With the College Basketball 2009-2010 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009-2010 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.
2009-2010 Baylor Preview Picks, & Odds.
Baylor 2008-2009 Record: 24-15
Baylor Coach: Scott Drew at Baylor 81-95, 101-106 overall)
Baylor Projected Starters:
- Ekpe Udoh, F
- Anthony Jones, F
- Josh Lomers, C
- A.J. Walton, G
- LaceDarius Dunn, G
Baylor Player to Watch: A.J. Walton
CLICK HERE FOR OUR TOP COLLEGE BASKETBALL HANDICAPPING PICKS!
2009-2010 Baylor Season Preview
Baylor salvaged its 2008-09 season with a postseason run that carried the Bears to a runner-up finish in the National Invitation Tournament.
Picked to finish third in the Big 12 in the preseason, the Bears stumbled to ninth in the conference. They came back to win three games at the league tournament before losing in the championship game to Missouri. Baylor then won four NIT games before losing to Penn State in the title contest.
Drew has some retooling to do in order to build on any momentum gained by the late surge. The Bears lost 50 percent of their scoring and rebounding, as well as 67 percent of their assists with the departure of starters Curtis Jerrells, Henry Dugat and Kevin Rogers.
Drew is banking on a Top 25 recruiting class and Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh to help fill some of the holes.
| 2009 Baylor Basketball Schedule | 2009 Big 12 Basketball Preview Baylor Sportsbooks | Big 12 Basketball Betting |
Baylor Backcourt
The Bears have a solid backcourt foundation with the return of Lace Darius Dunn and Tweety Carter. Dunn has scored 1,000 points in his first two seasons at Baylor, while Carter will reach that mark early this season.
Dunn spent most of last season playing as the team’s sixth man before Drew inserted him into the starring lineup for the last 11 games. Dunn’s all-around game blossomed as a starter. Carter has started 57 of 99 career games, including all 36 in which he played last season. Like Dunn, Carter is a perimeter threat, as the pair combined to make 192 3-point shots last season.
One of Baylor’s problems last season was offensive impatience. The Bears ranked nextto-last in assists in the Big 12, and often were content to jack up shots instead of working for them. Carter, who will start at the point, has to focus on making sure that doesn’t happen again.
Newcomers will figure prominently in the mix at the guard Spots, Drew signed three high school players – Nolan Dennis, Mark McLaughlin and A.J. Walton – and transfer Duran Diaz (Grambling State) will be eligible.
Dennis is a Top-50 recruit who was headed for Memphis before John Calipari left for Kentucky.
Baylor Frontcourt
Drew is counting on Udoh to bring stability to what will be a young frontline. The 6-10 Nigerian started 31 games in his first two seasons at Michigan, averaging 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as a sophomore in 2007-08. He also blocked 92 shots that season.
Josh Lamers, a 7-0 senior, will back up Udoh, while Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones and Fred Ellis will get a chance to expand their roles after seeing action as reserves last season. Freshmen Cory Jefferson, Dragan Sekelja and Givon Crump also have a chance to contribute.
2009-2010 Baylor Predictions
Baylor couldn’t match the lofty expectations it carried into last season. That was a team expected to challenge for a conference championship and a repeat trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bears began conference play nationally ranked before a 2-12 slump sent them hurtling toward the league basement. They redeemed themselves nicely in the postseason, thanks in part to their seniors’ refusal to let the team quit.
The Bears have won more games (45) in the past two seasons than they had in Drew’s first four (36). Baylor will have to get immediate contributions from its young players in order to have a chance for a third straight 20-win season, and that’s not an easy proposition. Baylor Finish in the Big 12: 8th
Baylor Betting Odds
Baylor Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +20000
Baylor Odds to Win the Big 12: +1000
Will Baylor be playing in March Madness this year? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Baylor Basketball Betting at our feature sportsbooks. Baylor & College Basketball Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of loot placing informed, smart Baylor bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.
Join BetEd.com Today and Bet on Baylor and receive a 50% Sportsbook Bonus!
Baylor Basketball Handicapping Picks
Check out our weekly Sports Handicapping Picks from the world’s best handicappers. Trust our handicapping experts offering premium and free NCAA Basketball Picks and packages daily. Also stay up to date with weekly College Basketball Matchups, and buy some picks to win some BIG cash this football season at our recommended sportsbooks.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.