Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

Stefano DiMera said:

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Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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That was back when we were returning a nucleus of players and the nit was a great development tool. Much different situation now. Next season we will be starting from scratch again except for maybe Williams and Nnaji.

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If we're starting from scratch again next season, we've utterly failed this year -- and in every way imaginable. There are six scholarship players eligible to return from this roster, including several we recruited as developmental projects.

If we don't bring most of those guys back, Scott Drew needs to be pressed on what exactly he's trying to accomplish with his roster building strategies. Because if we don't bring back the guys we can from this roster, we'll have lost both our ability to build for short- or long-term success.

Oldbear83 said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

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Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam toward tournament inclusion.

Facts of 2026 Baylor Basketball

1. Baylor will continue to lose to teams with good defense
2. The whiners will blame Drew and pretend he's no good regardless of how and why we lose those games
3. Baylor will win some more games this season including at least one upset
4. The whiners will have nothing to say when we win, except to point to other losses rather than enjoy the win

bear2be2 said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

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Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

Oldbear83 said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

---

Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

I think our best chance at what will be seen as a good a win is at UCF. They're not a great defensive team, so we'll likely score pretty well in that one. The question will be whether or not we can slow their offense, which is very good.

I don't worry about home/road with this team because there's really no difference for us -- and for many Scott Drew teams in the past. That's not always a good thing at home, but it's a great thing on the road.

I also think BYU is somewhat vulnerable, but I don't know that we have the pieces to beat a team with their talent level. I hope the Bears prove me wrong.

Unfortunately, I have trouble envisioning any circumstances where we win at Ames, in Houston or at home against Arizona, which probably means we're coming up short of the conference record we would need to get back into the tournament discussion -- well short if we don't win all of the games we "should."

The losing conference record while making the ncaas narrative only works when you have the resume to back it up. This is going to offend people but Baylor has zero business even being in the duscussion. The resume is garbage (hard truth) could that change? Sure, but there's really nothing to suggest that this team is going to magically flip a switch against good teams. They're getting mauled in Ames, Houston and at home vs AZ. Again hard truths with the data we have so far. They would need to be perfect against everyone else imo to even be in the discussion.

IowaBear said:

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The losing conference record while making the ncaas narrative only works when you have the resume to back it up. This is going to offend people but Baylor has zero business even being in the duscussion. The resume is garbage (hard truth) could that change? Sure, but there's really nothing to suggest that this team is going to magically flip a switch against good teams. They're getting mauled in Ames, Houston and at home vs AZ. Again hard truths with the data we have so far. They would need to be perfect against everyone else imo to even be in the discussion.

---

It really depends on how soft the bubble is. But I don't see any team in this year's Big 12 getting left out with an 8-10 conference record.

Our problem is we would need at least two upsets to even get there with the hole we've dug.

bear2be2 said:

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Crawfoso1973 said:

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That was back when we were returning a nucleus of players and the nit was a great development tool. Much different situation now. Next season we will be starting from scratch again except for maybe Williams and Nnaji.

---

If we're starting from scratch again next season, we've utterly failed this year -- and in every way imaginable. There are six scholarship players eligible to return from this roster, including several we recruited as developmental projects.

If we don't bring most of those guys back, Scott Drew needs to be pressed on what exactly he's trying to accomplish with his roster building strategies. Because if we don't bring back the guys we can from this roster, we'll have lost both our ability to build for short- or long-term succes

---

Only Williams and Nnaji are among those eligible to return who are receiving meaningful playing time this year. The rest are injured and / or long-term developmental guys. We will bring in a major haul (once again) to be competitive next year. Can't rely on a bunch of injured guys and projects to make us competitive next season.

The core nucleus from that NIT season all returned the following season, and made a deep run in the tourney.

Apples to oranges comparison.

Somewhere on here it was mentioned that technically Agbim could return. Not sure how that would work

The bubble was INCREDIBLY soft last year and this year it may be more.

This is where it benefits being in Big 12 because every game is Quad 1 or 2 at the least.

The committees mandate on the last 4 in and last 4 byes is could that team go to a neutral site and win a tournament game.. if you've got multiple Quad 1 and 2 wins that's going to be the tiebreaker.

