2024–25 Baylor Bears men's basketball team

The 2024–25 Baylor Bears men's basketball team represents Baylor University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the Bears' 119th season. The Bears, members of the Big 12 Conference, play their home games at Foster Pavilion. They are led by 22nd-year head coach Scott Drew.

2024–25 Baylor Bears men's basketball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record17–12 (9–9 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Offensive schemeMotion
Base defenseNo-Middle
Home arenaFoster Pavilion
Seasons
2024–25 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 3 Houston 18 1   .947 26 4   .867
No. 9 Texas Tech 13 5   .722 22 7   .759
No. 24 Arizona 13 5   .722 19 10   .655
No. 10 Iowa State 12 6   .667 22 7   .759
No. 23 BYU 12 6   .667 21 8   .724
Kansas 10 9   .526 19 11   .633
TCU 9 9   .500 16 13   .552
Baylor 9 9   .500 17 12   .586
Kansas State 8 10   .444 14 15   .483
West Virginia 8 10   .444 17 12   .586
Utah 8 10   .444 16 13   .552
Cincinnati 7 11   .389 17 12   .586
Oklahoma State 6 12   .333 14 15   .483
UCF 6 12   .333 15 14   .517
Arizona State 4 14   .222 13 16   .448
Colorado 2 16   .111 11 18   .379
2025 Big 12 tournament winner
As of March 3, 2025
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

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The Bears finished the 2023–24 season 24–11, 11–7 in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for third place. They lost in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament to Iowa State. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the number three seed in the West Region, where they defeated Colgate in the first round before losing in the second round to Clemson.[1][2]

Offseason

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Departures

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Baylor Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for Departure
Miro Little 1 G 6'4" 185 Freshman Tampere, Finland Transferred to Utah[3]
Ja'Kobe Walter 4 F 6'5" 180 Freshman McKinney, TX Declare for 2024 NBA draft; selected 19th overall by Toronto Raptors
RayJ Dennis 10 G 6'2" 180 Senior Plainfield, IL Graduated/undrafted in 2024 NBA draft; signed with the Los Angeles Clippers
Jalen Bridges 11 F 6'7" 225   Senior Fairmont, WV Graduated/undrafted in 2024 NBA draft; signed with the Phoenix Suns
Dantwan Grimes 12 G 6'2" 190   Junior Ocala, FL Transferred to Tarleton State
Austin Sacks 20 F 6'7" 200 Senior Encino, CA Graduated
Yves Missi 21 F 6'10" 210 Freshman Yaoundé, Cameroon Declare for 2024 NBA draft; selected 21st overall by New Orleans Pelicans
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua 23 F 6'8" 250 Graduate Douala, Cameroon Graduated
Caleb Lohner 33 F 6'8" 235 Senior Dallas, TX Transferred to Utah[4]

Incoming transfers

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Incoming Transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Jeremy Roach 3 G 6'2" 180 Fifth Year Leesburg, VA Duke
Norchad Omier 15 F 6'7" 248 Fifth Year Bluefields, Nicaragua Miami (FL)
Jalen Celestine 32 G 6'7" 215 Graduate Ajax, Ontario California
Yanis Ndjonga 41 F 6'7" 210 Senior Yaoundé, Cameroon New Mexico Military Institute

Recruiting classes

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2024 recruiting class

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College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
V. J. Edgecombe
#1 SG
Glen Head, NY Long Island Lutheran HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jan 14, 2024 
Star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 96
Robert Wright III
#1 PG
Wilimgton, DE Montverde Academy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sep 9, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 89
Jason Asemota
#16 SF
Phoenix, AZ Hillcrest Prep 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Aug 27, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 87
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 4  247Sports: 4
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Baylor 2024 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  • "2024 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.

