Bear market

UConn’s men’s basketball team was honored (again) at the White House on Tuesday, which is surely the only semi-political thing anyone discussing from yesterday, right?

Let’s get to some more college hoops news.

1. Baylor’s talented (again), but will that mean a Sweet 16 trip?

Since Baylor won the national title in 2021, it’s won 74 games, been a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and never finished lower than 16th in kenpom’s final rankings.

Yet, somehow the Bears haven’t made it to the NCAA tourney’s second weekend in that time. That should reinforce that March often is a mix of talent and luck. Because Scott Drew’s program has had plenty of talent in those years. And it’ll have plenty again this season.

The Bears brought in just three transfers, but all three will play huge roles.

Former Duke guard Jeremy Roach and former Miami big man Norchad Omier both have Final Four experience. Roach is the ideal point guard in Drew’s system (he is NOT a shooting guard; more on that below). He reads ball screens well and always thrives in big moments. Omier may be the best Bears big man since Johnathan Motley. The 6-7 Omier averaged 17 ppg, and 8 rpg with stout interior defense at Miami, and should be a stud in Waco. The other transfer is Jalen Celestine from Cal, who’ll provide some bench shooting.

Meanwhile, starting guard Jayden Nunn provides stability and some defense, while senior guard Langston Love could be a starter, if he stays healthy. But neither of them are the big piece this season.

That’s freshman VJ Edgecombe, who enters Waco as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2024 class. At 6-5, Edgecombe could be a better version of what Keyonte George and JaKobe Walter were as freshmen. They were scorers (and eventually first-round draft picks), but neither scored efficiently. Edgecombe’s ability to drive with a college-ready body, and score in the flow of an offense should make him one of the top freshman in the sport.

In all likelihood, Baylor’s path to reaching the second weekend is based on whether it returns to its defensive roots. It ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency when it won the title, then 12th in 2022. It’s been outside the top 70 the past two years. Omier isn’t a rim protector, but perhaps some interior toughness is what this team needs.

We’ll see.

Meanwhile, I mentioned that Roach is a point guard. He wants that to be his role in Waco — he can score, but he’s a PG — as he explained to Jeff Goodman recently.

Mostly, it’s wild to not see Roach in a Duke uniform.

2. Bama highlights another commit-filled day

Nate Oats finally got active in the 2025 recruiting class.

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