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Baylor basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 early preview

By Mike Phillips

WACO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at Ferrell Center on February 22, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at Ferrell Center on February 22, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 15: Matthew Mayer #24 of the Baylor Bears takes a shot against Jermaine Haley #10 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at Ferrell Center on February 15, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 15: Matthew Mayer #24 of the Baylor Bears takes a shot against Jermaine Haley #10 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at Ferrell Center on February 15, 2020 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

An early look at the 2020-2021 Baylor Bears

Graduation will certainly take a chunk out of the Bears’ rotation as Freddie Gillespie and Devonte Bandoo have now played their final games at Baylor. The big question for Baylor is whether sophomore Jared Butler decides to pursue a move to the NBA.

It is very early in the pre-draft process but there is a strong chance Butler would be a second-round pick. With scouting combines and workouts likely impacted by the coronavirus, it could make things more difficult for Butler to get a true evaluation of his worth.

Those factors could incentivize Butler to return to Waco for his junior year, which would be a smart move since he has even more room to grow after a breakout junior year. Butler’s return would certainly be a massive sign for the Bears, who already have a solid nucleus and are poised to add to it with a good recruiting class.

The headliner in that class is power forward Dain Dainja, a 6-8 big from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Dainja should help fill the void created down low by Gillespie’s graduation along with returning forwards Tristan Clark and Flo Thambha.

The other noteworthy addition is point guard L.J. Cryer, a four-star recruit from Katy, Texas who will add some more depth to the backcourt. As long as Butler opts to come back to school there is every reason to believe the Bears will be a factor in the national title conversation again in 2021.

Way-too-early Top 25 for 2020-2021. dark. Next

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