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Baylor Basketball

Pop Quiz: SicEm staff offers opinions, answers about Baylor sports

May 12, 2020
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Welcome to Pop Quiz, a weekly test on Baylor sports taken by SicEm365 insiders. There are no wrong answers here, although some responses may leave you scratching your head. We may venture off topic at times, but hey … you may end up with a good burrito recommendation because of it.


The undrafted free agent from Baylor who has the best chance to make an NFL roster is ____?

Ashley Hodge: My first instinct is either Grayland Arnold or Jamychal Hasty. I love their versatility and toughness.  But for some reason I think Jameson Houston will stick with Cleveland.  He was the most underrated player on last year’s defense. Teams just didn’t throw his way very often and he usually drew the toughest assignments. Had he been able to go through a pro day at Baylor, I think he would have run in the 4.4s and would have turned a lot of heads. He has decent size, physicality and the mentality to be an NFL corner.  

Grayson Grundhoefer: JaMycal Hasty with the 49ers. I don’t think he’s the most talented undrafted free agent prospect from Baylor, but I think he landed in the perfect situation where his blocking and abilities on special teams will be greatly valued. Plus Coach Kyle Shanahan loves his running backs.

David Smoak: I so badly want to say Blake Lynch because he’s such an amazing athlete, but I’m not sure where they’ll put him. So I’ll say cornerback Jameson Houston. He’s big, strong and really just now learning the game. He’s got a great attitude—but with a large chip on his shoulder.

Colt Barber: My gut feeling is that Matt Rhule will do whatever he can to keep Sam Tecklenburg on his roster, but I don’t know if that’s the most likely just based need and fit. Grayland Arnold was made a priority, but so were all of the other free agents who signed almost immediately after the draft was finished. After combing through all of the reason, I’m going with Blake Lynch because there is still so much upside to go along with his athletic ability. The Vikings signed him because they know his upside and they will give him his chance. 

Jason King: Chris Miler. I’m envisioning the hard-hitting safety unleashing a handful of violent hits during training camp, which will turn some heads and impress the right people. At the very least, I can see him earning a spot on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.


The incoming freshman that excites me the most is …

Ashley Hodge: I think this is an easy choice.  James Sylvester is the freshman I’m most excited about. Defensive line is a position of need and he has the ability to be a big time player for Baylor. Freshmen that are big contributors on the defensive line are rare but I think he has the chance to work into the rotation and perhaps be a major contributor by the end of the season. 

Grayson Grundhoefer: Devin Neal. This kid is an absolute playmaker who carried a mediocre team to a state championship appearance in Kentucky for the first time. He can flat out play football plus Baylor needs some more depth and new talent at the safety position. He will help solve that problem.

David Smoak:  Defensive end James Sylvester. Newton is only a Class 3-A school, but so much talent comes from that program, and he had a big-time list of offers.

Colt Barber: I’ll give an offensive and defensive answer here. On offense, it’s tight end Drake Dabney. The match between he and Larry Fedora on offense is almost too good to be true. Not only does Fedora like to use tight ends, but he also loves to use long receivers to make plays all over the field. Dabney is a tight end but is also exceptionally long to fill that role. Defensively it’s linebacker Will Garner. After an average highlight tape as a junior, his senior tape popped so much as a play making linebacker and he’s going to be 6’3, 230 in a hurry with his frame. He can rush the passer, chase down plays from the weak side with his length and play in coverage when needed. Where he ends up on defense will depend on how much he grows, but he’s the definition of a Matt Rhule prospect and will fit in nicely with Dave Aranda’s plan on defense.

Jason King: Taye McWilliams. The Lamar Consolidated product will likely redshirt because of Baylor’s depth at running back, but don’t be surprised if McWilliams blossoms into one of the Big 12’s top offensive threats by his sophomore or junior year. He’s big and physical at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, and his 4.48 speed in the 40 will be tough to match. McWilliams, who has a 38-inch vertical, chose Baylor over Texas and Texas Tech.


Matt Rhule's biggest recruiting coup at Baylor was ____?

Ashley Hodge: Hard to argue against James Lynch.  He leaves Baylor as the all-time sacks leader. He was a first team all American. He was the Big 12 defensive player of the year. He was a disruptive defensive force in every sense of the word and was a big reason why the Bears went from 1-11 his freshman year to 11 wins his junior year. Hopefully he will have a long, fruitful career in the NFL.

Grayson Grundhoefer: The 2019 class. I have a lot of faith in that class for the future of the program. There are a ton of talented playmakers in that group for Coach Aranda to work with and I think they will play a big role in Baylor getting back to a Big 12 Championship game soon.

David Smoak: Charlie Brewer. He flipped him from SMU almost immediately, and imagine where Baylor would be right now without him. I could go on for a while, but I think his time at Baylor speaks for itself. I remember once asking Coach Rhule this same question; he went with Brewer, James Lynch (who had once been committed to Southern Cal), and Tyquan Thornton, because he came out of Florida and was so dynamic.

Colt Barber: It all depends on if you look at this on paper, as production or as potential. On paper, the biggest signing for Matt Rhule might have been Xavier Newman in 2017. He signed with Baylor over offers from everywhere and was an Under Armor All-American. For production, it was James Lynch and it’s not even really close at this point. As for potential, the signing of James Sylvester in 2020 was as big as it gets. He had major offers on the table when he signed with Baylor and has the opportunity to step in and be a significant contributor immediately. Unfortunately for him he didn’t get to go through spring drills, but he’s on an even playing field with all others now.

