Baylor had a few returning pieces and added 5 new rotation pieces, 3 high level transfers and 2 talented freshman. To no surprise, it looked clunky to start the year.
On the flip side, Gonzaga returned almost everyone and just added 2 high level transfers to supplement their returning core. They looked like a well-oiled machine, with Jay Williams already proclaiming they’re going to the Final 4.
Now I believe Scott Drew is a great coach and that Baylor team is going to look very different come Jan/Feb, but these first 2 months might be a bit of a roller coaster as they establish some chemistry.
Last year, we were very much in the Gonzaga camp of continuity and adding pieces to that with Khalifa, Baker and Adams. Unfortunately injuries derailed seeing our ceiling, but we still shocked the B12 and the country in how well we did when looking at our talent level.
Now this year we are more on the Baylor side of things where we added more theoretical talent, but it could be a roller coaster for a good portion of the year as things settle and establish themselves. I’m interested to see KY’s roster building out of the portal as he brings in these high level HS guys. Is he going to be able to get the “Ajayi/Battle” type guys to come to a crowded, young roster like Few did? Those 1-3 guys out of the portal are absolutely necessary alongside returners to have a really good chance to make a Final 4 and compete for a Big 12 championship. Super curious how his first transfer class looks like as Xavier, and theoretically AJ, and JJ are coming in.