Baylor Bears

Team Summary

Baylor’s recent success and a bevy of NCAA Tournament appearances is remarkable given the Bears were a mediocre Big 12 program at the time of a 2003 scandal involving a player who was murdered by his teammate. It also included coach Dave Bliss’ resignation due to paying players, a violation of NCAA rules, and others.

Aside from a late stretch of success in the 1940s, the Bears haven’t done much in the postseason until recently. Since 2008, Baylor has made nine NCAA Tournaments including winning the 2021 national championship. It’s a run that has included three NIT appearances with a runner-up finish and championship.

Three players since 2017 have won All-American honors. Johnathan Motley was a consensus second-team All-American in 2017, meaning the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Associations, National Association of Basketball Coaches and Sporting News all voted a player to the same team. Jared Butler was a consensus third-team All-American in 2020 and first team in 2021. Davion Mitchell was a third-team All-American by several entities in 2021.

Baylor Bears Standings

The Baylor Bears are currently battling through a challenging NCAAB season, holding onto sixth place in the Big 12 Conference with a 10-9 record. (Image of Baylor Bears basketball team celebrating a victory)

Their journey has been a mixed bag. Early stumbles against ranked opponents like Gonzaga and UCLA painted a worrying picture. However, recent triumphs over Oklahoma State (74-68) and TCU (70-63) offer hope for a strong finish.

Statistically, they boast a balanced attack with five players averaging double-digit points, led by Keyonte George’s 16.2 per game. But inconsistency on defense, particularly rebounding, has haunted them at times.

Coach Scott Drew is known for his tactical adjustments and postseason prowess. If the Bears can shore up their defense and maintain their offensive rhythm, they have the potential to climb the standings and make a run in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments.

The final act of the season is yet to unfold. Will the Bears roar back or fade into the pack? Keep an eye on their remaining games and see if they can claw their way to March Madness.

Baylor Bears Betting Trends

The Baylor Bears have been a dominant force in NCAAB, but their recent betting trends show a team seeking consistency. Here’s a quick buzz on their wagers:

• Spread: They’ve covered in just 3 of their last 7 games, struggling as favorites (1-4 in last 5).
• Over/Under: Games have landed on the under in 4 of their last 6 contests, indicating a defensive focus.
• Home Court: The Ferrell Center can be a bear trap, with Baylor covering in 4 of their last 5 home games.

Remember: Past performance isn’t a guarantee. Consider their opponent, injuries, and key player matchups before placing bets.

Bonus Tip: Keep an eye on Adam Flagler and Keyonte George. Their scoring outbursts can significantly impact the game’s flow and potential for points.

Baylor Bears Team History

Baylor has played men’s basketball since 1906, playing its first eight seasons as an independent. The following 81 years were in the Southwestern Conference and since 1996-97, the Bears have competed in the Big 12.

Eighteen coaches have led the Baylor program and Scott Drew is the winningest coach. He was 20-11 in his one year at Valparaiso before taking over a Bears program limited by scholarships and with a postseason ban to a scandal in 2003.

Patrick Dennehy was murdered by former teammate Carlton Dotson. Bliss was forced to resign due to a number of issues after a 61-57 run in four seasons at Baylor.

Baylor has been a mediocre program since inception but has had some success prior to the recent stretch. Under Bill Henderson, the Bears played for the 1948 national championship, losing 58-42 to Kentucky. Baylor then lost in the Final Four to Bradley in 1950.

Key Stats

Coming off of a national championship, Baylor looks primed to defend it. The Bears returned just 40.3% of their minutes and 36.5% of their scoring from last year but are off to a 14-0 start.

The country’s No. 1 team has been dominant. The Bears lead the country in scoring margin (25 points per game), have a No. 14 scoring offense (83.2 ppg), and are tied for 10th in scoring defense (58.0 oppg). Baylor is up there in efficiency as well, 17th in field goal percentage (48.8%) and 14th in assist-to-turnover rate (1.56).

Baylor hasn’t had a cupcake of a schedule, either, with convincing wins against Michigan State, Villanova, Stanford, Arizona State, and upset-minded Oklahoma. The Bears also beat Oregon and Virginia Commonwealth by eight each.

Against the spread, Baylor is 9-5-1 with a 9-5 clip-on over/unders.

Baylor’s odds to win the 2022 national championship are as high as +2000 (Caesars) and as low as +700 (Bet Rivers).

Championships Won by the Team

The Bears broke through with their first national championship in 2021, beating Gonzaga 86-70 in the title game. They were +10,000 preseason odds to win the championship and dominated through March Madness, winning by an average margin of 15.3 points. Jared Butler was named the Most Outstanding Player.

In 2013, Baylow won the 2013 National Invitational Tournament championships, clinching the title game 74-54 over Iowa.

Baylor won its lone Big 12 regular-season championship in 2020-21. The league has been dominated by Kansas, which has won 19 of the 25 total league championships since the conference’s inception in 1997.

Prior to that, five Southwestern Conference championships were won. Henderson’s squads won four of those during his tenure and Ralph Wolf coached the other.

Important Team Events

The murder of Patrick Dennehy and subsequent cover-up is chronicled in a documentary produced by Showtime called Disgraced. His body was found decomposed three miles from Baylor’s campus in Waco, Texas in 2003. Carlton Dotson eventually pleaded guilty to the murder.

Then-coach Bliss was caught on tape during the documentary saying, “What we have to do here is create the perception that Pat was a (drug) dealer.” He cited that could save his job because Dennehy wasn’t on scholarship, meaning he came up with $40,000 and a new truck somehow.

Bliss’ resignation led to Drew’s hiring after one season leading Valparaiso. Drew was known as a strong recruiter but only had seven scholarship players and a postseason ban upon taking the job. In his first three seasons, the Bears won 21 games combined and rebounded in year four with a 15-16 season. The following year, 2007-08, Baylor went 21-11 and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988.

Top Players

There are currently six Bears on NBA rosters. Davion Mitchell, the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Sacramento Kings; Jared Butler, a second-round pick who is with the Utah Jazz; Royce O’Neale, a fifth-year veteran and starter with the Jazz; Taurean Prince, a former first-round pick in his sixth season and first with the Minnesota Timberwolves; and reserves Ishmail Wainwright, with the Phoenix Suns, and Freddie Gillespie, who is with the Orlando Magic.

In total, 22 Bears have made the NBA. David Wesley and Brian Skinner each had 14-year careers. Vinnie Johnson, a 13-year career. Terry Teagle and Michael Williams each played 11 years. Most recently, Quincy Acy and Ekpe Udoh had seven-year careers.

Johnson was a second-team AP All-American in 1979. Teagle was a second-team AP All-American in 1982. Jackie Robinson, who starred on the 1948 national runner-up team, was a two-time second-team All-American by Helms in 1946 and 1948. The first of seven All-Americans in program history was Hubert Kirkpatrick, a first-team selection by Helms and second-team by the Newspaper Enterprise Association in 1938.

The program’s all-time leading scorer is LaceDarius Dunn with 2,285 points.

Top Coaches

Drew is the winningest coach in program history, nearing 400 wins at Baylor. He’s coached nine of the program’s 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and half of the six NIT appearances.

Henderson is second with 201 wins. He coached from 1941-43 and again from 1945-61, coaching three NCAA Tournament teams and winning four conference championships.

Gene Iba (1985-92) was 98-106 in his time at Baylor but had the other NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

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