Baylor Lady Bears
Overall Rank: #12
Conference Rank: #1 Big 12
Baylor Team Page
There is no question the Baylor women’s basketball team will look a whole lot different this season. For starters, it will be shorter. There was no missing Brittney Griner on or off a basketball court, but Griner has taken her talents to the WNBA and left Baylor entering a new era in its program. The Bears will be better off than people think, however. Odyssey Sims returns for more action in the 2013-14 season and should help the Bears make a successful transition to that new era.
2012-13 Record: 34-2, 18-0
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA (lost to Louisville in Sweet 16, 82-81)
Coach: Kim Mulkey
Coach Record: 372-81 at Baylor, 372-81 overall
Strengths:
Look for Odyssey Sims to jump in and take over where Griner left off last season. Sims averaged 12.9 points per game and dished out a team-high 184 assists as Baylor made its tremendous run through the postseason a year ago. Sims should expand her role this season with Griner’s absence and the exit of several key players (more on that in a bit). Baylor’s 3-point field goal shooting will be strong thanks to the presence of Alexis Prince and Makenzie Robertson. They were down in the scoring column last year, but both will have to step into new roles with all of the graduations.
Weaknesses:
Speaking of graduations, Baylor had a ton of them. Not only is Griner and her 23.8 points per game gone, but so is Brooklyn Pope, Destiny Williams, Jordan Madden and Kimetria Hayden. That means five of the six top scorers are gone from the Bears and that means about 51 points per game must be replaced. With the graduation of five top players, a ton of rebounding will also have to be replaced. When you have a player that contributes to 149 of your team’s 240 blocked shots – over half – that means shot swatting must be taken care of as well and Baylor will have its hands full.
Final Projection:
We still maintain Baylor will be better off than people think, if only because Griner’s stay at Baylor enticed recruits to give the Waco, Texas school a try. There are only two seniors on the squad, including Sims, and a host of juniors will be ready to contribute to another run for the Bears. Baylor’s home arena was a place where the Bears never lost last year. There will be a few losses along the way this time around, but there is no reason to believe Baylor cannot contend for a Big 12 championship and make a run through the NCAA tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Odyssey Sims, Senior, Guard, 12.9 points per game and 184 total assists
Alexis Prince, Sophomore, Guard, 5.1 points per game
Makenzie Robertson, Sophomore, Guard, 35.6 percent 3-point shooting
Niya Johnson, Sophomore, Guard, 101 assists
Sune Agbuke, Junior, Forward, 47 percent shooting
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 81.1 (3rd in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 54.1 (31, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 51.5 (1, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 32.8 (4, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 3.3 (300, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage:
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.8 (239, 8)
Rebound Margin: 10.6 (7, 1)
Assists Per Game: 21.6 (1, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.7 (25, 1)
Madness 2014 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#2 Odyssey Sims
Madness 2013 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#13 Ieshia Small
#43 Imani Wright
#51 Nina Davis
#134 Breanna Hayden
See All Top 44 Women’s Basketball Previews
