UPDATED ROTHSTEIN 45 POST NBA DRAFT DEADLINE:

TOP 10:

1. Kansas
2. Duke
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Florida Atlantic
6. Marquette
7. Arizona
8. Miami
9. Creighton
10. USChttps://t.co/63E1VQ0wer

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 1, 2023

21. Baylor
Projected Starting 5:
G RayJ Dennis
G Ja'Kobe Walter
G Langston Love
F Jalen Bridges
C Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua
Projected Bench: Dantwan Grimes, Josh Ojianwuna, Caleb Lohner, Jayden Nunn, Yves Missi, Miro Little
Key Newcomers: Miro Little, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jayden Nunn (VCU), Yves Missi, RayJ Dennis (Toledo)
Key Losses: Keyonte George, Flo Thamba, LJ Cryer, Dale Bonner

Flagler isn't a key loss? Ok.

I tried to tell you guys Flagler was overrated all these years. FLO was REALLY the man!!!!!!

(Pretty big whiff there from Jon)

Rothstein probably didn't watch enough Baylor games.

I think #21 is too low.

Tylerbear said:

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I think #21 is too low.

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It really has nothing to do with talent, it just reflects the unknown. This team has unbelievable boom/bust potential. We're soft enough inside to make you think we might have a low-seed 1-and-done season, but it also has enough guard talent to make you think we might finish the season in the top 10 or 15, get hot and make a March run.

We're so weak inside that we'll probably run some sets this year with Bridges/Missi at the 5 and Dennis/Walter/Love/Little on the floor at the same time. It'll be like a nostalgic, nitrous-fueled version of the Jerrells/Dugat/Dunn/Tweety lineups.

Missi is going to enter the season as our 3rd string big. JTT Will look worlds better and Josh O should make a sophomore leap. Don't think will be near as weak inside as we were this season

Agree with Iowa on this. I think we improve at the 5 from last year. Josh O showed flashes with the ability to hit from 8-10 feet, Flo could never do that consistently. JTT should be much better. Missi is more of a project in my mind than what others seem to expect. He is long and lean, so should be good/ok D, but just not sure how much offense I would expect from him. I hope he isn't coming in thinking 1 and done, I don't think he will get the minutes to prove it out. But if we get thin with foul trouble he can come in and be a presence down low to hold the lane.
If Bridges comes back, we have a solid 4, and I also think Caleb will be much improved as a back up. He has a decent outside shot and will be a full year in the system.
I feel like this team is a solid at every position. It's all about the gel.
This team could be Final Four good. Honestly I don't see Kansas being that much better talent wise than us. They are preseason 1, and we are 20-25 based on source. I just don't see that. I think we are a top 10 team. But I also wear the green glasses.

IowaBear said:

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Missi is going to enter the season as our 3rd string big. JTT Will look worlds better and Josh O should make a sophomore leap. Don't think will be near as weak inside as we were this season

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I'm not saying a 4-guard lineup will be our default mode, but we're going to have to use it some, as Drew has shown the willingness to do in the past when the talent forces your hand.

It's obvious Josh O is a massive project, and to expect much of him this year is asking for trouble. Even with JTT out/diminished and Flo putting in a sleepwalker of a season he still looked massively out of place even for a first-year guy, aside from a couple noncon romps and one game against TCU where he was pretty good. I'm not saying he won't be better, but he certainly has the look of a guy who doesn't significantly factor until an upperclassman, if he does at all.

And I'm extremely hopeful JTT returns to or close to pre-injury form - if he does we'll be scary. But I'll have to see it to believe it first. He didn't look right at all last season when he was back, and even if he's at or as close to 100% as he's going to be this year, I wouldn't blame him if his mental state never allows him to return to the level of aggression and energy that made him what he was. Of course I hope it does.

Can everyone please stop insulting Everyday Jon by using his initials? He has stated that he hates that because it dishonors his family which is important in his culture. We may not think much of it but if we are Baylor fans and appreciate what he does for our team it's not much to ask that you use Everyday Jon or EJ. He's ok with that.

I know this sounds kinda nit-picky but it seems like the kind of thing a Frog or Cow troll would do just to show contempt for one of our great athletes.

What Historian said.

The worry about our post play is overstated. Our guard-oriented system doesn't require offense from those guys, we just need guys who can defend on one end and set screens on the other. The 3 headed monster of EJ / Josh O / Missi will hold down the 5. Of greater concern is the 4, we need Bridges to return or the Tennessee transfer. Would love to have both if we have room.