Conference record won't matter as much because they realize all conferences aren't equal

That being said 8-10 and a win in Ft Worth next week against Louisville is probably the path where we least have to sweat it out Selection Sunday.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Crawfoso1973 said:

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That was back when we were returning a nucleus of players and the nit was a great development tool. Much different situation now. Next season we will be starting from scratch again except for maybe Williams and Nnaji.

---

If we're starting from scratch again next season, we've utterly failed this year -- and in every way imaginable. There are six scholarship players eligible to return from this roster, including several we recruited as developmental projects.

If we don't bring most of those guys back, Scott Drew needs to be pressed on what exactly he's trying to accomplish with his roster building strategies. Because if we don't bring back the guys we can from this roster, we'll have lost both our ability to build for short- or long-term succes

---

Only Williams and Nnaji are among those eligible to return who are receiving meaningful playing time this year. The rest are injured and / or long-term developmental guys. We will bring in a major haul (once again) to be competitive next year. Can't rely on a bunch of injured guys and projects to make us competitive next season.

The core nucleus from that NIT season all returned the following season, and made a deep run in the tourney.

Apples to oranges comparison.

---

If those injured guys are healthy, talented and capable of holding rotation spots -- as both Bodo Bodo and Perez were believed by this staff to be when we added them, they should be brought back and given the opportunity to prove that.

Recycling the roster every year is a sure fire way to stay in this current wilderness we're in.

Culture and continuity matter. Returners set the standard, expectations and culture for the new players entering a program. Without them, there is no year-to-year or sustainable standard. It's just a series of one-off teams and your program is gone.

We need to bring back as many of the six non-seniors on our roster as we can. And those guys need to work their asses off in the offseason to improve to a point that they can be contributors around the transfers we bring in through the portal.

IowaBear said:

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Somewhere on here it was mentioned that technically Agbim could return. Not sure how that would work

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He played his first two years in JUCO. If he can get those years back, that would be pretty awesome.

bear2be2 said:

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Crawfoso1973 said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Crawfoso1973 said:

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That was back when we were returning a nucleus of players and the nit was a great development tool. Much different situation now. Next season we will be starting from scratch again except for maybe Williams and Nnaji.

---

If we're starting from scratch again next season, we've utterly failed this year -- and in every way imaginable. There are six scholarship players eligible to return from this roster, including several we recruited as developmental projects.

If we don't bring most of those guys back, Scott Drew needs to be pressed on what exactly he's trying to accomplish with his roster building strategies. Because if we don't bring back the guys we can from this roster, we'll have lost both our ability to build for short- or long-term succes

---

Only Williams and Nnaji are among those eligible to return who are receiving meaningful playing time this year. The rest are injured and / or long-term developmental guys. We will bring in a major haul (once again) to be competitive next year. Can't rely on a bunch of injured guys and projects to make us competitive next season.

The core nucleus from that NIT season all returned the following season, and made a deep run in the tourney.

Apples to oranges comparison.

---

If those injured guys are healthy, talented and capable of holding rotation spots -- as both Bodo Bodo and Perez were believed by this staff to be when we added them, they should be brought back and given the opportunity to prove that.

Recycling the roster every year is a sure fire way to stay in this current wilderness we're in.

Culture and continuity matter. Returners set the standard, expectations and culture for the new players entering a program. Without them, there is no year-to-year or sustainable standard. It's just a series of one-off teams and your program is gone.

We need to bring back as many of the six non-seniors on our roster as we can. And those guys need to work their asses off in the offseason to improve to a point that they can be contributors around the transfers we bring in through the portal.

---

Yes, I agree with the need for continuity. I was just responding to the comparison of that loaded NIT team and this group. That team was deep and talented, and came into the following season like a loaded spring following their NIT experience.

As for next season, I do hope the likes of Perez and Bodo Bodo come back healthy enough to contribute. Our staff will hope for the same thing, but will not rely upon unproven players to hold down key rotation spots without competing for them. Our staff will bring in players ready to contribute immediately. Hopefully more productive players like Williams and Powell with some eligibility left. I have had enough of senior and grad transfers.

IowaBear said:

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Somewhere on here it was mentioned that technically Agbim could return. Not sure how that would work

---

I sure hope so. Since playing off the ball more, he has really turned the corner the past few games. He would be a solid part of our rotation next year and help us develop some much needed continuity.

Oldbear83 said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

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Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

The NIT isn't what it once was. Winning it doesn't speak to the future as it once did.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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Oldbear83 said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

The NIT isn't what it once was. Winning it doesn't speak to the future as it once did.

