Isaac Williams is sounding less like just another returner in Baylor’s backcourt and more like a guy ready to set the tone for a team that needs one.
On The Sic ‘Em Podcast, Williams talked about how quickly Baylor’s new group started to click during the FISU World University Games, where the Bears had a long two-week trip and eventually reached the finals before losing. That early stretch mattered, because Baylor brought in seven new players and had to build chemistry on the fly. Williams made it clear that the group found its footing once it got on the road together.
That kind of quick bonding will matter again for a roster that has been reshaped and is trying to bounce back after missing the NCAA Tournament. Baylor lost Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou, but Williams signed a new two-year deal and is expected to be a major piece for the 2026-27 team.
The Bears have also added talent, including Brett Decker from Liberty and rising sophomore guard Kayden Mingo. On paper, there’s enough here to make Baylor a real factor in the Big 12. Williams sounds like he understands that the job isn’t about padding numbers - it’s about winning.
He said there were games last season where he played well, but still would have traded that for a victory. That’s the kind of mindset Baylor needs from its veterans: production matters, but only if it leads to the right result.
Williams also spoke like someone embracing a bigger role. He described himself as a vet and said he wants to make the transition easier for the newcomers while becoming more vocal and more of a leader.
"I've been on the team kind of like a vet, I feel like a little bit. So, just trying to lead the guys and just make it easier for them in the transition and just being more of a leader this year, being more vocal and leading us to the championship."
Defensively, Williams said he wants to take on tougher assignments and be the guy who can quiet an opponent’s top scorer. That’s a welcome emphasis for Baylor after a rough defensive year in which the Bears allowed over 74 points per game and ranked 94th in adjusted defense efficiency.
There’s also more team-building ahead. John Morris said Baylor will go to Canada to face international teams in scrimmages, and Williams sounded eager for that chance to sharpen the group. He pointed out that practice reps are one thing, but game action reveals how players really respond.
"Yeah, that helps a lot. We can all play five-on-five in practice all that, but there's nothing like a game and seeing how people react to things in the game, so that's going to help us a lot"
Baylor will also play in the Players Era tournament, with its first game set for November 24th. Between that event and the Canada trip, the Bears will get plenty of chances to see how this new mix fits together before the regular season arrives.
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Pilons Baylor rsum already gives the Bears plenty of reason to be excited. She left behind a career filled with major honors, including the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, along with several program records that helped define her time in green and gold. Now the question for Baylor is how her experience, both as a standout college player and a pro, will translate when she comes back to help shape the next wave of Bears. [Read more 🡒]
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The newest name brings a decorated rsum from Southeastern Louisiana, where a sophomore pitcher emerged as one of the Southland Conferences top performers in 2026. She is set to join a Baylor group that has already added several other newcomers, including teammate Haley Crawford, giving Moore another layer of depth to sort through before the next wave of competition arrives. [Read more 🡒]