Saturday sucked, there's no getting around that. I don't know if I have been more annoyed/frustrated/mad after a loss in recent memory. To put that in perspective that's not because Cincinatti was bad (they are not) or because it was a season ender (it wasn't) or because Tech didn't leave it on the floor (Tech emptied the tank), for me it was completely about the how and the why behind the loss. Tech is operating with a near zero margin for error right now, we all know that, and it there is no shame in losing to a team full of 30-year-old 6'6+ guys. To have opportunity after opportunity to put the game away down the stretch and not lock up on defense is maddening. Tech was right there! Literally one stop away after a clutch Pop three from game over but the next possession Simas Lukosius drove off a ball screen and shot an unimpeded middy for the win. For me there is nothing more frustrating to watch a team need a stop and know deep down that they were not going to get it. Also, like I said earlier this is not a "bad" or season-ending loss, but my source of annoyance comes from being oh so close at making life a hell of a lot easier down the stretch. Winning in general is hard in the B12 so when the chance to get one at home slips through Tech's fingers it really sucks. Especially with the next 3-4 game stretch being brutal. At the end of the day Tech is 5-3, very much in the tournament picture, and playing better than anyone would have thought. Losses happen but despite being beaten up, sick as hell, and not playing generally well they nearly won against a team playing with nothing to lose. Like the great Rascal Flatts said " What hurts the most is being so close". This team is tough as hell but damn that blew.
A quick aside on Baylor.... This is not a Baylor team that is in championship contention imo. They are very similar to the last two iterations of Baylor teams with pro Freshmen, elite guard play and middling defense. They are not unbeatable and will not be as physically imposing as TCU/Cinci. But Tech is catching them on a short turn around with a bug running through the Tech roster. So, this could be a tough one.
Baylor by the Numbers:
A quick aside on Baylor.... This is not a Baylor team that is in championship contention imo. They are very similar to the last two iterations of Baylor teams with pro Freshmen, elite guard play and middling defense. They are not unbeatable and will not be as physically imposing as TCU/Cinci. But Tech is catching them on a short turn around with a bug running through the Tech roster. So, this could be a tough one.
Baylor by the Numbers:
- 16th in the country per Kenpom
- 4th on offense
- 74th on defense
- 21st per Haslametrics
- 8th on offense
- 66th on defense
- 19th per Torvik
- 4th on offense
- 89th on defense
- 1st in the country in 3p% (41.8%)
- 13th in eFG% (56.5%)
- 18th in OR% (36.5%)
- Get to the line at the 43rd highest rate in the country
- Middle of the pack in 3PAR - 143rd
- 10th in Second chance conversion %
- Finish at the rim well - 19th in the country in near proximity % (65.79)
- Just okay FT shooting team - 72%
- 305th in near proximity attempt % allowed
- Allow opponents to shoot 33% from deep (102nd)
- Ja'Kobe Walter - Walter is the latest big time guard recruit and likely one-and-done to enroll at Baylor. He is a very talented shot maker who feasted during non-con but has largely struggled during conference play. Offensively Walter is looking for his jumper first, second and third. He moves very well without the ball and has a very pretty and quick release on his shot. Walter will be run off screens, is the recipient of CnS looks and will take them off the bounce. He does not need much space and will pull up from way behind the arc. As a ball handler Walter doesn't have the tightest handle or the quickest first step. He will attack closeouts but when he puts the ball on the deck he is usually looking to get to his jumper. Inside the arc he can post smaller defenders and Baylor likes to get him off pin-downs or curling off screens to get Walter moving towards the basket. He has good size but is not the most explosive finisher at this point and can take too many contested jumpers. Not shooting a great % from 3 rn (35% on high volume) but cannot be left as he has a green light and can get hot quickly. Good rebounder. On defense he has the requisite size and plays really hard. Will get into a stance and guard but doesn't have the greatest lateral quickness. Makes up for it with effort but can get out of position. Averaging 14.5 points, 4.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg. 6'5 195.