---

The NIT hasn't meant much to anyone but those playing in it for more than 50 years now, but it's still extra games for all potential returners and a chance to create some positive vibes/momentum off a disappointing season.

I think Scott Drew's approach to it in the past has been perfect. We've never been too entitled to play in it and we've treated those games as an opportunity. I would hope we'd do the same if given the chance this year.

bear2be2 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

The NIT isn't what it once was. Winning it doesn't speak to the future as it once did.

---

The NIT hasn't meant much to anyone but those playing in it for more than 50 years now, but it's still extra games for all potential returners and a chance to create some positive vibes/momentum off a disappointing season.

I think Scott Drew's approach to it in the past has been perfect. We've never been too entitled to play in it and we've treated those games as an opportunity. I would hope we'd do the same if given the chance this year.

---

I should have fleshed out my comment. I agree with you.

The problem is you've got a bunch of non-returners that already have their money that aren't going to want to play and now, you throw Williams and James out there and they showcase their talents for the highest bidder.

Its similar to why many football teams have gotten away from having an open spring game.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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bear2be2 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

The NIT isn't what it once was. Winning it doesn't speak to the future as it once did.

---

The NIT hasn't meant much to anyone but those playing in it for more than 50 years now, but it's still extra games for all potential returners and a chance to create some positive vibes/momentum off a disappointing season.

I think Scott Drew's approach to it in the past has been perfect. We've never been too entitled to play in it and we've treated those games as an opportunity. I would hope we'd do the same if given the chance this year.

---

I should have fleshed out my comment. I agree with you.

The problem is you've got a bunch of non-returners that already have their money that aren't going to want to play and now, you throw Williams and James out there and they showcase their talents for the highest bidder.

Its similar to why many football teams have gotten away from having an open spring game.

---

The big difference is no one really watches the NIT except for fans of the teams in it, and the NCAA tournament teams have their own stuff to focus on when those games are going on. Bowl games are different because they usually have exclusive windows around the important stuff. Also, a lot of these basketball players (like Williams, for instance) already have 30 games of tape in some cases to scout, so a few more won't change much.

Either way, Baylor needs to be prepared to pay those guys what they're worth to stay. I don't think any of them are getting huge money elsewhere.

22 Days Away🕰️🙌 https://t.co/D8tOdsHCIm pic.twitter.com/67MXJpFiY3

— The College Sports Company (@CollegeSportsCo) February 6, 2026

bear2be2 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

bear2be2 said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

Stefano DiMera said:

---

Fyi... Today's Lunardi bracketology has us as Next Four Out... Ok State upset of. BYU moves them to First Four Out.

TCU in Next Four Out with us.

---

That tells me Lunardi has a Baylor shirt in his closet and a photo of Coach Drew on his wall.

If Jerry Palm ever starts mentioning Baylor without a smirk, then we'll be in good shape.

---

We need a win in the next three games (possibly two) to gain any real steam for tournament inclusion.

---

The good news here is we are in a strange place, where a good win will count more than is usually the case.

In my experience, the difference between Lunardi and Palm is that Lunardi does a better job of projecting who makes the tournament than does Palm. But if we get to a place where both Lunardi and Palm count us in, that suggests we would look good to the committee, even if some of that reputation is built on past teams.

Ironically, I believe if we make the NCAA Tournament we are likely to lose our first game, while an NIT invite could see us go much further. I'd hold off claiming an NIT run would predict NCAA success for the 2026-27 season, but at least we'd have some entertaining games to finish this season.

---

The NIT isn't what it once was. Winning it doesn't speak to the future as it once did.

---

The NIT hasn't meant much to anyone but those playing in it for more than 50 years now, but it's still extra games for all potential returners and a chance to create some positive vibes/momentum off a disappointing season.

I think Scott Drew's approach to it in the past has been perfect. We've never been too entitled to play in it and we've treated those games as an opportunity. I would hope we'd do the same if given the chance this year.

---

The "Crown" postseason tourney may overtake, or even eliminate the NIT quickly. The tourney is a pay the players deal, and Nebraska's success has shined a light on it.

Scott Drew and Baylor are 13-10 and 3-8 in Big 12 play, their worst start in 20 years 😬 pic.twitter.com/68RPTc0l5O

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 7, 2026