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Baylor Basketball

Gameday Thread: No. 8 Baylor (0-1) versus No. 16 Arkansas (1-0)

November 8, 2024
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No. 8 Baylor (0-1) looks to rebound from the loss to No. 6 Gonzaga with a match-up against No. 16 Arkansas (1-0) in Dallas at the American Airlines Center on Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CST.  The game will be televised on ESPNU.

KenPom Prediction: Baylor 77, Arkansas 76

Torvik Prediction: Baylor 76, Arkansas 75

Evan Miyakawa: Baylor 76, Arkansas 76 (toss-up)

Haslametrics: Baylor 77, Arkansas 72


Coaches

Arkansas: John Calipari (65) 814-260 (1-0 at Arkansas); 23 NCAAs; 14 Sweet 16s; 12 Elite 8s; 5 FFs; 1 National Championship

Baylor: Scott Drew (53); 465-254 overall (435-243 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship

Head to Head: 2-1 Drew


Arkansas Starters

  • Guard: Boogie Fland (FR) 6-2 175 lbs; 17 ppg; 3 reb; 3 asst; 39% FG; 13% 3pt; 100% FT
  • Guard: Johnell Davis (SR) 6-4 210 lbs; 15 ppg; 6 reb; 58% FG; 25% 3pt; Florida Atlantic TR
  • Guard: DJ Wagner (SO) 6-4 195 lbs; 7 ppg; 2 reb; 43% FG; 100% FT; UK TR
  • Forward: Adou Thiero (JR) 6-8 220 lbs; 8 ppg; 4 reb; 3 st; 67% FG; UK TR
  • Forward: Zvonimir Ivisic (SO) 7-2 245 lbs; 12 ppg; 3 reb; 3 blks; 83% FG; 50% 3pt; 50% FT; UK TR

Arkansas Bench

  • Forward:  Trevon Brazille (JR) 6-10 230 lbs; 6 ppg; 8 reb; 2 st; 60% FG
  • Guard: Billy Richmond (FR) 6-5 205 lbs; 4 ppg; 2 reb; 2 asst; 67% FG
  • Guard: Karter Knox (FR) 6-6 220 lbs; 5 ppg; 2 reb; 50% FG
  • Forward: Jonas Aidoo (SR) 6-11 240 lbs; 2 ppg; 3 reb; 50% FG; Tennessee TR

Baylor Starters

  • Guard: Jeremy Roach (SR) 6-2 180 lbs; 9 ppg; 2 reb; 3 asst; 22% FG; 25% 3pt; 100% FT; Duke TR
  • Guard: Jayden Nunn (SR) 6-4 190 lbs; 6 ppg; 4 reb; 2 asst; 38% FG
  • Guard: VJ Edgecombe (FR) 6-5 190 lbs; 4 ppg; 7 reb; 2 blks; 18% FG
  • Forward: Norchad Omier (SR) 6-7 245 lbs; 15 ppg; 9 reb; 42% FG; 71% FT; Miami TR
  • Forward: Josh Ojianwuna (JR) 6-10 255 lbs; 10 ppg; 6 reb; 3 st; 100% FG; 57% FT

Baylor Bench

  • Guard: Langston Love (JR) 6-5 215 lbs; 11 ppg; 3 reb; 47% FG; 48% 3p; 78% FT (2023-24 stats)
  • Forward: Jalen Celestine (SR) 6-7 215 lbs; 6 ppg; 40% FG; 40% 3pt; Cal TR
  • Guard: Rob Wright (FR) 6-1 180 lbs; 12 ppg; 6 asst; 43% FG
Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: No. 8 Baylor (0-1) versus No. 16 Arkansas (1-0)

9,881 Views | 123 Replies | Last: 5 hrs ago by historian
MrGolfguy
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Just win Bears!
tstuck
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Really worried after Gonzaga. Doubtful we will see any defensive improvement. We will have to hope we can get hot from 3.
IowaBear
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This has been an issue for 3 years. We're constantly relying on 40 minutes of lights out shooting because defense isn't played. I have a hard time seeing a win tomm. Arky is just too talented imo. That said it also feels like a classic Drew coached game where BU has its back against the wall and plays lights out
tstuck
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Ill save my true critique because ill get flamed like I did back in 2016 but Drew has never been a good defensive coach. Outside of what appears to now be a player led defensive improvement in 2020 and 2021, Baylor defense has always been abysmal. But here is to hoping we can atleast get the offensive end going better tomorrow!
Stefano DiMera
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More important question is will alcohol be served?

