Mark Vital

Baylor Preview-Capsule

Published Oct. 25, 2018 12:09 p.m. ET

BAYLOR

Last season: 19-15, lost in second round of NIT.

Nickname: Bears.

Coach: Scott Drew.

Conference: Big 12.

Who's gone: Point guard Manu Lecomte, forwards Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Terry Maston and Nuni Omot.

Who's back: Senior guard King McClure (8.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.7 apg), sophomore forward Tristan Clark (6.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg), sophomore guard/forward Mark Vital (6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg).

Who's new: Mario Kegler is a 6-7 transfer from Mississippi State, where he started 31 games as a freshman in 2016-17. Guard Makai Mason is the first graduate transfer ever at Baylor, the team he scored 31 points against in the 2016 NCAA Tournament while with Yale. Matthew Mayer is a 6-9 freshman shooter from Austin Westlake who can cause matchup problems with his size. Jared Butler is a top recruit who originally chose Alabama but was given his release and joined Baylor in August.

The Skinny: Drew goes into his 16th season at Baylor with nine newcomers on the roster, and only three lettermen from last season available to play. The top four scorers from last season are gone.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Baylor as a long shot to win the NCAA Tournament at 120-1, the same as Big 12 rival TCU, but well below five other conference foes, including league favorites Kansas at 17-2 and West Virginia at 30-1.

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