2022–23 Baylor Bears men's basketball team

2022–23 Baylor Bears men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 11
Record23–11 (11–7 Big 12)
Head coach
Associate head coachAlvin Brooks III (7th season)
John Jakus (6th season)
Assistant coachJared Nuness (1st season)
Offensive schemeMotion
Base defenseNo-Middle
Home arenaFerrell Center
Seasons
2022–23 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 4 Kansas 13 – 5   .722 28 – 8   .778
No. 5 Texas † 12 – 6   .667 29 – 9   .763
No. 15 Kansas State 11 – 7   .611 26 – 10   .722
No. 11 Baylor 11 – 7   .611 23 – 11   .676
Iowa State 9 – 9   .500 19 – 14   .576
No. 22 TCU 9 – 9   .500 22 – 13   .629
Oklahoma State 8 – 10   .444 20 – 16   .556
West Virginia 7 – 11   .389 19 – 15   .559
Texas Tech 5 – 13   .278 16 – 16   .500
Oklahoma 5 – 13   .278 15 – 17   .469
† 2023 Big 12 tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll


The 2022–23 Baylor Bears men's basketball team represented Baylor University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which was the Bears' 117th basketball season. The Bears, members of the Big 12 Conference, played their home games at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. They were led by 20th-year head coach Scott Drew. They finished the season 23-11, 11-7 in Big 12 Play to finish a tie for 3rd place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament to Iowa State. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated UC Santa Barbara in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Creighton.

Previous season

The Bears finished the 2021–22 season 27–7, 14–4 in Big 12 play to finish a tie for the regular season championship. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament to Oklahoma. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Region, where they defeated Norfolk State in the first round before getting upset in the second round by North Carolina.

Offseason

Departures

Baylor Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for Departure
Jeremy Sochan 1 F 6'9" 230 Freshman Milton Keynes, England Declared for 2022 NBA draft
Kendall Brown 2 G/F 6'8" 205 Freshman Cottage Grove, MN Declared for 2022 NBA draft
James Akinjo 11 G 6'1" 190 Senior Oakland, CA Graduated/went undrafted in 2022 NBA draft
Mitchell Paul 14 G 6'0" 175 Senior Leawood, KS Walk-on; graduated
Kijana Love 21 G 6'1" 170 Senior Universal City, TX Walk-on; graduated
Matthew Mayer 24 G/F 6'9" 225 Senior Austin, TX Graduated
Dain Dainja 42 F 6'9" 270 RS Freshman Brooklyn Park, MN Mid-season transferred to Illinois

Incoming transfers

Incoming Transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Jalen Bridges 11 F 6'7" 225 RS Junior Fairmont, WV West Virginia
Dantwan Grimes 12 G 6'1" 175 Sophomore Ocala, FL Kilgore College
Caleb Lohner 33 F 6"8" 235 Sophomore Dallas, TX BYU

Recruiting classes

2022 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Keyonte George
#4 SG 		Bradenton, FL IMG Academy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Aug 8, 2021 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 93
Joshua Ojianwuna
C 		Canberra, AUS NBA Global Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Sep 22, 2021 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 10
  • 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 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  • "2022 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2023)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ja'Kobe Walter
#2 SG 		McKinney, TX Link Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jun 22, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 91
Miro Little
PG 		Bel Aire, KS Sunrise Christian Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Apr 15, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 10
  • 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:

2024 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2024)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jason Asemota
#4 SF 		Phoenix, AZ Hillcrest Prep 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Aug 27, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 10
  • 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:

