Former Duke basketball guard Jeremy Roach Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Former Duke Basketball Talent Partly to Blame for Recent Baylor Woes

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Jan 20, 2025 6:13 AM ET

With a roster strengthened by the addition of former four-year Duke basketball starter Jeremy Roach, the Baylor Bears began the season at No. 8 in the AP Top 25 Poll. Now, they've underachieved to the degree of likely dropping from No. 25 to nonexistent this week, even among unranked squads receiving votes.

Since the release of last week's AP Poll, Roach and the Bears (11-6, 3-3 Big 12) lost both of their outings, including a deflating 74-71 home defeat at the hands of the unranked TCU Horned Frogs (10-7, 3-3 Big 12) on Sunday evening.

They've won only twice across their past five contests. Across that stretch, the 23-year-old Roach, Baylor's full-time starting point guard, has shot a combined 19-for-57 from the field. That 33.3 percent field goal percentage, including a 4-for-15 clip against TCU, just isn't sufficient if the Bears are to bounce back and sustain success in their remaining loaded conference slate.

Through his 15 appearances this season, Roach is averaging 11.9 points, a few points shy of his averages as a Duke basketball junior and senior despite roughly the same amount of playing time. His 40.9 season field goal percentage and 34.7 percentage from three also mark notable drops from the career-high 46.8 and 42.9 percentages, respectively, he posted for the Blue Devils last year.

Jeremy Roach and the Baylor Bears next host the Kansas State Wildcats (7-10, 1-5 Big 12) at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPNU).

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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