BYU is about to get another weapon back, and this one comes with a reputation for instant offense.
Dawson Baker, who has been out since Thanksgiving of last year, is “good to go” for Thursday’s game against Montana State, BYUtv broadcaster Dave McCann said Tuesday after speaking with Kevin Young before the game. Young later told reporters after BYU’s win over Queens that Baker could be eased back in.
“Hopefully, we’re able to get (Baker) in the next game,” Young told reporters after BYU’s win over Queens Tuesday night. “He’s going to be a little limited. It’s a challenge to work guys into an existing rotation, so we’ll have to take a look at different things.
“Obviously, Dawson’s a heck of a player, so we are really excited when his time comes to fully be back. Look at what Dawson can do from a scoring perspective. You feel like he’s going to give you a nice scoring punch off the bench, which we’re looking forward to.”
Baker’s road back has been a long one. He’s been recovering from “a complete torn ACL, torn lateral meniscus, mild PLC involvement, grade 2 MCL and LCL sprains, bone bruising, muscle/tendon strains and small impact fractures” suffered in the ESPN Events Invitational game against Miami last November.
If he gets on the floor Thursday, it will be 350 days to the day since the injury, and it would also mark his seventh season of college basketball.
Baker spent three seasons at UC-Irvine, where he earned three All-Big West honors, before arriving in Provo in 2023. He played four games as a redshirt junior before season-ending foot surgery cut that year short.
Last season, in his lone full year with the Cougars, Baker averaged 7.5 points per game and gave BYU valuable minutes off the bench for a Sweet 16 team.
Before the injury, he was averaging 7.5 points per game and shooting 47% from 3-point range.
In 125 career college games, Baker has put up 10.8 points per contest and shot 38% from deep.
That kind of shooting is exactly why his return matters. BYU’s bench has already been producing more than 20 points per game, and Baker gives the Cougars another layer of depth.
“Dawson sets the offense. We know what he could do last year before what happened, so honestly, I’m just ready (to play with him again),” said BYU point guard Rob Wright III.
“In practice we’ve already been seeing what he’s doing. He’s been lighting it up, doing what he does. I’m super excited to see him getting back to the floor.”
In Other News...
BYU Fans Suddenly Have A Very Uncomfortable Reason To Watch Utah
The latest College Football Playoff rankings gave the Big 12 a jolt of credibility, with Utah sitting at No. 2, BYU at No. 10, Texas Tech at No. 12 and Houston at No. 14. For BYU, the placement is a reminder that the Cougars are still very much in the mix, but also that the path ahead is crowded and shaped by what happens around them as much as what happens in Provo.
Utahs position is the one that now looms largest for BYU fans, because the Utes are in prime shape to reach the playoff if they keep winning and potentially add a Big 12 title to their resume. That creates the uncomfortable part for Cougar supporters: the conference race, the rankings and the playoff math are all tangled together, and BYUs hopes may depend on watching a rival navigate the exact finish line the Cougars want to reach themselves. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Baylor Game Plan Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Hoped
BYUs first injury report for the Baylor game gave a clearer picture of where the Cougars stand, and it was not exactly the clean bill of health fans might have wanted. Running back LJ Martin was listed as probable, while linebacker Isaiah Glasker was questionable and cornerback Evan Johnson and tight end Roger Saleapaga were doubtful. With several BYU players already having stepped into larger roles because of injuries, the report only adds to the sense that the Cougars are still managing their depth as they head into another Big 12 test.
Baylors report was shorter, with six players listed and starting defensive lineman Devonte Tezino the only notable name on it. Even so, the contrast does not make BYUs side look any simpler, especially with some injured Cougars expected to miss the game. For a team that has had to lean on next-man-up production already, the final availability picture could shape how aggressive the game plan can be once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Huge Big 12 Test With Its Offense Under Pressure
BYUs next Big 12 measuring stick arrives Nov. 14 at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where Baylor comes in tied with the Cougars in the conference race and the stakes feel a little bigger than a mid-November home date usually would. The line has BYU favored by 7.5 points, but the bigger storyline is what this game says about the Cougars place in the league picture, especially with championship contention still very much in play.
Baylor brings an unusual setup of its own, with interim coach Joe Klanderman guiding the Bears and DJ Lagway expected to start at quarterback. BYU is expected to counter with Bear Bachmeier under center, while the health of running back LJ Martin is something to watch as the Cougars try to keep their offense on schedule in a game that could shape the rest of their Big 12 path. [Read more 🡒]