Preseason

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Big 12 Preseason Poll

Big 12 Coaches Points
1. Kansas 215 (9)
2. Houston 211 (5)
3. Iowa State 194 (1)
4. Baylor 185
5. Arizona 179 (1)
6. Cincinnati 140
7. Texas Tech 135
8. Kansas State 133
9. BYU 116
10. TCU 90
11. UCF 83
12. Arizona State 64
13. West Virginia 62
14. Oklahoma State 46
15. Colorado 37
16. Utah 30
Reference:[5] (#) first-place votes

Pre-Season All-Big 12 Team

First Team
Player School
Caleb Love Arizona
LJ Cryer Houston
J’Wan Roberts
Tamin Lipsey Iowa State
Hunter Dickinson Kansas
† denotes unanimous selection
Reference:[5]
Second Team
Player School
Norchad Omier Baylor
Jeremy Roach
Keshon Gilbert Iowa State
Dajuan Harris Jr Kansas
Coleman Hawkins Kansas State
† denotes unanimous selection
Reference:[5]

Roster

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2024–25 Baylor Bears men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Robert O. Wright III 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Fr Montverde Academy Wilmington, Delaware
G 2 Jayden Nunn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr VCU Flint, Michigan
G 3 Jeremy Roach (5Y) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Duke Leesburg, Virginia
F 5 Jason Asemota 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Hillcrest Prep Lynn, Massachusetts
G 7 V. J. Edgecombe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Long Island Lutheran High School Bimini, Bahamas
G 11 Kaleb Jackson (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Carmel Catholic High School Lake Forest, Illinois
G 13 Langston Love 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Jr Montverde Academy Universal City, Texas
F 15 Norchad Omier (5Y) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 248 lb (112 kg) Sr Miami (FL) Bluefields, Nicaragua
F 17 Josh Ojianwuna 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr NBA Global Academy Asaba, Nigeria
G 21 Davidson Hubbard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) GS Hampden–Sydney Charlotte, North Carolina
F 22 Marino Dubravcic (W) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Fr Obrtna tehnicka Split, Croatia
G 25 Omar Adegbola (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Fr Montverde Academy Houston, Texas
G 32 Jalen Celestine 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) GS California Ajax, Ontario
F 41 Yanis Ndjonga 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So New Mexico Military Institute Yaoundé, Cameroon
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: December 7, 2024

