Baylor Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Bears

LUBBOCK, TX - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears talks to his players at a time out during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on December 29, 2017 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 77-53. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears reacts as they take on the Syracuse Orange during the second half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Baylor Bears won 78-69. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Baylor returns plenty of firepower

When a key player goes down and a team has to reinvent themselves, it can often be a blessing in disguise. Once Clark went down, Drew reverted to more of a small-ball lineup that moved a pair of redshirt-juniors Mark Vital and Mario Kegler, who has since left the program to pursue professional opportunities, to the frontcourt.

Their 17.7 points and 13 rebounds return, as does someone else who was thrust into a new role with Clark’s injury, sophomore guard Jared Butler who took off once inserted into the starting lineup, over his final 20 games he averaged 13 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, but where he really excelled was shooting the three, improving his percentage 17 points.

Another sharpshooter returning is senior guard Devonte Bandoo, the 6-3 Ontario native was Baylor’s top three-point shooter last season, knocking down 39.5% of his shots. Backing up Clark in the frontcourt is a couple of returning big men, 6-8 senior Freddie Gillespie who averaged 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds and 6-10 245lb. sophomore Flo Thamba.

If the duo can show some improvement on the defensive end, they could see increased roles. With six players returning and the success Baylor had playing a different style last season, a healthy Clark gives Drew a ton of lineup flexibility this season.

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