Scott Drew And Baylor Enter 2026-27 Season With Plenty To Prove
WACO, Texas (TXAN 24) — Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears men’s basketball team enter the 2026-27 season facing high expectations to rebound after missing the NCAA Tournament last season. With a retooled roster and a competitive Big 12 Conference ahead, Baylor will look to reestablish itself among the nation’s top programs.
Baylor finished the 2025-26 season with a 17-17 record, falling short of the postseason standard established under Drew, who led the Bears to their first national championship in 2021. The disappointing finish has increased the importance of this season as the program works to regain its footing.
The Bears’ revamped roster features freshman guard Dylan Mingo, Penn State transfer Kayden Mingo and the return of center Juslin Bodo Bodo, who missed last season with an injury. The additions provide opportunities to improve the team’s backcourt organization, defensive presence and overall depth.
Baylor was picked 10th in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, placing it outside the conference’s projected upper tier. The ranking presents an opportunity for Drew’s team to exceed expectations as the season progresses.
The Big 12 remains one of college basketball’s most demanding conferences, with Arizona, Houston, Kansas and Iowa State among the teams drawing significant attention entering the season.
For Drew, now entering his 24th season at Baylor, the challenge is translating roster changes into consistent results. A return to the NCAA Tournament would be an important step toward restoring the Bears’ national standing.
Baylor’s season will ultimately be measured by its performance against conference competition, its ability to defend consistently and whether its new-look roster can deliver when expectations rise.
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