Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Tristan Freeman

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 02: General view of a basketball and Big 12 logo taken before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on January 02, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 82-74. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 02: General view of a basketball and Big 12 logo taken before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on January 02, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 82-74. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 22: The Baylor Bears huddle (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 22: The Baylor Bears huddle (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

460. . . . Bears . 1. team

The extended deadline for early NBA Draft entrants was difficult for fans of certain teams, including Gonzaga, Iowa, and Michigan State. But no program was biting their nails more than Baylor, whose top two scorers waiting until the final days to decide their fate.

The good news is that All-Big 12 performers MaCio Teague and Jared Butler both came back for another season. That propels the Bears not only to the top of the Big 12 in most preseason polls, but many (including myself) have them No. 1 overall for the 2020-21 season. The 26-win team returns the vast majority of the roster, with the exception of guard Devonte Bandoo and forward Freddie Gillespie.

The absence of Gillespie will hurt for Baylor. He was the team’s leading rebounder (9.0 ppg) and was another great defender. However, senior forwards Tristan Clark and Mark Vital will return, joined by four-star freshman center Dain Dainja and UNLV sit-out transfer Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Flo Thamba also returns as a key reserve. There’s plenty of frontcourt depth for the team but the strength still lies on the perimeter.

Teague and Butler are already known, but the third starting guard Davion Mitchell actually led Baylor in assists (3.8 apg) last season. The transfer from Auburn allowed Butler to play off the ball, which worked perfectly for him. There’s also top-100 point guard freshman LJ Cryer, as well as Adam Flager, who averaged 15.9 ppg at Presbyterian two years ago.

With wing Matthew Mayer providing shooting as well, Baylor has a top-tier offense and defense, regardless of whatever lineup head coach Scott Drew utilizes. Unlike the rest of the teams in the Big 12, there just isn’t a real weakness or question that the Bears have that makes them not a preseason No. 1 team.

dark. Next. NBA Draft needs for western conference franchises

The one thing to think about with the Bears was that they did struggle down the stretch when the regular-season title was on the line in the final games. But that will be a learning experience for the team, knowing how to handle being the “team to beat” in the Big 12. It’ll help this upcoming season, as they take on Kansas in a rematch for conference supremacy.

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