Baylor Basketball Notebook: Bears Get Full Team Contribution in Comprehensive Win

Newcomers shine in first taste wearing the Baylor uniform as Bears crush Mississippi Valley State.

For the fifth-ranked Baylor Bears, opening the season against one of the worst teams in Division I basketball means, among other things, just about all your guys will play. 11 players played and 10 scored as the Bears never trailed in a 117-53 win over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils.

Aside from the GLOBL JAM summer tournament in Canada, this was the first look for Baylor fans at five new Bears who will all factor into the rotation. Between Keyonte George, Caleb Lohner, Jalen Bridges, Langston Love, and Josh Ojianwuna, the new guys accounted for 55 points and 28 rebounds.

The player I was most impressed with Monday wasn't a newcomer, but one that could be a totally different player from last year if the win over the Delta Devils is any indication of what he will contribute this year.

Dale Bonner could be a huge bench piece

If the Bears weren't hit so hard by the injury bug last season, Division II Fairmont State transfer guard Dale Bonner likely would have redshirted. Instead, he was thrust into the starting lineup down the stretch a few times, and that experience looks invaluable.

Bonner was mostly used as a defensive, gritty sub last year and struggled offensively, especially from beyond the three-point arc. Teams didn't even bother covering him from deep, as he shot under 20% from three and averaged just over three points a game. Monday, he went 3-4 from deep and notched 14 points, a career-high, with a much-improved jump shot. He also added six assists and three steals and looked like a legitimate point guard who can give George a rest in games while still allowing Adam Flagler and L.J. Cryer to play in their more comfortable shooting guard. 

On a team with so much backcourt depth, Bonner could be a huge two-way player off the bench this year.

Caleb Lohner is no statue

While his hairstyle might make him look like Michelangelo's masterpiece Renaissance sculpture David, BYU transfer Caleb Lohner showed he didn't have marble in his Nikes.

While he looks like a big, bulky, old-fashioned rim protector, Lohner showed the athleticism that makes him look more like Quincy Acy than Josh Lomers. That's just an athleticism comparison, Baylor fans, don't eat me alive. In 15 minutes, he collected seven points and five rebounds but was getting in on steals, running the floor in transition, and trying poster dunks. He could be crucial to Baylor's success this year with a lack of depth in the frontcourt and the versatility to make up some of what you lose until Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua hopefully comes back.

Pressing the right buttons

Before the first media timeout of the season, the Bears went into a lethal full-court press, something we haven't seen much from Scott Drew in the past few seasons. I've mentioned it a few times here, but the backcourt depth is the best Baylor has had in a while, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them use the press more often, especially if they can use it to wear down Big 12 teams and speed the game up.

You do have to take into account it was against Mississippi Valley State, but the Bears forced 25 turnovers and scored 35 points off said turnovers Monday. They even called off the dogs the last few minutes. Baylor's first test is against the No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers on November 18, it'll be interesting to see if Drew utilizes the press then.

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