Bridging the Big 12 gap

It’s the true off-season. There’s no NBA playoff game to flip on to quench the thirst of basketball fans, and the news cycle has slowed in college hoops. Perfect time to catch up on your NBA Draft education.

And when you’re done with that, dive into Wednesday’s college basketball news.

1. Could Baylor be a Big 12 contender after all?

It’s a testament to Scott Drew and his program that Baylor was still seen as an upper-tier Big 12 team next season. After all, the Bears lost their entire backcourt and big man Flo Thamba.

The good news? One starter is officially heading back to Waco.

The 6-7 Bridges, who started 34 games for Baylor last season, had gone through the NBA Draft process and was considering playing overseas for 2023-24. Instead, he’ll be in Waco for his senior season and will almost certainly improve on his 10.3 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Baylor is still a step behind Kansas, Houston and Texas (and probably West Virginia) in the overall Big 12 talent pool, but having Bridges gives them more versatility up front. He played mainly around the basket last season (his pro potential is on the wing) and will probably be asked to do more of the same next season.

The Bears return big men Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Caleb Lohner, but both are limited offensively. Freshman Yves Missi reclassified into 2023 and will likely see plenty of opportunities as well.

That leaves Bridges as the main frontcourt option with returning guard Langston Love and transfers RayJ Dennis and Jayden Nunn. How Drew fits the pieces together will be something to watch in November and December.

2. Arizona International

Tommy Lloyd’s travel agent must be busy all the time. Arizona added its seventh foreign-born player this week in Paulius Murauskas, a 6-9 forward from Lithuania.

Arizona’s got depth up front in new transfer Keshad Johnson and likely leading scorer Oumar Ballo, so Murauskas can acclimate to playing stateside. He’s a versatile shot-maker, who can attract the defense’s attention to the perimeter and can attack slower frontcourt players off the bounce. Murauskas flashed his potential last summer during the FIBA U19 tournament, averaging over 20 points per game.

"My decision to go to the NCAA is all about improvement," Murauskas told ESPN. "Especially physical improvement to be able to compete in high-intensity games. Personally, I think that this will be the best place for my further development as a person and as a basketball player."

Adding Murauskas isn’t a hugely impactful move, but it shores up the Wildcats’ frontline. The Cats are firmly in most Top 25 rankings — and should enter the season as one of the sport’s biggest boom-or-bust teams, depending on how the Jaden Bradley-Caleb Love-Kylan Boswell backcourt gels.

3. Purdue has a type

If you’re a 7-footer (or above), odds are Matt Painter is into you.

Well, not like that. He’ll just be interested in what you look like in black and gold. And on a basketball court.

The latest example? Purdue offered 7-foot-3, 220 junior Trent Burns, who currently plays for PSAT Academy in Houston. Burns is currently unranked according to 247sports, but if Painter and staff are showing interest, it probably tells us what we need to know.

Burns is unlikely to turn into the next Zach Edey or Isaac Haas, but there’s something to be said for knowing what you want and going after it. That’s why Purdue’s roster has featured guys like Edey (7-4), Haas (7-2), Will Berg (7-2) and Matt Haarms (7-3).

And if you can be self-deprecating about having a type? Even better.

Hmm. Sounds like the next All-American will be in West Lafayette soon.

Jett engine

When Jett Howard heats up, few NBA prospects are better on offense. But as Greg Waddell and Rob Dauster discuss, there’s quite a bit of Howard’s game that needs work. He’s got an NBA pedigree, which bodes well for his future. So how good could he be?

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Links while you try to figure out which sport to watch until November.

• Washington transfer PJ Fuller will head to Detroit Mercy.

• Ryan Moffatt is officially back at Colgate for one more season.

• Florida State’s Jaylan Gainey has been cleared for non-contact activity.

• The IRS says NIL collectives aren’t tax-exempt entities. That’s nothing new.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].