Baylor’s Expectations
A year ago Baylor faced high expectations. The result was a disappointing 18-13 season that included a losing record in conference play. The Bears failed to even make the NIT and did not head to another other postseason tournament either. The fall of last year’s team was the result of lack of team play and consistent ball handling. The Bears ranked 11th in the Big 12 (back when they still had 12 teams) in assists and dead last with a whopping 15.7 turnovers per game.
Departing senior LaceDarius Dunn certainly deserves some blame for the turnovers, leading the team with 3.6 per contest. But that was not his job; he was a scorer and shooter and did both of those things extremely well. Now not only do the Bears need to replace Dunn’s scoring, but they have to work on finding a ball handler as well. Junior A.J. Walton took a lot of the blame last year since he was the point guard. As inconsistent as he was at times, Walton was an underclassman and handled the situation extremely well.
But will that lead to better play on the court with Walton leading a group of newcomers, albeit pretty experienced and talented newcomers? That remains to be seen, but most tend to think the frontcourt is so good that it does not really matter what happens on the perimeter. The frontcourt is certainly good, but it was good last year too. To be fair, the group of forwards this year is even better with a year of experience and the addition of superb freshman Quincy Miller.
However, especially in March, guards win and lose games for teams. That gives the Bears and Coach Homer Drew plenty of time to sort everything out, but last year they did not play an important game in March and that may happen again if this group does not find consistency and leadership on the perimeter by January.
Read the in-depth men’s basketball preview for this team
