With College Basketball just 3 weeks away, we begin our Big 12 Preview with the Baylor Bears.
Scott Drew has truly done some incredible things at Baylor and made them a respectable program to everyone in the country. But this season, it might be one of his biggest challenges. Not from a talent standpoint, but with experience. With 3 lone scholarship players returning from last year’s squad that played in a game, there’s a ton of inexperience on this roster. These 3 combined for 21.6 PPG as senior guard King McClure leads the charge with 8.1 PPG. Sophomore Tyson Jolly transferred during the off-season and senior guard Jake Lindsey suffered a season ending injury in August. Lindsey will be redshirting this year and play his final year next season. So the question is who is on this roster? It consists of a ton of JUCO’s and incoming freshman headlined by Ex-Yale PG Makai Mason. Mason played against Baylor in the 2016-2017 NCAA Tournament, scoring 27 points against the Bears as he averaged 16.7 PPG that year. Mario Kegler and Darius Allen (Mississippi State and Palm Beach State) are also other key transfers coming into the program as both sat out last year. The true freshman Baylor brought in include ESPN 100 F/G Hybrid Matthew Mayer, G Jared Butler, and F Flo Thamba. A duo of very talented guards in Macio Teague and Davion Mitchell (UNC Ashville and Auburn) also transferred into the program during the offseason, but will be sitting out this year. The talented and proven track record at other schools is there, the question is will it come together and make it a successful season for the Bears
Notable Non-Conference Games:
November 23rd: Ole Miss (Emerald Coast Classic)
November 24th: Cincinnati/George Mason (Emerald Coast Classic)
December 1st: At. Wichita State
December 15th: At. Arizona
December 21st: Vs. Oregon
January 26th: Vs. Alabama (Big 12/SEC Classic)
The Non-Conference slate is one of if not the toughest in the entire conference, a schedule that also includes Stephen F. Austin (NCAA Tournament team a year ago, 28-7) and South Dakota (26-9 Postseason Appearance). With road trips to Wichita and Tucson, it should have the Bears prepared for the Big 12 slate as well as a last non-conference game right in the middle of conference play with Colin Sexton less Alabama coming into Waco.
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG- Makai Mason (SR.)
SG- King McClure (SR.)
SF- Mario Kegler (SO.)
PF- Tristan Clark (SO.)
C- Flo Thamba (FR.)
Projected Finish:NCAA Tournament, 2nd Round
