The ultimate dream came true at Baylor in 2021 and it truly was the culmination of Scott Drew’s hard work revitalizing this program. The Bears have gone from afterthought to perennial contender and a regular in the NCAA Tournament, though they’re not quite hitting their stride in the postseason. Baylor has lost in the Tournament’s second round in each of the last four years since cutting down the nets, but does Drew have something special up his sleeve for next season?
Actually, last year was a disappointment by Baylor standards, as the Bears tied for just 7th in the Big 12, their lowest finish since 2011. VJ Edgecombe was marvelous and became a top NBA draft pick while transfers like Norchad Omier and Jeremy Roach really showcased their abilities in their year in Waco. While Roach is back for another season with the Bears, this team has lost a great deal of talent in the offseason and this rotation looks mighty different just a few months later.
Before diving into a solid transfer portal class, it’s important to note that 5-star forward Tounde Yessoufou could be the next splash freshman and should assume a major role at the 4. Beyond that, the Bears brought seven new faces in that transfer class, getting even more size in big men Juslin Bodo Bodo from High Point and Rice’s Caden Powell. Baylor landed potential starters in Daniel Skillings, a forward from Cincinnati, as well as Obi Agbim, a talented shooter out of Wyoming.
The best new piece and perhaps the most important of the bunch if Michael Rataj, a 6-9 forward from Germany who really hit his stride last year as a junior with Oregon State. With the Beavers each of his first three collegiate seasons, Rataj made that big jump by averaging 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while making 52% of his interior field goals and a decent clip from outside. He earned First Team All-WCC honors and became a more complete player.
What stands out with this new-look Baylor team is the talent in the backcourt, and we didn’t even mention the returning Jayden Nunn. Rataj fills an important vacancy, likely trying to replicate the production that Omier had last season. While not the same level of rebounder, Rataj is a more complete offensive player and could be the leading scorer for the Bears, especially if his shot continues to develop. He’ll play significant minutes in a frontcourt with new, unproven talent and this senior from Germany should be who Drew can lean on in the crunch.
If things don’t pan out or Rataj regresses, the Bears still do have that top recruit in Yessoufou and decent size with their other transfers. Regardless, we could see a special senior season and the Bears might need it if they’re going to be back towards the top of the league standings and get past the dreaded opening weekend of the Big Dance. Rataj proved he was talented and a special player in the WCC, but can he do it against tougher defenses in the Big 12?