NCAA Basketball: North Carolina, Gonzaga still sit atop updated top 25 ranking

5. Baylor (2-0)

Now two seasons removed from a national championship, it’s fair to say that Baylor is one of the best programs in the nation at this current time. The names may be different this season, with players like James Akinjo and Matthew Mayer no longer around, but these Bears are still in fantastic shape to make noise in the Big 12 and across the nation.

That noise began with a dominant win on opening night, soaring to a 117-53 win against Mississippi Valley State. Adam Flager had 21 points, LJ Cryer had 16 points, and Dale Bonner added 14 off the bench. On Friday night, it was elite freshman Keyonte George playing a starring role, with 23 points and 7 assists in an 87-70 win over Norfolk State.

These aren’t the games that are going to tell us anything about Baylor, but it’s hard not to be impressed when anyone beats a D1 team by more than 60 points. The offense has been incredible to start the season, even with new pieces playing a bigger role this year. The frontcourt looks tough and certainly outmatched their first two opponents. They’ll get a better shot this upcoming Friday when they matchup with Virginia, which will certainly be one of the most exciting games next week.