Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Teams impacted most by unique 2020 offseason

By Drew Schmelzer

ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on in the first half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 8, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on in the first half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 8, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 11: Mark Vital #11 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears congratulate MaCio Teague #31 (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 11: Mark Vital #11 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears congratulate MaCio Teague #31 (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2. Teams who had an advantage compared to others this offseason – Baylor

Everyone knows who these guys are. They basically ran the gamut in 19-20 as one of the top teams in the country and potentially bring back a haul from that campaign. Jared Butler (16 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 3.1 Ast), Macio Teague (13.9 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 1.9 Ast), and Davion Mitchell (9.9 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 3.8 Ast) are all back and compose a backcourt that is only better than what Richmond brings back.

While Butler and Teague are still testing the NBA draft waters, I expect at least one of them to return for the 2020-21 campaign. If that’s true the Bears will be just fine. Baylor also landed Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler who scored 16 a game in 2018-19. He will also be able to step in easily if there is any attrition to the NBA.

The loss of Freddy Gillespie and Devonte Bandoo hurts the frontcourt, but those guys were primarily defenders anyways and the additions of 6’10 Dain Dainja (#81 recruit in 2020) and 7’0 Zach Loveday (#142 recruit in 2020) will have them ready to go on the interior. Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua is also eligible after transferring from UNLV a season ago and will provide a defensive presence handy for replacing Gillespie.

Let’s keep going with the Bears who are fully stocked for a final four surge in 2020-21. Tristan Clark was leading the country in field goal percentage before he was lost for the year last December and if he is back and ready to go, wow, this is going to be a special season in Waco. Clark, who only played five games last season, was an All-Big 12 player two seasons ago. Adding a guy who has the potential to be the Big 12 Player of the Year to a top-five team from a year ago is going to bring some excitement to Baylor. On top of that, they have the best on-ball defender in the country coming back in Mark Vital (6.1 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 1.8 Ast) who was a top 100 recruit in his own right in 2016.

They know each other, have one of the best coaches in the country, and have already proven they are really good. Even if the Bears lose one player (or even two) to the NBA draft, the re-emergence of Clark, a nice incoming class, and the return of such a strong core has Baylor uniquely set up to deal with what the uncertainty of COVID19 brings. Baylor gets it done on both sides of the ball and the Big 12 should be really worried about the Bears this upcoming January.

Home/NCAA Basketball News