NCAA Basketball: Baylor rises, Kentucky falls in latest 2023-24 WTE power rankings
By Joey Loose
21. Baylor
Scott Drew led Baylor to their first national championship in program history back in 2021 but that remains the program’s only trip beyond the opening weekend of the Tournament in the last six years. The Bears have transformed into a consistent top-level program, with elite offenses nearly every season. While that trend could continue this season, things will look quite different.
Elite backcourt pieces LJ Cryer, Adam Flagler, and Keyonte George are all gone, replaced instead by 5-star freshman Ja’Kobe Walter and most recently by former Toledo point guard RayJ Dennis, last year’s MAC Player of the Year. Baylor got the news that Jalen Bridges would be back for another season and might be the top-scoring option this season. They’ll also hope for a big sophomore jump from Langston Love.
Replacing three phenomenal pieces in the backcourt isn’t easy, but Baylor is praying that the combination of Dennis, Love, and Walter is just as potent this season. On paper, it looks like a step back for the Bears and it’s the reason they aren’t ranked higher in this poll. However, it’s impossible to ignore how much better this team got when Dennis confirmed his transfer earlier this week, giving them an elite and veteran point guard. Baylor isn’t going anywhere.