With three starters graduating, the Baylor Bears have holes to fill throughout their roster.
BAYLOR BEARS
Last Season: T-5th, 10-8 in Big 12, 25-7 overall
Predicted Big 12 Finish: 7th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Johnathan Motley (Jr)/Jo Lual-Acuil (Jr)
F: Terry Maston (Jr)/Numi Omot (Jr)
G/F: Ishmail Wainwright (Sr)/Tyson Jolley (Fr)/Marc Vital (Fr)
SG: Al Freeman (Jr)/King McClure (So)/Wendell Mitchell (Fr)
PG: Manu Lecomte (Jr)/Jake Lindsey (So)
Gone: C-Rico Gathers, SF-Taurean Prince, PG-Lester Medford
Strengths:
In Al Freeman and Ishmail Wainwright, Scott Drew has a pair of veteran wings to lead their team. Freeman is the team’s top returning scorer and a dangerous outside threat. Wainwright is a jack of all trades type of player who can impact the game without scoring. As the only two returning starters on the roster, that duo must step into the spotlight even more so this year if Baylor is going to return to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight year.
Question Marks:
Outside of Johnathan Motley, there are question marks in the Baylor Bears frontcourt. Terry Maston was used in a reserve role last season and figures to move into the starting line-up with a pair of JUCO transfers expected to come off the bench. Numi Omot brings the type of athleticism and versatility to the forward position that we are used to seeing at Baylor while seven-footer, Jo Lual-Acuil redshirted last season.
Player to Watch:
Considering Motley only played about twenty minutes per game a year ago, his averages of 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game are rather impressive. At 6-10, 230 pounds, he brings good length and athleticism to the floor and with an expanded role, should be one of the best frontcourt players in the conference.
X-Factor:
After sitting out last season, Miami FL transfer Manu Lecomte will take over at point guard. He started 40 games in his two seasons with the Hurricanes so brings needed experience to the position. The Belgium native is not the playmaker that Lester Medford was but should be a fitting replacement.
Looking Ahead to 2017-18:
With only one senior on the roster, Baylor should have a lot of talent returning though Motley could leave school early if he blows up this season. The Bears have one player committed for their 2017 class, power forward Tristan Clark.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/15 vs. Oregon
11/23 vs. VCU (Battle 4 Atlantis)
11/24 vs. Michigan State/St. John’s (Battle 4 Atlantis)
11/25 vs. Louisville/Old Dominion/Wichita State/LSU (Battle 4 Atlantis)
12/3 vs. Xavier
1/28 at Ole Miss (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.