2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball team

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2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball
Baylor Athletics logo.svg
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
2021–22 record26–5 (14–4 Big 12)
Head coach
Associate head coachJerome Tang (19th season)
Assistant coaches
Offensive schemeMotion
Base defenseNo-Middle
Home arenaFerrell Center
Seasons
← 2020–21
 →
2021–22 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 6 Kansas 14 – 4   .778 26 – 6   .813
No. 3 Baylor 14 – 4   .778 26 – 6   .813
No. 14 Texas Tech 12 – 6   .667 23 – 8   .742
No. 22 Texas 10 – 8   .556 21 – 11   .656
TCU 8 – 10   .444 20 – 11   .645
Oklahoma State* 8 – 10   .444 15 – 15   .500
Iowa State 7 – 11   .389 20 – 11   .645
Oklahoma 7 – 11   .389 18 – 14   .563
Kansas State 6 – 12   .333 14 – 17   .452
West Virginia 4 – 14   .222 16 – 17   .485
*OSU ineligible for both the 2022 Big 12 Tournament and the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to postseason ban imposed by the NCAA.
† 2022 Big 12 Tournament winner
As of March 12, 2022; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball team represents Baylor University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which will be the Bears' 116th basketball season. The Bears, members of the Big 12 Conference, play their home games at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. They are led by 19th-year head coach Scott Drew.

This is 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
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for Departure
Mark Vital 11 F/G 6'5" 250 Redshirt Senior Lake Charles, LA Graduated, declared for NBA draft[17]
Jared Butler 12 G 6'3" 195 Junior Reserve, LA Declared for NBA draft[18]
MaCio Teague 31 G 6'4" 195 Redshirt Senior Cincinnati, OH Graduated, declared for NBA draft[19]
Mark Paterson 35 G 6'1" 180 Graduate Student Dallas, TX Graduated
Davion Mitchell 45 G 6'2" 205 Redshirt Junior Hinesville, GA Declared for NBA Draft[20]

2021 recruiting class[]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Langston Love
SG 		Universal City, TX Montverde Academy (FL) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Jul 15, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Jeremy Sochan
PF 		Milton Keynes, EN OrangeAcademy (GE) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Jul 16, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 75
Kendall Brown
SF 		Cottage Grove, MN Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jul 20, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 92
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 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  • "2021 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 22, 2021.

Roster[]

2021–22 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) Sr Mountain Mission (VA) Kinshasa, DR Congo
F 1 Jeremy Sochan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr OrangeAcademy (GE) Milton Keynes, EN
G/F 2 Kendall Brown 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) Cottage Grove, MN
G 3 Dale Bonner 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Shaker Heights
Fairmont State 		Shaker Heights, OH
G 4 LJ Cryer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Morton Ranch Katy, TX
G/F 5 Jordan Turner 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS So Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) Houston, TX
G 10 Adam Flagler 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Jr Presbyterian Duluth, GA
G 11 James Akinjo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Arizona Oakland, CA
G 13 Langston Love Injured Current redshirt 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Montverde Academy (FL) Universal City, TX
G 14 Mitchell Paul (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Kansas City Christian Leawood, KS
F 20 Austin Sacks (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Oakwood
Santa Clara 		Encino, CA
G 21 Kijana Love (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr St. Edward's Universal City, TX
F 23 Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Jr UNLV Douala, Cameroon
G/F 24 Matthew Mayer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Westlake Austin, TX
F 32 Zach Loveday 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Huntington Prep (WV) Gallipolis, OH
F 42 Dain Dainja (T) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 270 lb (122 kg) RS Fr Park Center Brooklyn Park, MN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 27, 2021

