Baylor Basketball Poised for Breakout Season Amid Stacked Big 12

Baylor University's men's basketball team is gearing up for a highly anticipated 2022-23 season, armed with a roster bolstered by high-profile transfers and a top-10 preseason ranking. As the Bears navigate the gauntlet of the Big 12 Conference, widely regarded as the toughest in the nation, they are poised to make a deep postseason run and potentially challenge for a national championship.

Baylor Bears Primed for Lofty Aspirations

Roster Overhaul Brings Veteran Talent to Waco

The offseason was a busy one for the Baylor coaching staff, as they worked tirelessly to retool a roster that lost several key contributors from last season's squad. The additions of fifth-year senior transfers Jeremy Roach (Duke) and Norchad Omier (Miami), as well as graduate guard Jalen Celestine (Cal), have infused the Bears' lineup with a wealth of experience and proven production at the highest levels of college basketball.Roach, a skilled and versatile guard, brings Final Four experience and All-ACC honors to Waco, while Omier, a physical and dominant forward, has also tasted the thrill of the Final Four. Celestine, a sharpshooting guard, was among the nation's top three-point snipers before suffering an injury, showcasing his ability to stretch the floor and provide a scoring punch.These veteran newcomers, combined with the returning core of the team, have created a formidable roster that has earned Baylor a lofty No. 8 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. This marks the fourth time in the past five seasons that the Bears have found themselves in the top 10, a testament to the program's sustained excellence under the guidance of head coach Scott Drew.

Navigating the Gauntlet of the Big 12

The Bears' path to success this season will undoubtedly be a challenging one, as they find themselves in the midst of arguably the toughest conference in the country. The Big 12 boasts an impressive five teams ranked in the preseason top 10, including No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 8 Baylor, and No. 10 Arizona.Adding to the conference's depth, No. 20 Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Kansas State, BYU, and Arizona State all received votes in the preseason poll, further underscoring the strength and depth of the Big 12. This conference landscape will test the Bears' mettle, as they will be required to bring their A-game night in and night out to secure victories against their formidable foes.

Daunting Non-Conference Schedule Prepares Bears for Postseason Push

In addition to the rigors of the Big 12 slate, Baylor will also face a challenging non-conference schedule that includes a showdown with two-time defending national champion No. 3 UConn and a season-opening tilt against No. 6 Gonzaga. These high-profile matchups will provide the Bears with an opportunity to showcase their talent and measure themselves against some of the best teams in the country.The clash with Gonzaga, set to take place on November 4th in Spokane, Washington, will be a rematch of the 2021 National Championship game, where the Bears emerged victorious. This late-night showdown will serve as an early litmus test for Baylor, as they look to assert their dominance and establish themselves as a legitimate national title contender.

Analytics Validate Baylor's Lofty Ranking

The preseason AP Top 25 poll is not the only metric that has taken notice of Baylor's potential this season. The release of KenPom's preseason Adjusted Efficiency Margin rankings has also placed the Bears at No. 11, further validating their top-10 ranking.Baylor's position in the KenPom rankings is particularly impressive when considering the depth of the Big 12 Conference. The Bears find themselves trailing only four other Big 12 teams in the rankings, with Houston (No. 1), Kansas (No. 6), Iowa State (No. 7), and Arizona (No. 8) occupying the top spots. No other conference in the nation can boast the same level of depth, with the Big 12 claiming eight teams in the top 21 of the KenPom rankings.This analytical validation, coupled with the Bears' impressive roster and challenging schedule, has set the stage for a highly anticipated season in Waco. As the team prepares to take the court, the anticipation and excitement surrounding Baylor basketball are palpable, with fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness the Bears' quest for a deep postseason run and potential national championship.