From the article: we are the first in this category fyi...
Total rebuilds with talent
7. Baylor
Last season: 20-15, second round
Coach: Scott Drew (23rd season)
Baylor's projected starting 5
Obi Agbim
G
Sr.
17.6 PPG, 3.4 APG
Wyoming
Cameron Carr
G
Jr.
4.8 PPG
Tennessee
Tounde Yessoufou
G
Fr.
No. 11-ranked freshman
St. Joseph High (Calif.)
Michael Rataj
F
Sr.
16.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Oregon State
Caden Powell
F
Sr.
10.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Rice
Top bench players: Dan Skillings Jr. (9.2 PPG at Cincinnati); Juslin Bodo Bodo (5.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG at High Point); JJ White (13.7 PPG, 4.0 APG at Omaha); Isaac Williams (10.8 PPG, 3.7 APG at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi); Mayo Soyoye (freshman, NR)
Biggest losses: VJ Edgecombe (15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG); Norchad Omier (15.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG); Robert Wright III (11.5 PPG, 4.2 APG); Jeremy Roach (10.0 PPG); Jayden Nunn (8.6 PPG); Jalen Celestine (7.1 PPG); Langston Love (8.9 PPG); Josh Ojianwuna (7.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG)
Why they're here: Track record. Baylor does not have one rotational player returning from a year ago. The plan was to bring back Wright, but then BYU came with an offer he could not refuse. So Drew hit the transfer portal to reload and it's an interesting mix.
Instead of last year's approach, where most of the salary pool went to three big names (Edgecombe, Omier and Roach), it appears Baylor went for depth. It's a mix of proven scorers from mediocre teams Agbim and Rataj and talented players who needed a change of scenery like Skillings and Carr. If Yessoufou is as good as scouts made him sound this summer, then the Bears should have another good offense.
For Baylor to win again in March, Drew needs this it to get back to buying in on the defensive end. That has been Baylor's issue since winning the title in 2021. While Baylor has ranked in the top 20 in offense for seven straight seasons, the Bears have fallen off on the other end the last three years, with an average finish of 80.3 in adjusted defense after a three-year run with an average finish of 13. Maybe it comes together and Baylor climbs into that top tier again, or maybe the Bears miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Either seems feasible.
Total rebuilds with talent
7. Baylor
Last season: 20-15, second round
Coach: Scott Drew (23rd season)
Baylor's projected starting 5
Obi Agbim
G
Sr.
17.6 PPG, 3.4 APG
Wyoming
Cameron Carr
G
Jr.
4.8 PPG
Tennessee
Tounde Yessoufou
G
Fr.
No. 11-ranked freshman
St. Joseph High (Calif.)
Michael Rataj
F
Sr.
16.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Oregon State
Caden Powell
F
Sr.
10.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Rice
Top bench players: Dan Skillings Jr. (9.2 PPG at Cincinnati); Juslin Bodo Bodo (5.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG at High Point); JJ White (13.7 PPG, 4.0 APG at Omaha); Isaac Williams (10.8 PPG, 3.7 APG at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi); Mayo Soyoye (freshman, NR)
Biggest losses: VJ Edgecombe (15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG); Norchad Omier (15.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG); Robert Wright III (11.5 PPG, 4.2 APG); Jeremy Roach (10.0 PPG); Jayden Nunn (8.6 PPG); Jalen Celestine (7.1 PPG); Langston Love (8.9 PPG); Josh Ojianwuna (7.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG)
Why they're here: Track record. Baylor does not have one rotational player returning from a year ago. The plan was to bring back Wright, but then BYU came with an offer he could not refuse. So Drew hit the transfer portal to reload and it's an interesting mix.
Instead of last year's approach, where most of the salary pool went to three big names (Edgecombe, Omier and Roach), it appears Baylor went for depth. It's a mix of proven scorers from mediocre teams Agbim and Rataj and talented players who needed a change of scenery like Skillings and Carr. If Yessoufou is as good as scouts made him sound this summer, then the Bears should have another good offense.
For Baylor to win again in March, Drew needs this it to get back to buying in on the defensive end. That has been Baylor's issue since winning the title in 2021. While Baylor has ranked in the top 20 in offense for seven straight seasons, the Bears have fallen off on the other end the last three years, with an average finish of 80.3 in adjusted defense after a three-year run with an average finish of 13. Maybe it comes together and Baylor climbs into that top tier again, or maybe the Bears miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Either seems feasible.