Baylor’s basketball season essentially ended on Tuesday afternoon, and now we’re all left to wonder how they got to this point. They were one of the worst teams in the Big 12 this season, and were eliminated in the first round of the conference tournament.
The Bears suffered a 4-point loss to Arizona State, ending their season. Barring an NIT appearance, Baylor basketball will look very different next time they take the floor.
After finishing one game above .500 in the regular season, Baylor will need an impressive showing in the Big 12 Tournament in order to make the NCAA Tournament.
Up to about 10 years ago, Baylor Bears freshman wing Tounde Yessoufou would be a shoo-in as a top-five pick. That may not be the case in 2026, and not simply because the top three prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft are all but set in stone.
The Baylor offensive line room has faced a lot of turnover in the past few years, but looks to once again gain stability through recruiting in the high school ranks.
The Baylor Bears have finished their regular season play and will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament. Their first task will be the Arizona State Sun Devils, who finished with the same regular-season record as the Bears at 16-15, with a 5-9 record in the Big 12.
Despite playing its best basketball to end the regular season, Baylor is on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. The Bears went one game above .500, going 16-15 this season with a 6-12 Big 12 record.
In a surprising twist in the transfer portal cycle, former Kentucky wide receiver Hardley Gilmore is headed back to Lexington after previously signing with the Baylor Bears.
The Ole Miss Rebels entered the weekend as the top team in the country according to RPI, but struggling to get recognition from the polling agencies. Baseball America has the Rebs as high as 11, but Perfect Game has them unranked entirely.