Texas is in for an absolute fist-fight, as the Horns travel TO Waco to take on the #15 Bears. Baylor just knocked off Kansas in fairly dominating fashion, so the Longhorns will need to play their best, clean, and most complete game of basketball that they've played all season if they want to get out of Waco with a win. This is going to be a game that will be a really good barometer for how Texas stacks up against the best teams in the Big 12 as we head into the conference tournament. We're going to change up the formatting a little bit to make some of the information easier to digest. Let's dive in.
Tip Off: 8PM CT on ESPN
Baylor Scouting Report
Starting 5
#4 Ja'Kobe Walter (Fr)
Guard
6’5, 195lbs
14.7 PPG, 4.6 REB, 1.6 AST - 38.2 FG%, 33.3 3PT%, 80% FT
Ja'Kobe Walter is a stud. He'll probably be a top 10-top 15 pick come draft time, and he can do it all. He puts up a lot of shots and is one of those players that can either shoot you out of a game, or single handedly take over one. He can shoot the ball anywhere on the floor and is really good off the dribble. He can use either hand, and is one of these contain him if you can't stop him matchups. If I'm Texas, I have either Chendall Weaver or Tyrese Hunter playing footsteps with him all game. Go over every ball screen, shade left, no open looks and make everything contested. This means that Texas' bigs need to hard hedge on ball screens and there needs to be quick rotations on the help side. It all comes down to communication.
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#2 Jayden Nunn (Jr)
Guard
6'4, 190lbs
10.8 PPG, 2.6 REB, 2.2 AST - 47.6 FG%, 46.3 3PT%, 68.7% FT
The VCU transfer is an explosive primary/secondary ball handler and will be the one working opposite of Walters. He's really good around the rim, can use either hand, and can knock down open shots. He's not one of these guards who is going to take you off the dribble and try to create space for an open jump shot, as he's looking to get to the rim but make no mistake...he's knocking down triples at a staggering 46.3% clip so he can definitely shoot it. His tendances lean towards getting to the rim. This matchup will be interchangeable for Weaver and Hunter. You just have to keep this guy in front. If you don't it's going to be a painfully long night. He has a really good handle, he's explosive, but you need to not let him be a factor in the paint. If you're guarding him away from the ball, don't lose him because right now he's one of the best in the Big 12 in knocking down threes.
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#21 Yves Missi (Fr)
Forward
6’11, 235lbs
11.2 PPG, 5.6 REB, 0.4 AST - 63.7 FG%, 0 3PT%, 60.5% FT
This guy reminds me so much of Jericho Sims. Sims was much more vertically explosive, and while Missi is too, he just does everything that Sims did. Physical, energetic, high flying big man that can play pick and roll defense like nobody else in the country. This matchup with either Dylan Disu, Dylan Mitchell, or Kaden Shedrick is going to be fun to watch as this guy is going to be a handful. If you're Texas, he loves trying to create for himself and often finds himself in bad situations when he picks up his dribble. He's a little too selfish with the basketball and is going to force shots. Go straight up, box out, make him go left. You HAVE to keep him off the glass. The first 10 seconds of this clip might remind you of someone (Sims). This is from two days ago.
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#3 Rayj Dennis (Super Sr)
Guard
6’2, 180lbs
13.4 PPG, 3.9 REB, 6.7 AST - 49.7 FG%, 37.8 3PT%, 70.6% FT
Whew...there is more really good guard play from the Bears, and I tell you what Rayj Dennis is fun to watch. Again, another guard that can score with either hand, plays really good defense, and doesn't really force the issue. This is THE primary ball handler for the Bears, even though he, Walters, and Nunn can all bring the ball up the floor. I guess this is going to be all Abmas, and while Abmas is a solid on-ball defender I don't like this matchup. We'll see how Rodney Terry wants to do this, but this gives me the heeby jeebies (no clue how you spell that). This guy averages damn near 7 assists a game and it's because he beats his defender whenever he wants to to be honest. You HAVE to stay in front of him.
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#23 Jalen Bridges (Super Sr)
Forward
6'7, 220lbs
11.2 PPG, 5.2 REB, 1.5 AST - 44.9 FG%, 40.1 3PT%, 84.9% FT
Shooter, shooter shooter. Not much else to say here. Play footsteps, don't let him get open, make him take contested shots, etc. Box out as this kid loves to crash the boards. In my opinion, this matchup has Brock Cunningham written all over it and it's going to be a DOOZY. These guys are going to be killing each other all game and I cannot wait to see it. Bridges loves to shoot from the corner, be aware of where he is on the floor at all times, find him in transition, etc. Make no mistake, he can put the ball on the floor but he wants to take shots from the outside.
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Bench
#13 Langston Love (RS Soph)
Guard
6'5, 210lbs
11.1 PPG, 2.8 REB, 1.2 AST - 46.1 FG%, 49.3 3PT%, 79.1% FT
This one hit home for me because I helped coach Langston when I was in High School here in San Antonio. He and I both had the same youth AAU coach growing up so it's cool to see him playing at this level. Anyways...hope he loses. Love has a very well-rounded game. He can shoot it, take you off the dribble, and he's a very good defender. He brings three years of experience off the bench and as evidenced by what bench success looks like per Texas' last few wins, that is no small thing. He doesn't take a ton of perimeter jump shots but you just need to play him straight up.
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Prize Picks:
Summary:
I'm 2-0 on predictions thus far and not to self-sabotage my own mod ranking here, but I look at this game through an unbiased lens. I hope I'm 2-1 by the end of the night. I have the Horns dropping one in Waco, 65-74. Baylor's guard play is really...REALLY good and I think that if this game becomes a good ole' fashioned shootout that Texas will be in trouble. The Horns need to show up defensively and play the best they've played all season, while needing the same if not more from Abmas and Disu. It'll be a fun one regardless and will do well for Texas' tournament seeding if they can pull out the win.
Thanks for reading!
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