Photo by Jim Black
Baylor Basketball
Midweek Breakfast: Baylor basketball reloads for next season
It's early to begin looking towards the basketball season; however, the Bears began summer workouts June 5 and since then have received some big-time news for the future of the program as Mississippi State transfer Mario Kegler committed to the Bears.
With workouts, the transfer news, and a new commit, when is a better time to check in on Bear basketball?
Within the Big 12 slate, Kansas and West Virginia will obviously be the biggest challenge for the Bears next season. However, there may perhaps be a sleeper team to keep an eye on.
Jamie Dixon, who heads into his second season as the head coach at TCU, is quickly turning the program around. Could it be the year the Horned Frogs finally get a victory over Scott Drew?
Either Jake Lindsey or Nuni Omot will earn the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation barring a shakeup during camp.
If Drew prefers to go small-ball, Lindsey will earn the position. Lindsey improved as threat from deep, is potentially one of the Bears best defenders, and did a tremendous job as a sophomore protecting the basketball. Can he score it consistently enough?
Meanwhile, Omot is a lanky forward who offers a better look for the Bears due to his height and length. Omot also has the capability to knock down the deep ball.
Both players shied away from scoring this past season and Omot had at least a small issue with turnovers in his limited time. Whoever steps up as a scorer and can take care of the ball could earns the spot, but Lindsey seems to have the edge for now.
While the two four-star players redshirted this past season, they went through the pre-game routine and regular workouts. If you attended any of the games, you will recall Vital as the high-flying dunking machine during warmups.
With Lecomte and Lindsey as the two starring guards, Jolly should play a small role this next season like Chuck Mitchell in 2016-17. Mitchell only averaged eight minutes but showed he belonged when he hit the floor. Vital could step up and earn minutes if Terry Matson doesn't perform.
Another immediate impact addition to the 2017-18 squad is 4-star power forward Tristan Clark. With the departure of Motley, the Bears lack experience and scorers in the front court, something Clark could help replace should he not redshirt.
The addition of Kegler and Mason will add to an already prolific Baylor team. Kegler will have to sit the next season out and have three years of eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, Mason will play his junior season at Yale this next season prior to transferring to Baylor in Spring 2018. Mason will not be required to sit out the following season.
Besides these two additions, the Bears recently received a commitment from Austin Westlake's Matthew Mayer. He's a versatile player 6-foot-7 small forward who can play anywhere on the court. According to the 2018 ESPN100 rankings, Mayer holds the 59th position.
Jeremiah Gambrell is another commit in the 2018 class. While Gambrell is a not well-known nationally, he is a six-foot point guard who often draws comparisons to Stephen Curry. Gambrell averaged over 20 points his sophomore season and continues to be one of the most prolific scorers in the 2018 class. Gambrell committed in June 2016.
Needless to say, Drew and the Bears don't have to rebuild, but rather reload.
With workouts, the transfer news, and a new commit, when is a better time to check in on Bear basketball?
Schedule
The Bears 2017-2018 campaign features tough matchups between Xavier, Wichita State and Florida. All three games are away and each team will likely be ranked within the top 25 and at minimum NCAA tournament teams.Within the Big 12 slate, Kansas and West Virginia will obviously be the biggest challenge for the Bears next season. However, there may perhaps be a sleeper team to keep an eye on.
Jamie Dixon, who heads into his second season as the head coach at TCU, is quickly turning the program around. Could it be the year the Horned Frogs finally get a victory over Scott Drew?
Projected Starters
With Johnathan Motley declaring for the draft, the Bears need a replacement go-to-guy. The Bears return two starters: point guard Manu Lecomte and center Jo Lual-Acuil. Terry Maston and King McClure seem to be the most likel candidate to will fill out the third and fourth starting spots. The final spot is where things get interesting.Either Jake Lindsey or Nuni Omot will earn the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation barring a shakeup during camp.
If Drew prefers to go small-ball, Lindsey will earn the position. Lindsey improved as threat from deep, is potentially one of the Bears best defenders, and did a tremendous job as a sophomore protecting the basketball. Can he score it consistently enough?
Meanwhile, Omot is a lanky forward who offers a better look for the Bears due to his height and length. Omot also has the capability to knock down the deep ball.
Both players shied away from scoring this past season and Omot had at least a small issue with turnovers in his limited time. Whoever steps up as a scorer and can take care of the ball could earns the spot, but Lindsey seems to have the edge for now.
New Additions
Redshirt freshman guard Tyson Jolly and forward Mark Vital aren't exactly new to the Bears.While the two four-star players redshirted this past season, they went through the pre-game routine and regular workouts. If you attended any of the games, you will recall Vital as the high-flying dunking machine during warmups.
With Lecomte and Lindsey as the two starring guards, Jolly should play a small role this next season like Chuck Mitchell in 2016-17. Mitchell only averaged eight minutes but showed he belonged when he hit the floor. Vital could step up and earn minutes if Terry Matson doesn't perform.
Another immediate impact addition to the 2017-18 squad is 4-star power forward Tristan Clark. With the departure of Motley, the Bears lack experience and scorers in the front court, something Clark could help replace should he not redshirt.
Recruiting
Recruiting-wise, the Bears have two huge transfers in Kegler and Yale's Makai Mason. Kegler has found comparisons to Taurean Prince as he's a 6-foot-7 forward who also has serious range from outside. Mason, if you recall, lit the Bears up two years ago in the NCAA Tournament for a career-high 31 points.The addition of Kegler and Mason will add to an already prolific Baylor team. Kegler will have to sit the next season out and have three years of eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, Mason will play his junior season at Yale this next season prior to transferring to Baylor in Spring 2018. Mason will not be required to sit out the following season.
Besides these two additions, the Bears recently received a commitment from Austin Westlake's Matthew Mayer. He's a versatile player 6-foot-7 small forward who can play anywhere on the court. According to the 2018 ESPN100 rankings, Mayer holds the 59th position.
Jeremiah Gambrell is another commit in the 2018 class. While Gambrell is a not well-known nationally, he is a six-foot point guard who often draws comparisons to Stephen Curry. Gambrell averaged over 20 points his sophomore season and continues to be one of the most prolific scorers in the 2018 class. Gambrell committed in June 2016.
Needless to say, Drew and the Bears don't have to rebuild, but rather reload.
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