Baylor Faces Roster Overhaul After Missing NCAA Tournament

The Bears must rebuild after losing several key transfers from last season's squad.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college basketball game, with sharp planes of royal blue, gold, and crimson colors representing the chaotic nature of roster turnover in the sport.Baylor's roster overhaul highlights the volatility of the modern college basketball landscape.Waco Today

Baylor's disappointing 2025-26 season ended with a semifinal loss in the College Basketball Crown Tournament, and now head coach Scott Drew must rebuild his roster from scratch. The Bears are set to lose four key transfers, including starters Obi Agbim, Caden Powell, Michael Rataj, and Dan Skillings Jr. Baylor's only incoming addition so far is four-star forward Elijah Williams, leaving Drew with plenty of work to do in the transfer portal this offseason.

Why it matters

Baylor's inability to build chemistry with its new-look roster last season resulted in the Bears missing the NCAA Tournament, a rarity under Drew's leadership. With several key departures, Drew faces a major challenge in quickly assembling a competitive team for the 2026-27 campaign.

The details

Baylor's four departing transfers were all expected to make an impact this past season, but the team struggled to find its footing. Rataj, in particular, failed to live up to expectations after arriving from Oregon State. Meanwhile, Agbim and Skillings Jr. emerged as reliable role players, while Powell started at center. The Bears' lone incoming recruit is four-star forward Elijah Williams, currently ranked the No. 36 player in the nation.

  • Baylor's 2025-26 season ended with a semifinal loss in the College Basketball Crown Tournament in March 2026.
  • The four Baylor transfers are set to depart the program after the 2025-26 season.
  • Baylor has signed four-star forward Elijah Williams for its 2026 recruiting class.

The players

Scott Drew

The head coach of the Baylor Bears men's basketball team.

Obi Agbim

A transfer who was a reliable role player for Baylor this past season.

Caden Powell

A transfer who started at center for Baylor this past season.

Michael Rataj

A transfer from Oregon State who failed to live up to expectations at Baylor.

Dan Skillings Jr.

A transfer who emerged as a reliable role player for Baylor this past season.

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What’s next

Drew will need to be active in the transfer portal this offseason to rebuild Baylor's roster and put the Bears in position to return to the NCAA Tournament next season.

The takeaway

Baylor's inability to find chemistry with its new-look roster last season resulted in a disappointing campaign that ended without an NCAA Tournament berth. Now, Drew faces a major challenge in quickly assembling a competitive team for 2026-27 with several key transfers departing.