Fun times at Mavs game last night getting hammered.
Quinton
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2022 when locked in was the best defensive team in the country.. but the roster fell apart due to injuries. But youre right, The last several seasons have been terrible and there were many poor years prior to the resurgence .

Worse than 70 ranked defense is never justifiable with our talent. You can play good defense with big or small lineups. It comes down to fundamentals, effort, awareness, and teaching scheme
TWD 1974
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Quinton said:

2022 when locked in was the best defensive team in the country.. but the roster fell apart due to injuries. But youre right, The last several seasons have been terrible and there were many poor years prior to the resurgence .

Worse than 70 ranked defense is never justifiable with our talent. You can play good defense with big or small lineups. It comes down to fundamentals, effort, awareness, and teaching scheme
It would not have mattered if we were the 7th best defense in the country. If we shoot 14% from three against a top ten team, we are going home with an L.
Quinton
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Yeah if our offense is bad we lose, What does that have to do with anything? It was a broader point he made on the defense being terrible for multiple years.
Big12Fan2024
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Love already announced as OUT for tonight's game.
IowaBear
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Well I'll chalk this up as another L. Hope I can eat crow in a few hours
Big12Fan2024
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I'm expecting a win. I won't be surprised if it's a loss. I don't want it to be another complete no show.
BUCANDOIT82
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Win or lose…I don't want to see our guards asked to guard their posts in the post with no help.
Big12Fan2024
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Bears open in a zone and start much better.
bear2be2
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I'm glad to see us in zone. We can't defend decent offensive teams in man.
bear2be2
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I think we need to get Roach off the ball. As much as he wants to be, he's not a point guard.

I think we're trying to force a square peg into a round hole with him.
Big12Fan2024
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Not a PG. I had two people pretty close to the program tell me almost a month ago Wright would be the starting PG by conference play. I understand why now.
Big12Fan2024
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We are a much better team with Robert Wright on the court. He is impressive.
BUCANDOIT82
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Big12Fan2024 said:

Not a PG. I had two people pretty close to the program tell me almost a month ago Wright would be the starting PG by conference play. I understand why now.


I don't think he'll start…But he'll be our lead our lead point guard.
Stefano DiMera
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Good turnout of Green and Gold in stands..

That Washington St game here was embarrassing.
Stefano DiMera
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Josh O has bulked his upper body and he looks stiff as a board.
Cove Dawg
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Not sure how a basketball power starts a season with just one (very mediocre) 5 on the roster. Glaring weakness that will challenge this team the entire year.
Wacoraisedbear
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Sic emmmmm never worried!
bear2be2
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Encouraging start so far. We look much better and more engaged tonight.

It helps, of course, that Arkansas can't hit an outside shot to save its life. But I'll take it after the other night.
Stefano DiMera
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I don't think I've seen a Baylor team attack the rim and go downhill as much as I've seen tonight.

Not so much passing around the perimeter.
Team America
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Same ol Calipari team. No offense and can't shoot from 3.
Big12Fan2024
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Norchad is what I feel Jonathan would have become without the knee injury. Norchad is a bull around the basket!
bear2be2
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Big12Fan2024 said:

Norchad is what I feel Jonathan would have become without the knee injury. Norchad is a bull around the basket!
Omier is our best player. He's a beast in the paint.

I'm still unimpressed by Edgecombe's offensive skill. He plays way to fast and has really unnatural looking shot when his feet aren't completely set.
bear2be2
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I like this zone with a combination of Edgecombe, Celestine and Asemota on the wings. There's some serious length there. Reminds me of some of our good zone teams from the past.
Bearsalwayswin
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arkansas is so weird
Big12Fan2024
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Doug Sirmons called the KU vs UNC game last night and now calling this game.
bear2be2
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Asemota looks overmatched unfortunately. Wright is the only freshman who doesn't look like a freshman.
Big12Fan2024
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bear2be2 said:

Asemota looks overmatched unfortunately. Wright is the only freshman who doesn't look like a freshman.
I'm afraid our achilles heel this year may be that we spent too much on Roach thinking he could transition to a 1. Roach will be good but we would have probably been better served spending less on a true mid major 1 and then used the rest to add some front court depth. We have very little after Norchad and Josh. We are really small.
bear2be2
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I like the hustle and athleticism Edgecombe brings, but he's not a shooter. He needs to cut his 3-point attempts down by a lot.

Those long misses are just invitations for our opponents to run. And our transition defense isn't good enough to keep doing that.
bear2be2
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Josh O has been good tonight. He's been very active on defense and the boards.
Big12Fan2024
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Good sign that we took their blow to the stomach (their run) and bounced back and ended the half with our own run. That's the mark of a team that can become really good.
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