Baylor at a glance

Baylor at a glance

Eds: With BKC--Baylor Preview

By The Associated Press=

Baylor

Last season: 24-10, lost first game of NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Bears. Coach: Scott Drew.

Conference: Big 12.

Key returners: 6-foot-8 senior forward Rico Gathers was the Big 12's top rebounder (11.6 per game) and the only power-five conference player to average 11 points and 11 rebounds last season. Taurean Prince, the 6-7 senior who is the only Bear other than Gathers with three letters, finally moves into a full-time starting role after averaging 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds as their primary sixth man last season. Lester Medford started all 34 games as a junior college transfer last year - 28 at shooting guard and six at the point.

Who left: Two-year starting point guard Kenny Chery (11.4 points, 4.4 assists in 66 career games). Royce O'Neal was a three-year starting forward (9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds in 134 games).

The Skinny: Coming off consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in school history, there is no reason the Bears shouldn't make that three in a row. They are again a middle-of-the-pack preseason pick in the loaded Big 12, the same as last season. There is plenty of presence on the front line with Gathers, Prince and 6-9 sophomore center Johnathan Motley.