As No. 8 Baylor MBB’s season opener on Monday, Nov. 4, against No. 6 Gonzaga inches closer, it's time to start breaking down the roster, plus the biggest storylines and questions heading into the 2024-2025 season.
Today, with a bit of help from hoops experts Ashley Hodge and Kendall Kaut, we’ll assess the best-returning players from last year’s roster.
Jayden Nunn (Sr.): (35 GP, 28.6 MIN, 10.5 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.3 STL, 1.4 TO, 45.5 FG%, 43.9 3P%, 70.9 FT%)
In February, VCU transfer guard Jayden Nunn (Sr.) started to find his confidence and come into his own on the offensive end of the floor for the Bears.
He scored at least eight points in 10 of the final 11 conference games, averaging 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game during that stretch. He had a season-high 27 points in a 79-62 win over No. 25 Oklahoma on Feb. 13.
Despite being an excellent shooter, Nunn arguably didn’t take enough shots last year because he was often asked to run the offense when senior point guard RayJ Dennis was off the floor.
He was second on the team in 3-point percentage (43.9%) but was fourth in 3-point attempts (114) behind Dennis (119), Jalen Bridges (177) and Ja’Kobe Walter (220).
With Duke transfer Jeremy Roach (5Sr.) and Robert Wright III (Fr.) manning the point guard position most of the time this season, Nunn should have many more opportunities for open jumpers beyond the arc. If he’s occasionally asked to run the point, Nunn showed last year that he’s capable.
“Jeremy and Rob are both great guards, and they help me compete every day and become a better version of myself,” Nunn told the media in late September. “All three of us compete at a high level. It’s fun, for sure. Jeremy is a veteran and has been to a Final Four, which is where I also want to be.”
Defensively, Nunn was second on the team in steals per game (1.3) and was one of the few Baylor defenders who could create chaos on the perimeter. With better defenders surrounding him this year, he should excel in locking opposing players up.
Langston Love (RJr.): (24 GP, 24.8 MIN, 11.0 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.0 TO, 46.5 FG%, 48.0 3P%, 78.3 FT%)
When conference play rolled around last January, Langston Love (RJr.) looked like the front-runner for Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. He was incredible in that opening month, scoring in double figures for seven consecutive games, including a career-high 24-point barrage in a 77-69 road win against UCF on Jan. 31.
Unfortunately, injuries derailed the second half of the season for Love, an all-too-familiar storyline so far in his Baylor career. He missed the entire 2021-2022 season with a torn ACL and has logged just 27 total minutes in March due to varying injuries over the last two years.
To ensure Love peaks at the right time this season, head coach Scott Drew has been cautious in bringing him back to full speed, limiting him in practice and keeping him from participating against Grand Canyon in the scrimmage last weekend.
“My recovery is going great,” Love told the media in late September. “I have the right people around me doing the right stuff for me. We’re taking a good approach this year with my recovery, the organization of doing things and my schedule. It’s going to be a great year.”
If Love can stay on the floor this season, he will be one of the best players in the conference and will raise Baylor’s ceiling even further. He gives the Bears toughness on the perimeter, can get to the paint for easy shots and is a dead-eye shooter when given space; he attempted 75 3-pointers last season and shot at a team-high 48% clip.
Oh 100% Omier was the best transfer in the portal in my view. Him not being 1st team over Roberts didn't make any sense at all to me. With Omier, Edgecombe, Nunn can get up the floor too, and Roach we will have transition offensive potential not seen since at least 22'.IowaBear said:
That's not even taking into consideration that Omier is the best player in the conference. And I stand by that. He's not going to average huge numbers but his all around skill set and what he can do offensively/defensively is unmatched. Not sure BU has had a player as unique as him
Agreed 100% Omier is the best player in the conference, and I actually do think he will put up huge numbers. He is an absolute monster on both ends of the floor.IowaBear said:
That's not even taking into consideration that Omier is the best player in the conference. And I stand by that. He's not going to average huge numbers but his all around skill set and what he can do offensively/defensively is unmatched. Not sure BU has had a player as unique as him
Not at all worried about Josh. He took huge strides from the beginning of last season through conference play. He was a better fundamental defender than Missi. I am confident he developed even more over the summer. Historically we always develop bigs. I think Josh probably starts halves with Omier at the 4 and then Omier sliding to the 5 with the first substitution. They won't necessarily play together on the floor a whole lot at the same time but Drew always likes to start halves with a "true" center and then goes smaller.TXBEAR_bf said:
I am anxious to see how Josh developed over the summer. He will need to be a big piece for us off the bench. He has the athleticism do make big strides, but his basketball iq has always been shaky. He could be a big surprise for us, hoping.
Josh does exactly what CSD asks our bigs to do in our system, which is to set good screens on offense, play defense, and rebound. He will continue to be a vital cog in our rotation holding down the 5 with Omier. Marino is more of a project from what I have heard so I doubt he plays at all outside of garbage time minutes here and there.TXBEAR_bf said:
He took the ball from the top of the key/free line a couple of times and looked great when he was aggressive. He is in a tough spot like a lot of our bigs where his primary role is set screens, pick up garbage points off misses and rebound. I'm sure he will expand his game other wise he will lose his time to the foreign kid coming in.
