Omier is in his first season with Baylor after beginning his career at Arkansas State and spending the last two seasons at Miami. During his final season with Miami, he led the team in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, blocks, and steals after being selected to the Preseason All-ACC First Team.
Omier has seen that same success transition to Baylor, as he is also leading his new team in three of those same five categories, with steals and field goal percentage being the only exceptions. A native of Nicaragua, Omier is a tough defend because he consistently does the winning things and makes the right plays. He has scored in double figures in 11-of-13 games and finished just short of his seventh double-double of the season after being held to 9 points, 10 rebounds against Iowa State.
A consensus top-25 prospect coming out of prestigious Montverde Academy, Wright has been one of the Bears' most consistent shooting threats through the first 13 games. The freshman is currently second on the team in free throw percentage (76.7), is making 47.8 % of his field goal attempts, and has shown an ability to be a threat from deep, making 41% of his attempts. Over the past three games, Wright has made 3-of-11 from three.
He has scored in double figures in eight games this season, with his season high being a 22-point effort against UConn. Wright excels in making plays for himself, as well as being a good on-the-ball defender. Wright has a great feel for the game and has already shown the ability to get to his spots off the bounce to create for himself or others.
- 6'2" Sr G Jeremy Roach (12.8 pph, 4.0 apg, 1.9 rpg)
A fifth-year transfer from Duke, Roach was named Big 12 preseason co-Newcomer of the Year and was also a Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Roach comes to Baylor with high level experience after starting 108 of 130 games while at Duke. While at Duke, Roach eclipsed 1,000 points for his career and also reached a Final Four with both a regular season and conference championship.
While not an elite athlete, Roach has a great feel for the game, has great ball-handling and penetration ability, scores well from mid-range and in the lane, and is a competitor who has all the intangibles you want in a point guard. In two Big 12 games against Iowa State and Utah, Roach is averaging 15 ppg and has made 6-of-13 attempts from three.
- 6'5" FR G VJ Edgecombe (11.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Projected to be a one-and-done top 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Edgecombe is an elite level prospect. At 6'5", the Bahama native has a nice blend of driving ability and shot-making, and has proven to be a force going to the basket. With a good first step and handles, Edgebombe's athleticism allows him to get to his spots more often than not. He is also further along defensively that most freshmen and currently leads the Bears in steals at 2.6 per game.
If there is one weakness in his game currently, it is his outside shooting. At 28.6%, Edgecombe has shown the ability to be a threat from deep, but not consistently, His best game was a 20 point effort against Tennessee, in which he made 3-of-6 attempts from three.
- 6'4" Sr G Jayden Nunn (10.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
One of the best defensive guards in the nation, Nunn is also a career 42.3% shooter from three. At 48.6%, Nunn leads the Bears in three-point shooting this season but hasn't found the same consistency from other spots on the floor. The Flint, MI native is at just 58.3% from the free throw line and is making 42% of his field goal attempts. He has been held to six or fewer points in three of Baylor's last four games.
Nunn is at his best in pick-and-roll situations where he has the ability to score from multiple levels. In last season's Big 12 tournament win over the Bearcats, he contributed nine points and five steals.
- 6'10" Jr C Josh Ojianwuna (7.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Ojianwuna finished his sophomore year making 75% of his field goal attempts. That number has improved to 78.3% through 13 games of his junior year, making him one of the most efficient big men in the country.
At 6'10, Ojianwuna is a high energy big man who brings great effort on the court. While not as polished offensively as his field goal percentage suggests, he excels in defending the lane, rebounding at a high level, and running the floor. His size and length allows him to play above the rim at both ends of the court.
Game Notes:
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Dan Skillings averaged 19.5 points per game in two match ups against Baylor last season, including a 24-point in Waco. Having Skillings playing at the level he's capable of is a good start for primary keys to a Bearcats win.
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UC is 12-1 in games where Aziz Bandaogo reaches double figures. Converting lobs around the rim and creating additional offense with second chance opportunities off offensive rebounds could help prevent the scoring droughts that we have seen in both Big 12 games this season. Bandaogo is 41st nationally and fifth in the Big 12 with 1.9 blocks per game. Rim protection will be key against a team that likes to get in the lane and attack the rim.
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Dillon Mitchell is currently fourth nationally with a 67.6 field-goal percentage while leading UC in steals (23) and rebounds (7.7). He is also second nationally in dunks (35) and 3-for-6 from three in two Big 12 games. While that consistency likely isn't sustainable, Mitchell expanding his game to the three-point line will make it that much more difficult for teams to defend him.
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UC has lost both games in which they've given up 70 points. Baylor is averaging 84 points per game, which ranks 29th nationally.
Final Thoughts:
Scott Drew announced Monday during his media availability that the status of key reserves Langston Love (6.5 ppg) and Jalen Celestine (7.9 ppg) is still unknown after the duo missed Saturday's loss to Iowa State. Celestine tweaked his ankle at the end of the Utah game and Love is battling a re-occuring ankle injury from a prior surgery. Neither played in the loss to Iowa State.
Should those two be out against UC, a short rotation of six or seven guys would have a major impact on Baylor's game plan and what they do schematically at both ends of the floor.. Baylor is a team that likes to get out in transition and create offense by pressing and applying pressure defensively. Depth is needed for the style that they like to implement.
Drew did conclude that those two are trending in the right direction, but even if those two are unavailable, Baylor still have enough talent to be a team capable of beating anyone on their schedule, especially at home. Baylor is 7-0 at home this season with an average margin of victory of 38 points, including an 81-56 win over Utah to open Big 12 play.
Baylor is a 5.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 139.5.
How to watch:
ESPN+
8:00 est
