NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top 25 power rankings for 2023-24 season
460. . . . Bears . 18. team
2022-23 season record: 23-11 (11-7 Big 12)
Expected losses: Keyonte George, Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer, Flo Thamba, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchachoua, Dale Bonner
The Bears are in an interesting spot after the past 24 hours. It was long expected that George was going to be a “one and done” player to the NBA Draft. Flagler does have one more year of eligibility but already has been in NCAA Basketball for five seasons. The team may need to have him come back, because Cryer has not only entered the draft but is in the transfer portal as well.
The good news is that Baylor has a pair of top-30 guards joining the program in Miro Little and Ja’Kobe Walter, who now are set to get plenty of minutes early on. Langston Love is a breakout candidate to watch, while JUCO transfer Dantwan Grimes will be in the fold after sitting out a year.
The key is the frontcourt, led by double-digit scorer, Jalen Bridges. Caleb Lohner and Zach Loveday are back, along with center Josh Ojianwuna. There’s plenty of depth they have back, even after losing Thamba.
Baylor will take a little hit until it rebuilds in the portal but still, Coach Scott Drew has plenty to work with now to keep the team as a contender in the Big 12. The program’s success with guards gives them optimism that Little and Walter will be big-impact players next season.