogs Zone may be new normal we will see. Drew can coach zone.
I think we're probably better off in the zone than man, but there will be teams on our schedule that shoot us straight out of the zone. We're going to have to figure out how to stay between our man and the basket in man at some point between now and then.
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