2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball team explained

Year:2021–22
Prev:2020–21
Next Year:2022–23
Team:Baylor Bears
Sport:basketball
Conference:Big 12 Conference
Short Conf:Big 12
Coachrank:9
Aprank:4
Record:27–7
Conf Record:14–4
Head Coach:Scott Drew
Hc Year:19th
Assoc Coach:Jerome Tang
Ahc Year:19th
Asst Coach1:Alvin Brooks III
Ac1 Year:6th
Asst Coach2:John Jakus
Ac2 Year:5th
Off Scheme:Motion
Def Scheme:No-Middle
Arena:Ferrell Center
Champion:Big 12 regular season co-champions
Battle 4 Atlantis champions
Tourney:NCAA tournament
Tourney Result:Second Round

The 2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball team represented Baylor University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which was the Bears' 116th 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 19th-year head coach Scott Drew. They finished the 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.

This was the first season in which the terms "men's" and "women's" are needed to distinguish Baylor's basketball teams. Before this season, Baylor women's basketball had used the nickname "Lady Bears", but on September 3, 2021, the school announced that basketball, soccer, and volleyball, the last three Baylor women's sports still using "Lady", would use only "Bears" from that point forward.[1] [2]

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Bears finished the 2020–21 season 28–2, 13–1 in Big 12 play to win the regular season championship. In the Big 12 tournament, they defeated Kansas State in the quarterfinals[3] before losing to Oklahoma State in the semifinals.[4] They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the South region.[5] The Bears defeated Hartford[6] and Wisconsin to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.[7] They defeated Villanova[8] and Arkansas to advance to the school's first Final Four since 1950.[9] [10] In the Final Four, they defeated Houston to advance to the school's first national championship game.[11] [12] In the championship, they defeated No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga to win the school's first national championship.[13] [14]

Offseason

Departures

All players listed as "graduated" had the option to return in 2021–22. The NCAA ruled that the 2020–21 season, dramatically impacted by COVID-19, would not count against the eligibility of any basketball player. Also, declaration for the NBA draft does not necessarily lead to loss of college eligibility. Junior guard Mathew Mayer declared for the NBA draft,[15] but withdrew his name from consideration and returned to Baylor.[16]

Baylor Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for Departure
250 Graduated, declared for NBA draft[17]
195 Declared for NBA draft[18]
195Graduated, declared for NBA draft[19]
Mark Paterson 180 Graduated
205 Declared for NBA draft[20]

2021 recruiting class

Schedule and results

|-!colspan=12 style=| Regular Season|-!colspan=12 style=| Big 12 Tournament|-!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings. *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

Notes and References

  1. News: Baylor University to drop 'Lady Bears' nickname from women's teams . Kurtis . Quillen . KCEN-TV . Temple, TX . September 3, 2021 . September 4, 2021.
  2. News: Baylor women's hoops drops 'Lady' from team name, to be known as Bears . Mechelle . Voepel . ESPN.com . September 4, 2021 . September 4, 2021.
  3. Web site: Kansas State vs. Baylor - Game Recap - March 11, 2021 - ESPN. 2021-07-22. ESPN.com. en.
  4. Web site: Oklahoma State inches closer to Big 12 Tournament title, but Baylor may benefit from upset loss. 2021-07-22. CBSSports.com. en.
  5. Web site: Werner. John. Baylor Bears No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament. 2021-07-22. WacoTrib.com. en.
  6. Web site: Hartford vs. Baylor - Game Recap - March 19, 2021 - ESPN. 2021-07-22. ESPN.com. en.
  7. Web site: Goldberg. Rob. No. 1 Baylor Holds Off No. 9 Wisconsin to Advance in 2021 NCAA Tournament. 2021-07-22. Bleacher Report. en.
  8. Web site: NCAA Tournament 2021: No. 1 seed Baylor rallies in second half vs. Villanova to move on to Elite Eight. 2021-07-22. CBSSports.com. en.
  9. Web site: Arkansas vs. Baylor - Box Score - March 29, 2021 - ESPN. 2021-07-22. ESPN.com. en.
  10. Web site: Baylor vs. Arkansas score, takeaways: Bears in first Final Four since 1950 after holding off Razorbacks. 2021-07-22. CBSSports.com. en.
  11. Web site: AP. 2021-04-03. University of Houston's men's basketball team ends great season. 2021-07-22. ABC13 Houston. en.
  12. Web site: Baylor vs. Houston score: Bears overwhelm Cougars to advance to national title game. 2021-07-22. www.sportingnews.com. en.
  13. Web site: Baylor vs. Gonzaga - Game Recap - April 5, 2021 - ESPN. 2021-07-22. ESPN.com. en.
  14. News: Baylor Defeats Gonzaga To Win Its 1st Men's NCAA Basketball Championship. 2021-07-22. NPR. 6 April 2021. en. Treisman. Rachel. McCallister. Doreen.
  15. Web site: Baylor guard Matthew Mayer declares for 2021 NBA draft, retains college eligibility. dallasnews.com. The Dallas Morning News. April 14, 2021. April 22, 2021.
  16. Web site: Source: Matthew Mayer to withdraw from NBA draft, return to Baylor for senior season. ESPN. ESPN. June 21, 2021. June 21, 2021.
  17. Web site: Baylor senior Mark Vital declares for the NBA draft. kwtx.com. KWTX. April 15, 2021. April 22, 2021.
  18. Web site: Baylor's Jared Butler declares for NBA draft.
  19. Web site: MaCio Teague, Baylor Bears guard from Walnut Hills HS, declares for 2021 NBA draft.
  20. Web site: 2021 NBA Draft: Baylor star Davion Mitchell declares after helping lead Bears to first national championship. CBS Sports. April 14, 2021. April 22, 2021.