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NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Baylor Bears (Big 12)

Quick article by Jason Green detailing the Baylor Bears 2011 Season win total odds for over under NCAA Basketball betting futures and a season wins prediction…

2011-2012 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Baylor Bears (Big Twelve)

After almost advancing to the Final 4 a couple seasons ago the Bears fell part last season losing 5 of their last 6 games including losing to Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 conference tournament.

Let’s take a look at the numbers:
NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
Odds To Win National Title: +1500
Odds to win Big 12: +160

Leading scorer LaceDarius Dunn is gone and now the Bears will be led by their solid frontcourt.

C/F Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy are the 2 main guys returning and each averaged in double figures last season. Jones will miss the first 5 games of the season because of suspension.

The Bears have a solid team and to get back to the Big Dance they have to get good frontcourt play and have some guards step up to take up the scoring slack with the departure of Dunn. Like last season the first 8 or so games for Baylor are facing cream puffs, but once they begin conference play they face 3 teams in the Big 12 that are ranked in the preseason top 25.

If Baylor does not make it to the Big Dance the season will be a major disappointment with all the talent they have.

Additions

PF Quincy Miller is a highly coveted recruit that chose Baylor his addition will only add to the loaded frontcourt for the Bears. PG Pierre Jackson is a juco transfer that may see a lot of time running the point this season. Boston College transfer G Brady Heslip can score and showed that in an August exhibition tour through Canada. F Logan Lowery is a transfer from Centenary.

Subtractions

LaceDarius Dunn is the only big loss to the Bears, as the team will miss his scoring. However, sometimes he was the problem for Baylor since he took so many shots. There may be more shots to go around this season, as last season Dunn took 1/3rd of the team’s shots. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Key Players

Perry Jones III (13.9 ppg 7.2 rpg last season) and Quincy Acy (12.4 ppg 7.6 rpg) are THE 2 key guys and both can score and hit the boards. Jones is the preseason pick for Big 12 Player of the Year. G Gary Franklin is the leading scorer from the backcourt returning (8.2 ppg last season) and he will be counted on for more offense this season.

A.J. Walton (7.9 ppg 4.6 assists per game last season) has to dish out the rock and feed the ball to the guys inside.

He is a solid defender and led the Big 12 in steals last season.

Surprising Stat: In the August exhibition in Canada, where Baylor went 3-1, Jones showed what kind of monster he could be averaging 20.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg while shooting 59% from the floor.

Strengths: Frontcourt scoring and rebounding is a big time strength for Baylor this season. They are a very athletic team as well that can really get up and down the court. The Bears are also a good 3-point shooting team.

Weaknesses :Proven guard play. With Dunn taking so many shots and dominating the ball the Bears and their guards have to prove they can score and also dish out the rock.

Post Season: Definitely the Big Dance and going far may be in the cards if the guards can step up.

Projected wins 24

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By Jason Green

Jason Green is back with Cappers Picks again to give out his free sports plays. As always he's hoping the Braves and Redskins can win a championship since their last one in the 90’s was long ago. He’s starting to know the pain of Cubs fans.