Jason King: Charlie Brewer. Getting Brewer to back out of his commitment to SMU and sign with the Bears was a game-changer for Baylor’s program. There is just something special about quarterbacks from Lake Travis High School. They have an “it” factor that impacts everyone on the field and sidelines. I thought Rhule mishandled Brewer at the end of his freshman year and also at the beginning of his sophomore season, when he refused to commit to him even though it was glaringly obvious he was the best signal caller on the roster. Once Brewer truly became “the man” Baylor has been one of the nation’s best teams.


The most underrated basketball player of the Scott Drew era is ____?

Ashley Hodge: If you ask me this question a year from now, my answer will be Mark Vital. I don’t think Baylor fans fully appreciate how much he has meant to the program in terms of wins and losses—the most important stat. But for now, I’ll say A.J. Walton.  A.J. is often maligned for his turnovers and poor shooting from the perimeter but this guy was a big time warrior who loved Baylor, brought the positive energy every day and gave everything he had on the court. He left Baylor ranked No. 6 all time in assists (452). He’s No. 2 in steals (224) and he’s the all-time winner in wins (98). I loved seeing him help Baylor to an 81-58 win over Kansas on Senior Day in 2013. He kissed the court.  That says it all.

Grayson Grundhoefer: Makai Mason. He couldn’t stay healthy consistently, but when he was, the 2018 team excelled. I truly believe Baylor would have earned a top-five seed and had a shot at advancing to the Sweet 16 (or deeper) had Mason been healthy the whole year.

David Smoak: I’ve been told Henry Dugat could be included in this discussion from the teams that closed out the 00’s era with a bang. And there’s the always overlooked Anthony Jones. But in the end, it’s Kenny Chery for me, and it’s all about the 2013-2014 season. As assistant coach Jerome Tang noted, with Cherry sidelined with a toe injury, Baylor lost eight of its first 10 Big 12 games in 2014. But then Chery returned, and the Bears went 7-1 down the stretch, finishing 9-9 in league play before advancing to the Big 12 tournament title game and then the Sweet 16. Chery never got the accolades or the admiration of Curtis Jerrells, Tweety Carter, Pierre Jackson or even Makai Mason. But he was solid and more valuable than most realized. Chery’s coaches and his teammates knew what he meant to the team.

Colt Barber: Kenny Chery. Scott Drew has had some really good point guards in his time at Baylor that push him down the list, but Chery’s consistency was really impressive. He averaged over 4.0 assists  and right above 11.0 points both seasons in Waco and led Baylor to back-to-back NCAA appearances including a Sweet 16 in 2013-2014. Baylor finished the regular season 24-8 in his regular season but was bounced by 14-seed Georgia State his senior season whe the Bears looked to be poised for another deep run. 

Jason King: I was going to go with Kenny Chery, but Smoaky and Colt beat me to it and said everything that needs to be said. Devonte Bandoo was another option after saving Baylor in games against Texas Tech (twice), at Texas and at Oklahoma. But the player that needs some love here is Jo Acuil. The 7-footer was one of the country’s most-improved players as a senior in 2017-18, when he averaged 14 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. People forget about him because that Baylor team, despite being loaded with talent, failed to make the NCAA tournament. But Acuil was really good that season, and the overall strides he made in Waco were impressive.


My go-to, gas station snack during a long road trip is ____?

Ashley Hodge: QuikTrip.  I’m a creature of habit, I guess, but I always look for a QuikTrip because they have reasonably-priced gas and clean bathrooms. And I can usually get a Dr Pepper with real sugar, a vice that I try to keep out of the home but will indulge on the long road trip.

Grayson Grundhoefer: Blue Powerade with a Snickers Peanut Butter Square. This combo has become a staple for me when I hit the road on long trips, especially to cover camps or recruiting.

David Smoak: My God, the David Smoak prior to starting workouts with Christi London in March of 2013 would’ve said gizzards, Twinkies, Three Musketeers and 32-ounce fountain drinks with Diet Coke. But now … maybe a bag of pretzels and a cold can of Diet Coke. Yep, those are now my go-to’s on road trips.

Colt Barber: Give me a Dr Pepper,  any flavor of David sunflower seeds or a bag of beef jerky and I’ll be good until they run out. Then I’ll need to stop again. 

Jason King: It all depends on the time of year, or even the time of day. During the winter, when I just don’t care, I’m probably stopping at Jack In the Box for egg rolls with ranch. Easy to eat while driving, no mess—and so  freakin’ good. During “Vegas pool shape” season it’s probably going to be almonds and bottled water. Late night drives from Waco to Dallas after a weeknight basketball game, I’m going with a Bang! energy drink (Candy Apple Crisp) and the extra Chick Fil A chocolate chip cookies I swiped from the press room. Early Sunday mornings after a football game—and a few too many at George’s—I’m all about Chili Cheese Frito’s and a Big Red, which is a great hangover drink. Or so I’m told.

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Pop Quiz: SicEm staff offers opinions, answers about Baylor sports

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