- Rayj Dennis - Senior transfer from Toledo and Baylor's floor general. Dennis is really the guy who makes Baylor's offense go. From first glance he doesn't look like much, but he is a hooper. Dennis is not a plus athlete and is not huge but has a tremendous ability to change speeds and to see angles on the floor that most wouldn't. He won't blow by anyone but is a maestro in the half court in ball-screens. Dennis is able to get his defender off-kilter and on his hip regularly and has a knack for knowing when to think score vs. shoot out of a ball screen. If there's anyone who runs a better ball screen in the conference, I haven't seen them. Inside he likes to finish with a scoop shot (either hand) or is excellent operating out of the post. Baylor will post him up a ton against other guards. A solid shooter from deep (39%) Dennis is another guy who cannot be left open. Tremendous court vision (great lob thrower) and one of the best passers in the conference. His biggest weakness offensively is he can be very turnover prone and a bit too ambitious passing the ball. On defense he is just okay as Dennis is limited athletically. Plays hard but can be taken advantage of. Averaging 13.4 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.9 rpg, and 1.2 spg. 6'2 180.
- Langston Love - Junior guard and former top 50 recruit. Love has struggled with injuries during his career but is really starting to come into his own. Love is a big-bodied wing who can really fill it up on offense. He is not a freaky athlete but is very smooth. Probably the most dangerous player off the bounce for Baylor love has a tight handle and is very aggressive attacking in a variety of scenarios. He has pretty advanced moves for a guy his size and uses his frame very well to move smaller guards. Love will finish at the rack but loves to get to his right hand (mostly after a spin move) finish with a runner. Attacks hard close outs especially. Not explosive but can finish through contact. Very efficient three-point shooter who cannot be left alone (49% from deep). Not much of a rebounder or passer. Mediocre defender who can lose attention at times. Worries me because of his size and ability to play in the ball screen or off the catch. Averaging 11.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 spg. 6'5 210.
- Yves Missi - Another uber talented Freshman for Baylor. Missi is likely Baylor's most physically gifted player. Looks like he was built in a lab to play the 5. On offense he has tremendous footwork for a player his size and age. Not super polished in the post but is aggressive and has good touch. Likes to attack off the bounce in the mid post and get to his right hand. Tremendous in transition and is a monster on the offensive glass. Must be accounted for or will put you in the rim. Not someone who will stretch the floor at all, not a playmaker, and is a below average FT shooter. Defensively he is extremely mobile and will block everything. The problem for him on defense is that he also tries to block everything. Tends to be in constant foul trouble. But when he is on the floor plays with a high motor and edge. Averages 10.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg in 20 mpg. 7'0 235.
- Jalen Bridges - Veteran wing and seeming 10 year vet of the B12. Bridges is the jack-of-all-trades for Baylor. Offensively he has turned himself into a low-usage high efficiency player for the Bears. Operates mostly as a catch and shoot guy in the half court and shoots over half of his shots from deep (39%). Does not have the best handle and mostly attacks off of closeouts and in transition. Will take one dribble pullups in the midrange if you let him but is a large wing who can finish at the cup. Very good in transition and likes to relocate to the corner and shoot threes out of transition opportunities. Defensively he is Baylor's best defender and is usually put on the opposing team's best scorer. Can guard 1-4. Averaging 10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, .7 bpg. 6'9 225.
- Jayden Nunn - transfer from VCU and starting guard. Good size and quickness for a combo guard. Good 3 point shooter but likes to do most of his damage off the bounce where is a solid if unspectacular finisher. Likes to get downhill off of ball screens and likes to isolate off of switches and attack using his quickness. Another guy who cannot be left from deep (42%) but is just an ok FT shooter. Good passer out of penetration scenarios. Very pesky on defense and has a rep as a ball-hawk. Not overly physical. 6'4 190. Averaging 9.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg.
- Josh Ojianwuna and Caleb Lohner are the bigs off the bench. Ojianwuna is a ridiculously long big who is a lob threat and put back guy. He is finishing at a high rate (78%) and pounds the offensive glass but isn't much of a shot blocker. Not a good defender and fouls quite a bit. Lohner is a goofy looking energy big/wing who can really rebound and plays very hard. Limited defensively and skill wise.
- Get to the line - Tech needs to win the FT battle and get Baylor's bigs into foul trouble. That will force Baylor to go smaller and not have the overwhelming advantage on the offensive glass.
- Turn them over - Baylor's guards can get a bit turnover happy. Tech needs to take advantage.
- Play with physicality defending screens -Cincinatti got whatever they wanted offensively. Can't let that happen tomorrow night or Baylor will drop 90
- Actually contest shooters - this is not a team Tech can soft-closeout against. Baylor is one of the best shooting teams in the country.
- Joe and Darrion .......
