The Baylor Bears are favored to win the Big 12 and the national championship. (Photo by Kelly Kline)
It's Baylor on top, but the rest of the Big 12 is up in the air
The ongoing debate about whether the SEC or the Big 12 is the best league in women’s basketball lost some steam when Texas A&M bolted the Midwestern league for the charms of the South -- and even though West Virginia arrived, it really doesn’t balance the scales.
Then again, the Big 12 can claim the defending national champion, and favorite to repeat, in Baylor, and more than a few teams that can battle with just about anyone. But newcomer Texas Christian is on a down cycle, Kansas State lost a lot and, as always, everyone will beat up on each other during conference play, which deflates impressive won-loss records.
Still, those internecine slugfests are vastly entertaining, and with Baylor and Kim Mulkey cast as the archvillains, it should be another high-quality season of women’s basketball in the Big 12 -- even if there are only 10 teams.
1. Baylor (40-0, 18-0, first): No kidding.
Yes, the Bears are the pick and not just because of Brittney Griner, the most dominating defensive player in women’s basketball history. Baylor also has every other starter back from last year’s national championship team, plus a horde of top-shelf recruits, led by Alexis Prince (Edgewater FL), Chardonae Fuqua (Hoover AL) and Niya Johnson (Yonge FL).
Of course, those three might find minutes hard to come by, what with Odyssey Sims (11.9 ppg, 4.3 apg) at the point, Destiny Williams (9.1 rpg) at power forward and only Terran Condrey missing from last year’s rotation. In addition, Baylor has the fiery Kim Mulkey on the sidelines, who enlivens games by screaming at her assistant coaches when her players make mistakes.
OK, it doesn’t make that much sense, but it’s hard to argue with 40-0 -- and it’s hard to argue with Baylor repeating as national champs and the winner of both the Big 12 regular season and tournament.
2. Oklahoma (21-13, 11-7, second)
Then again, the Big 12 can claim the defending national champion, and favorite to repeat, in Baylor, and more than a few teams that can battle with just about anyone. But newcomer Texas Christian is on a down cycle, Kansas State lost a lot and, as always, everyone will beat up on each other during conference play, which deflates impressive won-loss records.
Still, those internecine slugfests are vastly entertaining, and with Baylor and Kim Mulkey cast as the archvillains, it should be another high-quality season of women’s basketball in the Big 12 -- even if there are only 10 teams.
1. Baylor (40-0, 18-0, first): No kidding.
Yes, the Bears are the pick and not just because of Brittney Griner, the most dominating defensive player in women’s basketball history. Baylor also has every other starter back from last year’s national championship team, plus a horde of top-shelf recruits, led by Alexis Prince (Edgewater FL), Chardonae Fuqua (Hoover AL) and Niya Johnson (Yonge FL).
Of course, those three might find minutes hard to come by, what with Odyssey Sims (11.9 ppg, 4.3 apg) at the point, Destiny Williams (9.1 rpg) at power forward and only Terran Condrey missing from last year’s rotation. In addition, Baylor has the fiery Kim Mulkey on the sidelines, who enlivens games by screaming at her assistant coaches when her players make mistakes.
OK, it doesn’t make that much sense, but it’s hard to argue with 40-0 -- and it’s hard to argue with Baylor repeating as national champs and the winner of both the Big 12 regular season and tournament.
2. Oklahoma (21-13, 11-7, second)
If anyone in the Big 12 is capable of challenging Baylor, it will be the veteran Sooners, who bring back all their starters from a 21-win, NCAA team. Even if Oklahoma can’t hang with the Bears, it still could be a pretty good year -- but junior guard Aaryn Ellenburg needs to pass the ball more often and turn it over less. A 69/95 ratio for a small guard (who shoots less than 40 percent) won’t get it done at this level.
Luckily, Whitney Hand and Morgan Hook are both much better with the ball, and the 5-10 Hook is a better shooter than Ellenburg. Hand, despite her reputation as a sharpshooter, only shot 39.8 percent from the field, but she made up for it with 7.1 rpg and a 1.7 A/TO.
