Good Morning, Illini Nation: Know the Foe - Baylor
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Good Morning, Illini Nation: Know the Foe - Baylor
Oct. 23—Last weekend was a good one for both Illinois and Baylor, which won exhibition wins against Cincinnati and Florida, respectively. For more on the Bears, we turn to Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald sports editor Brice Cherry:
How would you describe the vibes/mood after last year's .500 record?
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Obviously last year was a frustrating year for Scott Drew and Baylor fans. The 17-17 record and rare NCAA tournament miss cast a critical eye on the fact that the Bears entered that season with zero returning players. Drew has insisted he'll never fully go that route again, and with a few returning players interspersed with a collection of promising transfers and blue-chip recruits, the excitement for this 2026-27 season seems to be building by the day.
What stood out to you most about Baylor's exhibition game against Florida?
Clearly, Baylor opened some eyes by knocking off the Gators in overtime, even if it was "only" an exhibition. Kayden Mingo, a transfer point guard from Penn State, undoubtedly stood out as the most impressive Baylor highlight of that game. Mingo went for an extremely efficient 31 points, and showed that he's been in the lab working on his three-point shot, as he hit 2 of 4 of his outside shots after making only 24.4 percent beyond the arc last season for the Nittany Lions. A small sample size, but still a good sign for the Bears.
Which player(s) will be most critical to the team's success?
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Juslin Bodo Bodo not only stands out as the biggest player on Baylor's roster at 6-foot-11, but the senior center from Cameroon is figuratively the Bears' biggest X-factor. Bodo Bodo missed all of the 2025-26 season after transferring from High Point, where he was a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year. His health and rim protection will be integral for a Baylor team that may or may not be without Caden Powell, whose status is in limbo as he fights for a fifth year of eligibility in the legal system. Additionally, the Bears will lean heavily on Dylan Mingo as a playmaker on both ends of the court. Dylan is Kayden's younger brother and a former North Carolina commit who switched sides to Baylor after the Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis as coach.
