Postgame Podcast & Thoughts: No. 7 Iowa State 72, Baylor 69

Baylor (13-10, 3-8) keeps it close in Ames, but ultimately falls to No. 7 Iowa State (21-2, 8-2) 72-69. Cameron Carr leads the Bears with 24 points.

Positives

• Baylor was ranked No. 116 in KenPom defensive efficiency after the TCU loss in Waco. Four games later, they climbed 31 spots to No. 85. That’s a big improvement over that time period.  
• I love how the team competed in a game that no one gave Baylor a chance to win. Only trailed 50-49 in the second half, got down 15 but clawed back to make it competitive at the end.  
• Limiting to nine turnovers in Ames is a great number. Especially considering 4 of those belonged to Michael Rataj.  
• Only one “on paper low probability win” game left on the schedule: at Houston. You could say Arizona as well, but things happen on the road. Hopefully, the Bears can channel some magic at home a few times this year.  
• Cameron Carr (156 offensive rating) and Caden Powell (210 rating) played great basketball games.  

Concerns

• Rataj seems to continue to regress. He’s not a good shooter, he’s a poor defender, and he has inextricably weak hands (leading to four turnovers). Other than being an elite athlete, not sure what he brings to the team at this point.  
• The Bears have to stay out of foul trouble. Issac Williams IV ends up fouling out, but Tounde Yessoufou and Carr also had to be more cautious after picking up 2 first half fouls each.  
• Baylor got crushed on the glass- 37-25. Obi Agbim had a really bad missed box out that I noticed, but he wasn’t the only one.  

Regroup and beat BYU!