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Baylor Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bears

By Chris Kern

TULSA, OK - MARCH 17: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts in the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
TULSA, OK - MARCH 17: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts in the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – NOVEMBER 28: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears takes the ball from J.P. Macura #55 of the Xavier Musketeers in the first half of a game at Cintas Center on November 28, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – NOVEMBER 28: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears takes the ball from J.P. Macura #55 of the Xavier Musketeers in the first half of a game at Cintas Center on November 28, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Key Reserves

The Baylor Bears are gonna be relying on a lot of guys who have never played Division 1 basketball to play big minutes next season. They got some talent on their bench, but they’ll need these guys to make an immediate impact.

Mark Vital

Mark Vital started a good amount of games last season and he will probably start some more this season. It’s very possible he starts the season as a starter but I think that’s a spot he eventually loses.

Vital had a solid year last season. He averaged 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He doesn’t have any three-point shot though, he made just 1 of 10.

His rebounding is gonna be needed for this team as they don’t have a lot of size up front. That could be enough to get him into the starting lineup.

Jared Butler

Jared Butler is a skilled guard who should make an impact right away. He’s probably going to be the most talented player they have coming off the bench.

Butler did actually first commit to playing for Alabama. He did actually enroll in June for the summer activities. He then left Alabama and joined the Baylor Bears in mid-August.

The NCAA did clear him to play this season so he will be eligible right away. Expect him to have a big impact off the bench.

Flo Thamba

Flo Thamba is a guy who will play a larger role than he might’ve expected due to Baylor not having a lot of size inside. If he can come in and give Baylor even a few good minutes here and there that will be big for this team.

He wasn’t an extremely high recruit but he still showed he was capable of making an impact at a power conference team like Baylor. Look for him to come in sparingly when the starters need a rest.

When they go up against teams with a lot of size inside they’ll need him to contribute. Playing this minutes will help his development as he goes forward with his basketball career.

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