But perhaps the key to the season is 6-6 Nicole Griffin, who has yet to live up to her potential. She only managed 19.5 minutes a game last year, and her 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game were much less than what Sherri Coale expected, or needs.
If, however, Ellenburg handles the ball better and Griffin averages 12 and seven, the Sooners could be a top ten team -- even if they can’t beat Baylor.
3. Oklahoma State (22-12, 8-10, tied for fifth)
Luckily, Whitney Hand and Morgan Hook are both much better with the ball, and the 5-10 Hook is a better shooter than Ellenburg. Hand, despite her reputation as a sharpshooter, only shot 39.8 percent from the field, but she made up for it with 7.1 rpg and a 1.7 A/TO.
But perhaps the key to the season is 6-6 Nicole Griffin, who has yet to live up to her potential. She only managed 19.5 minutes a game last year, and her 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game were much less than what Sherri Coale expected, or needs.
If, however, Ellenburg handles the ball better and Griffin averages 12 and seven, the Sooners could be a top ten team -- even if they can’t beat Baylor.
3. Oklahoma State (22-12, 8-10, tied for fifth)
Teams that do well in the postseason WNIT are often much better than expected the next season, if only because they get an extra month of practice. For WNIT champ Oklahoma State that improvement could be multiplied even more because the Cowgirls return four starters and their top five scorers.
Sophomore forward Liz Donohoe was the big surprise (13.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg), and junior guard Tiffany Bias had a great season as well (13.1 ppg, 229 assists (to just 149 turnovers)), though that unsightly 22.3 percent three-point shooting has to improve.
The key, however, might be the continued development of senior forward Toni Young, who was the WNIT MVP thanks to her 20.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in that six-game run.
Sophomore forward Liz Donohoe was the big surprise (13.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg), and junior guard Tiffany Bias had a great season as well (13.1 ppg, 229 assists (to just 149 turnovers)), though that unsightly 22.3 percent three-point shooting has to improve.
The key, however, might be the continued development of senior forward Toni Young, who was the WNIT MVP thanks to her 20.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in that six-game run.
Chelsea Poppins led the Cyclones in scoring last season with 14ppg (Phot by Ke Lu)
4. Iowa State (18-13, 9-9, tied for third)
4. Iowa State (18-13, 9-9, tied for third)
The Cyclones have a lot coming back from an NCAA tourney team, led by 6-2 senior forward Chelsea Poppens (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 49.8 percent shooting), who’s expected to be a first-round pick in next spring’s WNBA draft. But Poppens can’t do her thing unless she gets the ball, and Iowa State lost two key ballhandlers in Lauren Mansfield and Chassidy Cole.
That means sophomore Nikki Moody must make a big leap, or coach Bill Fennelly will have to look for Poppens to create even more of a rebounding edge for the Cyclones this year than last. And it wouldn’t hurt if three-point loving Iowa State made more than 31.8 percent of those shots, as the Cyclones take more than 23 a game.
5. Texas (18-13, 8-10, tied for fifth)
Gail Goestenkors never quite fit in Austin, and her final team was clearly less than the sum of its parts -- which is why Karen Aston was brought in to restore order.
Aston has all the pieces in place to make a big splash in her first season, as despite losing her two best ballhandlers, she has some topflight recruits and the return of 5-10 Chassidy Fussell (16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg). And if Aston can coax some of the potential out of 6-4 Cokie Reed, who was considered one of the top players in her class coming out of high school, the Longhorns should be able to score.
Of course, she may also have to force feed freshman Empress Davenport at the point in order to make sure Fussell and Reed get their touches, but it would be unwise to underestimate the stockpile of talent Goestenkors left behind her. If Aston can put it all together, the Longhorns will be the surprise of the Big 12.
6. West Virginia (24-10, 11-5 in the Big East, tied for fourth)
Aston has all the pieces in place to make a big splash in her first season, as despite losing her two best ballhandlers, she has some topflight recruits and the return of 5-10 Chassidy Fussell (16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg). And if Aston can coax some of the potential out of 6-4 Cokie Reed, who was considered one of the top players in her class coming out of high school, the Longhorns should be able to score.
