Baylor basketball has another vintage Scott Drew team with filled with shooting, athleticism, and experience.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Baylor basketball.
Scott Drew is well-storied for how he took a Baylor program in the dust and turned it into a national powerhouse. In the last four seasons, Drew’s program has a 102-31 (76.7%) record, including two NCAA Tournament one seeds, two Big 12 Tournament titles, and of course, a national championship. (Speaking of that 2021 title game, college basketball fans will be treated to a late night Baylor-Gonzaga battle on the opening night of the season!)
This Baylor roster is no different than what we are used to. The offense, filled with shooters and playmakers, should rank in the top 10 once again.
There’s also a healthy balance of youth and experience, and returners and newcomers. Jayden Nunn and Langston Love both come back as double-digit scorers in the backcourt. Norchad Omier (Miami) and Jeremy Roach (Duke) should slide seamlessly into Drew’s pick-and-roll centric offense, while providing some help on the defensive end as well. Baylor’s long line of freshman phenoms that turn into first-round picks is expected to be continued by 6’5″ guard VJ Edgecombe. In short, the Bears aren’t going anywhere in 2024-25.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach:Â Scott Drew (21st season at Baylor, 22nd overall)
2023-24 record: 24-11 (11-7)
2024 postseason finish:Â Lost to Clemson in Round of 32 (72-64)
Notable departures:Â
- Jalen Bridges (12.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41.2 3P%)
- JaKobe Walter (14.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- RayJ Dennis (13.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG)
- Yves Missi (10.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.5 BPG, 61.4 FG%)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- at Gonzaga (Nov. 4)
- vs. Arkansas (Nov. 9)
- vs. St. John’s (Nov. 21)
- vs. Tennessee OR Virginia (Nov. 22)
- at UConn (Dec. 4)
Projected Rotation
PG: Jeremy Roach (6-1, 175, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 14.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 42.9 3P% (Duke)
SG: Jayden Nunn (6-4, 190, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 10.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 43.9 3P%
SF: VJ Edgecombe (6-5, 180, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #5 ranked recruit
PF: Norchad Omier (6-7, 230, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 17.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 55.2 FG% (Miami-Fla)
C: Josh Ojianwuna (6-10, 230, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 4.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 73.5 FG% (72-98)
6: Langston Love (6-5, 210, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 11.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 48.0 3P%
7: Jalen Celestine (6-6, 185, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 8.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44.0 3P% (Cal)
8: Robert Wright III (6-0, 165, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #23 ranked recruit
9: Jason Asemota III (6-8, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #72 ranked recruit
10: Marino Dubravcic (6-10, 230, Fr.)
247Sports Composite unranked (Croatia)
Baylor Basketball team MVP: Norchad Omier
Part of what makes the prospects of this team so great is that there is no clear cut “best player.” And that is not because there is an absence of alpha scorers; it is quite the opposite. Since I do have to choose, Norchad Omier is the most important player to Baylor.
For a team that is somewhat undersized, Omier’s strong 6’8″, 230 pound frame will be vital on both ends. Offensively, he makes his living in the paint but like the rest of the roster, he has also displayed the ability to stretch the floor. Although it was in low volume, Omier shot over 35% from three-point range last year, and his touch has steadily improved throughout his time in college.
On the defensive end, Omier makes up for not being an elite athlete with his ability to create havoc. His block and steal rates are both above 3.0%, which will certainly suffice. Omier pairs well in the Baylor front court with Josh Ojianwuna, a less polished offensive player but great rim protector. Combined, the pair should make the Bears a quality rebounding team once again.
Baylor Basketball make-or-break player: VJ Edgecombe
It’s not a question of whether the prized freshman will be an impact player or not; it’s more about to what extent he is. If Edgecombe is truly a top five NBA Draft pick and among the top college freshmen in the country, there is no limit to Baylor’s ceiling.
Every sign points to Edgecombe being that pro-ready prospect. His offensive game is extremely well-rounded, consisting of an elite first step, a great layup package, and a vastly improving outside shot. Although Edgecombe is a 6’5″ guard, his footwork and vertical jump should make him an elite defender at the college level as well.
Of course (unless your name is Cooper Flagg), there is never a guarantee that the hype is real. However, I’m very trusting of Drew’s recent track record when it comes to one-and-done players.
Key analytic: 2-point defense
Baylor’s no-middle defense worked flawlessly in their national championship season, but they were carved apart on the interior over the last two years. Per Torvik, they ranked 251st in opposing field goal percentage in the mid-range and 358th (!) around the rim in 2023-24. Overall, Baylor’s adjusted defensive efficiency was a modest 88th nationally, compared to their 7th-ranked offense.
Obviously, things need to change this upcoming season. I do think the front court of Omier and Ojianwuna should be an upgrade over Jalen Bridges and Yves Missi, especially when it comes to defending the post, but when things have been that bad, it has to be attributed to a schematic flaw as well.
Assistant coach John Jakus, a known X’s and O’s guru, took the Florida Atlantic job this offseason, so that will not help either. On the bright side, the computer projections do like Baylor to vastly improve on the defensive end, so make of that what you will.
Baylor Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish:Â 3rd in the Big 12
Projected postseason ceiling:Â NCAA Tournament Final Four Exit