Schedule and results[]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
November 12, 2021*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 8 Incarnate Word W 87–60  1–0
  14 – Mayer   10 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   6 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (8,895)
Waco, TX
November 15, 2021*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		No. 9 Nicholls W 89–60  2–0
  20 – Cryer   9 – Brown   10 – Brown  Ferrell Center (9,307)
Waco, TX
November 17, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 9 Central Arkansas W 92–47  3–0
  20 – Cryer   12 – Sochan   10 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (6,667)
Waco, TX
November 20, 2021*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 9 Stanford W 86–48  4–0
  21 – Cryer   7 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   11 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (7,048)
Waco, TX
November 24, 2021*
6:30 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 6 vs. Arizona State
Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinal 		W 75–63  5–0
  15 – Cryer   9 – Sochan   7 – Akinjo  Imperial Arena (843)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 25, 2021*
4:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 6 vs. VCU
Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal 		W 69–61  6–0
  15 – Mayer   8 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   2 – Tied  Imperial Arena (929)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 26, 2021*
10:00 a.m., ESPN 		No. 6 vs. Michigan State
Battle 4 Atlantis championship 		W 75–58  7–0
  15 – Akinjo   7 – Mayer   5 – Tied  Imperial Arena (1,305)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
December 4, 2021*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 4 Arkansas–Pine Bluff W 99–54  8–0
  20 – Cryer   13 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   3 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (6,207)
Waco, TX
December 12, 2021*
2:00 p.m., ABC 		No. 2 No. 6 Villanova
Big East–Big 12 Battle 		W 57–36  9–0
  16 – Akinjo   10 – Sochan   5 – Tied  Ferrell Center (10,264)
Waco, TX
December 18, 2021*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 1 at Oregon W 78–70  10–0
  17 – Brown   7 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   6 – Akinjo  Matthew Knight Arena (7,682)
Eugene, OR
December 20, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 1 Alcorn State W 94–57  11–0
  16 – Tied   9 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   7 – Tied  Ferrell Center (6,923)
Waco, TX
December 28, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 1 Northwestern State W 104–68  12–0
  27 – Akinjo   11 – Sochan   11 – Flagler  Ferrell Center (6,516)
Waco, TX
January 1, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 1 at No. 8 Iowa State W 77–72  13–0
(1–0) 		 16 – Akinjo   7 – Sochan   4 – Flagler  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 4, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 1 Oklahoma W 84–74  14–0
(2–0) 		 27 – Akinjo   6 – Tied   5 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (7,523)
Waco, TX
January 8, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 1 at TCU W 76–64  15–0
(3–0) 		 22 – Flagler   6 – Mayer   8 – Akinjo  Schollmaier Arena (5,562)
Fort Worth, TX
January 11, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 1 No. 19 Texas Tech L 62–65  15–1
(3–1) 		 17 – Tied   10 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   6 – Brown  Ferrell Center (8,569)
Waco, TX
January 15, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 Oklahoma State L 54–61  15–2
(3–2) 		 18 – Cryer   8 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   3 – Brown  Ferrell Center (8,861)
Waco, TX
January 18, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 5 at West Virginia W 77–68  16–2
(4–2) 		 25 – Cryer   8 – Thamba   7 – Flager  WVU Coliseum (12,692)
Morgantown, WV
January 22, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 at Oklahoma W 65–51  17–2
(5–2) 		 16 – Flagler   10 – Thamba   4 – Akinjo  Lloyd Noble Center (11,339)
Norman, OK
January 25, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 4 Kansas State W 74–49  18–2
(6–2) 		 14 – Cryer   12 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   5 – Flager  Ferrell Center (8,062)
Waco, TX
January 29, 2022*
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 4 at Alabama
Big 12/SEC Challenge 		L 78–87  18–3
  17 – Sochan   8 – Sochan   7 – Akinjo  Coleman Coliseum (14,474)
Tuscaloosa, AL
January 31, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 8 West Virginia W 81–77  19–3
(7–2) 		 25 – Akinjo   9 – Sochan   4 – Tied  Ferrell Center (8,226)
Waco, TX
February 5, 2022
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 8 at No. 10 Kansas L 59–83  19–4
(7–3) 		 16 – Flagler   8 – Brown   3 – Tied  Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 9, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 10 at Kansas State W 75–60  20–4
(8–3) 		 21 – Tchamwa Tchatchoua   7 – Sochan   8 – Akinjo  Bramlage Coliseum (6,236)
Manhattan, KS
February 12, 2022
11:00 a.m., ESPN2 		No. 10 No. 20 Texas W 80–63  21–4
(9–3) 		 20 – Flagler   11 – Thamba   7 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (10,284)
Waco, TX
February 16, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 7 at No. 11 Texas Tech L 73–83  21–5
(9–4) 		 18 – Akinjo   10 – Sochan   7 – Akinjo  United Supermarkets Arena (14,923)
Lubbock, TX
February 19, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 7 TCU W 72–62  22–5
(10–4) 		 17 – Sochan   8 – Thamba   8 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (10,072)
Waco, TX
February 21, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 10 at Oklahoma State W 66–64 OT 23–5
(11–4) 		 29 – Flagler   7 – Tied   4 – Akinjo  Gallagher-Iba Arena (8,701)
Stillwater, OK
February 26, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 10 No. 5 Kansas W 80–70  24–5
(12–4) 		 18 – Thamba   12 – Mayer   6 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (10,628)
Waco, TX
February 28, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 3 at No. 21 Texas W 68–61  25–5
(13–4) 		 19 – 2 tied   8 – Akinjo   7 – Akinjo  Frank Erwin Center (16,450)
Austin, TX
March 5, 2022
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 3 Iowa State W 75–68  26–5
(14–4) 		 20 – Akinjo   10 – Brown   6 – Akinjo  Ferrell Center (9,385)
Waco, TX
Big 12 Tournament
March 10, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(2) No. 3 vs. (7) Oklahoma
Quarterfinals 		L 67–72  26–6
(14–5) 		 16 – Akinjo   9 – Sochan   4 – Flagler  T-Mobile Center (15,805)
Kansas City, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings[]

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
AP896421 (61)1 (60)1 (61)1 (61)548107103 (4)3 (3)Not released
Coaches88^54 (1)2 (3)1 (30)1 (32)1 (32)1 (32)648108114 (1)3 (2)

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

References[]

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