Of course, she may also have to force feed freshman Empress Davenport at the point in order to make sure Fussell and Reed get their touches, but it would be unwise to underestimate the stockpile of talent Goestenkors left behind her. If Aston can put it all together, the Longhorns will be the surprise of the Big 12.
6. West Virginia (24-10, 11-5 in the Big East, tied for fourth)
This was to be the year in Morgantown. Every one of significance returned from a 24-10 team that lost to powerful Stanford in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, and Mike Carey and company were poised to let the Midwest know just how good a Big East team could be.
And then 6-4 senior Asya Bussie, the team’s leading scorer and shot blocker, tore her ACL, and is out for the year.
It’s possible that 6-3 senior Ayana Dunning (8.4 rpg, 1.8 rpg better than Bussie) can pick up the scoring slack and that undersized Christal Caldwell and Jessica Hartlee can make up the difference on the boards, but Bussie, considered a first-round WNBA draft pick, is the kind of player who isn’t easily replaced, especially by a team that’s challenged from the perimeter (29.7 percent from beyond the arc).
Still, Carey is a fine coach, and there’s lots of talent here, including freshmen Bria Holmes and Jennie Simms, but Bussie’s injury has cast a shadow on the season that won’t be easily erased.
7. Kansas (21-13, 8-10, tied for third)
And then 6-4 senior Asya Bussie, the team’s leading scorer and shot blocker, tore her ACL, and is out for the year.
It’s possible that 6-3 senior Ayana Dunning (8.4 rpg, 1.8 rpg better than Bussie) can pick up the scoring slack and that undersized Christal Caldwell and Jessica Hartlee can make up the difference on the boards, but Bussie, considered a first-round WNBA draft pick, is the kind of player who isn’t easily replaced, especially by a team that’s challenged from the perimeter (29.7 percent from beyond the arc).
Still, Carey is a fine coach, and there’s lots of talent here, including freshmen Bria Holmes and Jennie Simms, but Bussie’s injury has cast a shadow on the season that won’t be easily erased.
7. Kansas (21-13, 8-10, tied for third)
The Big 12 is a very good league, as this placing suggests. The Jayhawks have three very solid seniors to build around, and coaches have good reason to be excited about rosters that feature senior talent.
In this case, Bonnie Henrickson has power forward Carolyn Davis (16.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 59.8 percent shooting) and Angel Goodrich (14.0 ppg, 7.3 apg, 2.0 A/TO) lined up to be first-round WNBA picks as well as solid shooting guard Monica Engelmann.
That said, though, leading rebounder Aishah Sutherland has left the building, and Chelsea Gardner and Tania Jackson must pick up the slack. If they do, this seventh-place slot is too low; if not, though, in this tough league, a rebounding deficit will make a .500 record in Big 12 play a long shot.
8. Texas Tech (21-14, 6-12, 11th)
In this case, Bonnie Henrickson has power forward Carolyn Davis (16.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 59.8 percent shooting) and Angel Goodrich (14.0 ppg, 7.3 apg, 2.0 A/TO) lined up to be first-round WNBA picks as well as solid shooting guard Monica Engelmann.
That said, though, leading rebounder Aishah Sutherland has left the building, and Chelsea Gardner and Tania Jackson must pick up the slack. If they do, this seventh-place slot is too low; if not, though, in this tough league, a rebounding deficit will make a .500 record in Big 12 play a long shot.
8. Texas Tech (21-14, 6-12, 11th)
So the Red Raiders started off 14-0, with wins over Penn State and Oklahoma State in a schedule with decent strength. They then cratered, going 7-14 the rest of the way, finishing with a dispiriting home loss to San Diego in the third round of the WNIT.
This inconsistency, and overall lack of production compared to annual salary, has the Kristy Curry watch on high alert. Texas Tech should be pretty good, even with the loss of leading scorer (10.3 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg) Kierra Mallard, but then again, after a 14-0 start, one would have expected more than seven wins the rest of the way.
