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2007 Big 12 Basketball Predictions
2007 Baylor Basketball Predictions & Season
Preview
Baylor has been the butt of the Big 12
Conference for years now, but with guard Aaron Bruce
foregoing the NBA to play his senior season, Baylor
believes they can make the NCAA Tournament. Find out if
Jimmy Boyd agrees in this 2007 Baylor Bears
predictions and season preview article.
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I believe Baylor’s hopes of an NCAA Tournament berth are a bit presumptuous.
Baylor finished with a 15-16 record last season and with a 4-12 Big 12 mark. The
fact that the entire starting lineup returns has Baylor faithful believing the
Bears can have their first winning season in seven years. Oddsmakers even have
the Bears finishing ahead of Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri, Nebraska, and
Oklahoma State. I’m not so quick to agree. Remember that Baylor has lost 25
straight Big 12 road games. The Bears were picked to finish seventh by Big 12
coaches a year ago and came in 11th. I think the Bears will be disappointed
again.
If Baylor does enjoy some success this year, it will be largely due to the
performance of the frontcourt. Forward Kevin Rogers became a force last season
averaging 12.8 points per game and 7.6 boards per contest. The Bears have a pair
of seven footers who are going to have to step up their play this season.
Mamadou Diene was plagued by injuries last season and never found his rhythm.
Josh Lomers brings some beef inside but could not stay out of foul trouble to
save his life last year.
The bulk of Baylor’s offensive production will come from the perimeter as the
Bears boast some of the best guards in the conference. Aaron Bruce led all
freshman in college basketball with a 18.2 points per game in 2004-05. Last
season, his average dropped to just 11.3 points per game, but he has focused
more on getting his teammates involved. With Bruce taking on more of a
playmaking roll, Curtis Jerrells emerged as Baylor’s most productive scorer.
Jerrells can knock it down from the outside and has speed and strength as well.
Junior guard Henry Dugat can also light up a scoreboard.
The Bears were more competitive last season, but they made a habit out of
letting games slip away. This will be Scott Drew’s most talented team in five
years, but I believe inconsistency in the frontcourt will ultimately fail them.
An NIT berth is the type of postseason the Bears will experience this year.
Sorry seniors, but the NCAA Tourney will be just out of reach as I don’t see
Baylor getting to 20 wins.
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