Things did not go according to plan in Waco last season for Scott Drew and company. Fresh off another early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Baylor was forced to replace the entirety of the roster and the new mix of players just didn’t have the right formula. The Bears tied for 13th in the strong Big 12 and missed the Big Dance for the first time since 2018, though Drew is hoping this year is much different.
Cameron Carr was drafted last week and there was a ton of great senior talent, with Baylor notably shedding Obi Agbim, Michael Rataj and a few others from this lineup. Fortunately, they did retain the services of Isaac Williams, who put 10.4 points per game as a sophomore last season. The Bears will also finally get 7-footer Juslin Bodo Bodo on the court after he missed last season with injury.
What also helps matters is that Baylor is bringing in a talented freshman class and intriguing transfer class. 5-star point guard Dylan Mingo should step into a massive role in the backcourt while his brother Kayden transfers in after putting up great numbers as a freshman at Penn State. There’s also a lot to like about Elijah Williams, a 4-star small forward from Arizona, alongside rising juniors Isaac Celiscar and Brett Decker, double-digit scorers last season at Yale and Liberty respectively.
However, the most important of the bunch may also be the lowest ranked and least notable among the four. Evan Chatman is a 6-8 forward from Harker Heights, Texas who spent his first two years going the JUCO route, starring at McLennan Community College. Chatman then spent last season at UAB, putting up 8.8 points and 8.8 rebounds during a 21-win campaign for the Blazers, stepping into a major role in that frontcourt.
The reason for Chatman’s importance on this Baylor squad is the number of question marks and moving pieces in the frontcourt. Bodo Bodo is a talented 7-footer who could become an elite rim protector but we haven’t seen him on the court in over a year. Chatman slides into a major role at the 4 and is the only experienced member of the roster to take on that role. Maikcol Perez and Mayo Soyoye both aim to make their collegiate debuts next season but we just don’t know what they’ll provide at this level.
If everything goes according to plan, Baylor will be led by the Mingo brothers and Isaac Williams in the backcourt. Bodo Bodo continues his success from High Point and the other young talent steps up, but there’s a lot riding on what Chatman can provide. Whether it’s a starring role or an important depth piece, he’s going to need to remain a reliable rebounder in this frontcourt for the Bears to have success against these teams in the Big 12.
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