Roster

2022–23 Baylor Bears men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Flo Thamba 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr Mountain Mission (VA) Kinshasa, DR Congo
G 1 Keyonte George 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr IMG Academy Lewisville, TX
G 2 Jake Younkin (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Cincinnati Hills Loveland, OH
G 3 Dale Bonner 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Shaker Heights
Fairmont State 		Shaker Heights, OH
G 4 LJ Cryer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Morton Ranch Katy, TX
G/F 5 Jordan Turner 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Jr Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) Houston, TX
G 10 Adam Flagler 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Sr Presbyterian Duluth, GA
F 11 Jalen Bridges 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Jr West Virginia Fairmont, WV
G 13 Langston Love 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Fr Montverde Academy (FL) Universal City, TX
F 15 Josh Ojianwuna 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr NBA Global Academy Asaba, Nigeria
F 20 Austin Sacks (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Santa Clara Encino, CA
F 23 Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr UNLV Douala, Cameroon
F 32 Zach Loveday 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Huntington Prep (WV) Gallipolis, OH
F 33 Caleb Lohner 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr BYU Dallas, TX
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 7, 2022*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5т Mississippi Valley State W 117–53  1–0
  21 – Flagler   10 – Thamba   8 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (10,284)
Waco, TX
November 11, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5т Norfolk State
Continental Tire Main Event campus site game 		W 87–70  2–0
  23 – George   7 – Ojianwuna   7 – George  Ferrell Center (9,728)
Waco, TX
November 14, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 Northern Colorado W 95–62  3–0
  20 – Cryer   10 – Lohner   10 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (8,548)
Waco, TX
November 18, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 5 vs. No. 16 Virginia
Continental Tire Main Event semifinal 		L 79–86  3–1
  20 – George   5 – Tied   7 – Flagler  T-Mobile Arena (7,678)
Paradise, NV
November 20, 2022*
4:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 vs. No. 8 UCLA
Continental Tire Main Event 3rd place game 		W 80–75  4–1
  28 – Cryer   6 – 2 tied   4 – Flagler  T-Mobile Arena 
Paradise, NV
November 23, 2022*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 McNeese State W 89–60  5–1
  17 – George   7 – Bridges   12 – Bonner  Ferrell Center (8,181)
Waco, TX
November 29, 2022*
7:30 p.m., FS1 		No. 6 at Marquette
Big East–Big 12 Battle 		L 70–96  5–2
  19 – Cryer   6 – Flagler   5 – Flagler  Fiserv Forum (14,022)
Milwaukee, WI
December 2, 2022*
7:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 6 vs. No. 14 Gonzaga W 64–63  6–2
  18 – George   8 – Thamba   3 – Bonner  Sanford Pentagon (3,448)
Sioux Falls, SD
December 6, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 12 Tarleton State W 80–57  7–2
  22 – George   8 – Bridges   6 – George  Ferrell Center (8,527)
Waco, TX
December 18, 2022*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 11 vs. Washington State
Pac-12 Coast-to-Coast Challenge 		W 65–59  8–2
  19 – George   7 – Bridges   4 – Bonner  American Airlines Center (4,200)
Dallas, TX
December 20, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 12 Northwestern State W 58–48  9–2
  13 – Bridges   8 – Ojianwuna   7 – Bonner  Ferrell Center (8,200)
Waco, TX
December 28, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 12 Nicholls W 85–56  10–2
  21 – George   11 – Ojianwuna   6 – Bonner  Ferrell Center (8,577)
Waco, TX
December 31, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 12 at Iowa State L 62–77  10–3
(0–1) 		 20 – Flagler   5 – Thamba   3 – Flagler  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 4, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 19 No. 17 TCU L 87–88  10–4
(0–2) 		 27 – George   7 – Tied   6 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (8,710)
Waco, TX
January 7, 2023
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 19 Kansas State L 95–97 OT 10–5
(0–3) 		 23 – Flagler   7 – Tied   7 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (9,211)
Waco, TX
January 11, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at West Virginia W 83–78  11–5
(1–3) 		 32 – George   11 – Bridges   4 – Flagler  WVU Coliseum (11,815)
Morgantown, WV
January 14, 2023
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Oklahoma State W 74–58  12–5
(2–3) 		 16 – Cryer   8 – Tied   8 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (9,616)
Waco, TX
January 17, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 21 at Texas Tech W 81–74  13–5
(3–3) 		 27 – George   6 – Ojianwuna   5 – Flagler  United Supermarkets Arena (14,152)
Lubbock, TX
January 21, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 21 at Oklahoma W 62–60  14–5
(4–3) 		 16 – Flagler   10 – Thamba   5 – Flagler  Lloyd Noble Center (8,808)
Norman, OK
January 23, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 17 No. 9 Kansas W 75–69  15–5
(5–3) 		 22 – Cryer   9 – Bridges   3 – Tied  Ferrell Center (10,219)
Waco, TX
January 28, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 17 Arkansas
Big 12/SEC Challenge 		W 67–64  16–5
  24 – George   7 – Bridges   3 – George  Ferrell Center (10,627)
Waco, TX
January 30, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 11 at No. 10 Texas L 71–76  16–6
(5–4) 		 19 – Cryer   7 – Bridges   4 – Flagler  Moody Center (10,763)
Austin, TX
February 4, 2023
12:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 11 Texas Tech W 89–62  17–6
(6–4) 		 18 – Bridges   8 – Bridges   8 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (10,343)
Waco, TX
February 8, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 14 Oklahoma W 82–72  18–6
(7–4) 		 23 – George   8 – Bridges   4 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (9,861)
Waco, TX
February 11, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 14 at No. 17 TCU W 72–68  19–6
(8–4) 		 28 – Flagler   7 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   4 – Flagler  Schollmaier Arena (7,055)
Fort Worth, TX
February 13, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 West Virginia W 79–67  20–6
(9–4) 		 26 – Cryer   9 – George   7 – George  Ferrell Center (9,811)
Waco, TX
February 18, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 9 at No. 5 Kansas L 71–87  20–7
(9–5) 		 22 – Flagler   6 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   7 – Flagler  Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 21, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 at No. 14 Kansas State L 65–75  20–8
(9–6) 		 23 – George   12 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   6 – Cryer  Bramlage Coliseum (11,000)
Manhattan, KS
February 25, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 9 No. 8 Texas W 81–72  21–8
(10–6) 		 17 – Bridges   12 – Thamba   4 – Tied  Ferrell Center (10,499)
Waco, TX
February 27, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 7 at Oklahoma State W 74–68  22–8
(11–6) 		 15 – Tied   8 – Thamba   6 – Flagler  Gallagher-Iba Arena (7,965)
Stillwater, OK
March 4, 2023
11:00 a.m., ESPN2 		No. 7 Iowa State L 58–73  22–9
(11–7) 		 20 – Flagler   7 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   2 – Tied  Ferrell Center (10,105)
Waco, TX
Big 12 tournament
March 9, 2023
11:30 a.m., ESPN 		(4) No. 10 vs. (5) Iowa State
Quarterfinals 		L 72–78  22–10
  28 – Bridges   5 – Bridges   4 – Flagler  T-Mobile Center 
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament
March 17, 2023*
12:30 pm, TNT 		(3 S) No. 11 vs. (14 S) UC Santa Barbara
First Round 		W 74–56  23–10
  18 – Flagler   9 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   5 – Flagler  Ball Arena 
Denver, CO
March 19, 2023*
6:10 p.m., TBS 		(3 S) No. 11 vs. (6 S) Creighton
Second Round 		L 76–85  23–11
  30 – Cryer   6 – Bridges   3 – George  Ball Arena 
Denver, CO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in Central Time.

Source:[1]

Rankings

See also: 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
AP5т5761211121219RV211711149971011Not released
Coaches667101211131316RV221711129108101119

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.

References

  1. ^ "2022–23 Men's Basketball Schedule". baylorbears.com. Baylor University Athletics. Retrieved August 29, 2022.