Baylor is coming off of what would have been three straight seasons earning a number one seed (Would have been a one seed in 2020 if the tournament had not been canceled.). They also, of course, won the national championship two years ago. Despite losing four of their top six scorers from a season ago, there is still a bunch of returning talent on this roster, along with two solid transfers and one of the best freshman in the nation. Head coach Scott Drew has retooled once again.
Preseason College Basketball Rankings: #9 Baylor Bears
Leading the returners is the guard duo of Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer. Flagler will have an increased role this year as he will be counted on to run the point. He hasn’t had to do that before. But he is certainly capable of doing so. Cryer will move into the starting lineup full-time this year. He is back and healthy after missing most of the second half of last season with a foot injury. That injury really hurt the team, and it was especially clear down the stretch. Also returning is the post duo of Flo Thamba and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. The two dominant big men mostly split time in the post and play well, a system between the two of them that has worked well the last two seasons.
The prize of their recruiting class is Keyonte George. He is smooth and can shoot from all three levels and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. He can and will become a better defender. George has top-tier skill and scoring touch with a high ceiling, and will be one of the best performing freshman in the nation this season.
Scott Drew brings in two solid transfers as well. There has been positive buzz around Jalen Bridges. The numbers that he put up in two years mostly starting for West Virginia weren’t huge (8.4PPG/4.8RPG), but they like him and will add a versatile forward for them. BYU transfer Caleb Lohner is the other one. He put up solid numbers last year for the Cougars and will provide some good depth off the bench.
Projected Lineup
PF – Flo Thamba (6.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG)
F – Jalen Bridges (8.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG at West Virginia)
SG – Keyonte George (#7 overall recruit on 247 Sports)
SG – LJ Cryer (13.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG)
PG – Adam Flagler (13.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG)