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
10:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 8 at No. 6 Gonzaga
Findlay Auto Tip-Off
L 63–101  0–1
 15  Omier   9  Omier   7  Wright  Spokane Arena (12,000)
Spokane, WA
November 9, 2024*
6:30 p.m., ESPNU
No. 8 vs. No. 16 Arkansas W 72–67  1–1
 16  Nunn   12  Omier   5  Edgecombe  American Airlines Center (10,207)
Dallas, Texas
November 12, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 12 Sam Houston W 104–67  2–1
 19  Nunn   10  Tied   8  Roach  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
November 17, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 12 Tarleton State W 104–41  3–1
 20  Celestine   9  Omier   9  Wright III  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
November 21, 2024*
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
No. 13 vs. No. 22 St. John's
Bahamas Championship semifinals
W 99–98 2OT 4–1
 24  Omier   10  Omier   4  Tied  Baha Mar Convention Center (2,077)
Nassau, Bahamas
November 22, 2024*
9:30 p.m., CBSSN
No. 13 vs. No. 11 Tennessee
Bahamas Championship final
L 62–77  4–2
 22  Omier   10  Omier   3  Tied  Baha Mar Convention Center (2,119)
Nassau, Bahamas
November 27, 2024*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 17 New Orleans W 91–60  5–2
 23  Nunn   13  Omier   8  Roach  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
December 4, 2024*
5:30 p.m., FS1
No. 15 at No. 25 UConn
Big East–Big 12 Battle
L 72–76  5–3
 22  Wright   14  Ojianwuna   4  Wright III  Gampel Pavilion (10,299)
Storrs, CT
December 9, 2024*
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Abilene Christian W 88–57  6–3
 18  Nunn   8  Ojianwuna   4  Tied  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
December 11, 2024*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+
Norfolk State W 94–69  7–3
 19  Omier   9  Edgecombe   13  Wright III  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
December 27, 2024*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 25 Arlington Baptist W 107–53  8–3
 19  Omier   24  Omier   Wright III  9  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
Big 12 regular season
December 31, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 25 Utah W 81–56  9–3
(1–0)
 19  Edgecombe   14  Omier   5  Nunn  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
January 4, 2025
1:00 p.m., CBS
No. 25 at No. 3 Iowa State L 55–74  9–4
(1–1)
 16  Roach   10  Tied   4  Edgecombe  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 7, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Cincinnati W 68–48  10–4
(2–1)
 18  Tied   9  Omier   4  Roach  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
January 11, 2025
8:30 p.m., ESPN+
at Arizona State W 72–66 OT 11–4
(3–1)
 19  Omier   17  Ojianwuna   3  Tied  Desert Financial Arena (9,449)
Tempe, AZ
January 14, 2025
10:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 25 at Arizona L 70–81  11–5
(3–2)
 16  Wright   7  Edgecombe   4  Wright  McKale Center (14,034)
Tucson, AZ
January 19, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 25 TCU L 71–74  11–6
(3–3)
 20  Omier   5  Omier   8  Wright  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
January 22, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
Kansas State W 70–62  12–6
(4–3)
 30  Edgecombe   13  Omier   5  Wright  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
January 25, 2025
3:30 p.m., ESPN2
at Utah W 76–61  13–6
(5–3)
 22  Omier   12  Omier   4  Edgecombe  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,311)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 28, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
at BYU L 89–93 OT 13–7
(5–4)
 28  Edgecombe   8  Oimer   6  Wright  Marriott Center (17,297)
Provo, UT
February 1, 2025
3:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 11 Kansas W 81–70  14–7
(6–4)
 24  Wright   16  Omier   6  Wright  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
February 4, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
at No. 13 Texas Tech L 59–73  14–8
(6–5)
 16  Omier   12  Omier   3  Wright  United Supermarkets Arena (15,098)
Lubbock, TX
February 8, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
UCF W 91–76  15–8
(7–5)
 18  Omier   12  Omier   5  Edgecombe  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
February 10, 2025
8:00 p.m., ESPN
at No. 6 Houston L 65–76  15–9
(7–6)
 19  Omier   6  Edgecombe   3  Tied  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
February 15, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN2
West Virginia W 74–71 OT 16–9
(8–6)
 17  Tied   10  Omier   6  Edgecombe  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
February 17, 2025
9:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 19 Arizona L 67–74  16–10
(8–7)
 24  Edgecombe   13  Omier   4  Wright  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
February 22, 2025
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Colorado L 74–76  16–11
(8–8)
 18  Omier   13  Omier   7  Edgecombe  CU Events Center (7,341)
Boulder, CO
February 25, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Cincinnati L 67–69  16–12
(8–9)
 18  Edgecombe   10  Omier   4  Wright  Fifth Third Arena (10,598)
Cincinnati, OH
March 1, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Oklahoma State W 71–61  17–12
(9–9)
 16  Wright   13  Omier   3  Roach  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
March 4, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at TCU       Schollmaier Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 8, 2025
9:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 3 Houston       Foster Pavilion 
Waco, TX
Big 12 tournament
March 11-12, 2025
TBA
vs.        T-Mobile Center 
Kansas City, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Source:[6]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP812131715RVRV2525RV25RVRVRV
Coaches81415181625RV2321RV24RVRVRVRV

References

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  1. ^ "2023-24 Baylor Bears Men's Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Baylor men's & women's basketball programs roll into March Madness". Baylor University Athletics. March 18, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Judd, Brandon (May 7, 2024). "Runnin' Utes add another transfer, this one a four-star prospect from Big 12 territory". Deseret News. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Coles, Joe (May 6, 2024). "Former BYU and Baylor basketball player Caleb Lohner transfers to Utah football". Deseret News. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Kansas Selected As Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Favorite, KU's Dickinson Named Preseason Player of the Year". Big12sports.com. Big 12 Conference. October 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved June 4, 2024.