Senior guards Monique Smalls (8.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) and Casey Morris (10.1 ppg) will lead the way but junior Shauntal Nobles needs to fill the rebounding gap left by the departure of Mallard and two others or the Curry era could come to a disappointing end in Lubbock.
9. Texas Christian (16-14, 9-5 (Mountain West), tied for third)
This inconsistency, and overall lack of production compared to annual salary, has the Kristy Curry watch on high alert. Texas Tech should be pretty good, even with the loss of leading scorer (10.3 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg) Kierra Mallard, but then again, after a 14-0 start, one would have expected more than seven wins the rest of the way.
Senior guards Monique Smalls (8.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) and Casey Morris (10.1 ppg) will lead the way but junior Shauntal Nobles needs to fill the rebounding gap left by the departure of Mallard and two others or the Curry era could come to a disappointing end in Lubbock.
9. Texas Christian (16-14, 9-5 (Mountain West), tied for third)
Not surprisingly, the Big 12 coaches picked TCU to finish last -- after all, are you going to acknowledge that some mid-major newcomer is better than the established teams in the conference?
Then again, there’s reason to believe that the Horned Frogs aren’t going to exactly burn up the league. Though leading scorer Natalie Ventress returns, TCU’s rebounding issues aren’t likely to disappear with Antoinette Thompson and Briesha Winn both gone from the team -- and that duo also combined for 15.6 points a game.
Eventually, the Big 12 affiliation should pay off for the Horned Frogs on the recruiting trail, but for 2012-13, their frosh don’t look to be impact players, which means a team that lost in the first round of the Mountain West playoffs appears to have a long road to travel when the Big 12 season begins.
10. Kansas State (20-14, 9-9, tied for third)
Then again, there’s reason to believe that the Horned Frogs aren’t going to exactly burn up the league. Though leading scorer Natalie Ventress returns, TCU’s rebounding issues aren’t likely to disappear with Antoinette Thompson and Briesha Winn both gone from the team -- and that duo also combined for 15.6 points a game.
Eventually, the Big 12 affiliation should pay off for the Horned Frogs on the recruiting trail, but for 2012-13, their frosh don’t look to be impact players, which means a team that lost in the first round of the Mountain West playoffs appears to have a long road to travel when the Big 12 season begins.
10. Kansas State (20-14, 9-9, tied for third)
The Wildcats weren’t exactly an offensive explosion waiting to happen last year, and with more than half of their scoring gone from the roster, it could be a long season for Deb Patterson.
It helps that point guard Mariah White and her 1.9 A/TO are back, along with volume shooter Brittany Chambers, but aside from those two, no one else on the team started a game for last year’s NCAA qualifier. On top of that, K-State is tiny, with only two players taller than 5-11 -- and neither of that duo played last year.
It helps that point guard Mariah White and her 1.9 A/TO are back, along with volume shooter Brittany Chambers, but aside from those two, no one else on the team started a game for last year’s NCAA qualifier. On top of that, K-State is tiny, with only two players taller than 5-11 -- and neither of that duo played last year.
Tags:
- NCAA
- Clay Kallam
- Aaryn Ellenburg
- Alexis Prince
- Angel Goodrich
- Antoinette Thompson
- Asya Bussie
- Ayana Dunning
- baylor
- Big 12
- big 12 womens basketball
- Bill Fennelly
- Bonnie Henrickson
- Briesha Winn
- Brittany Chambers
- brittney griner
- Carolyn Davis Aishah Sutherland
- Casey Morris
- Chardonae Fuqua
- Chassidy Cole
- Chassidy Fussell
- Chelsea Gardner
- Chelsea Poppens
- Christal Caldwell
- Coakie Reed
- Deb Patterson
- Destiny Williams
- Empress Davenport
- Iowa State
- kansas
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- Karen Aston
- Kierra Mallard
- kim mulkey
- Kristy Curry
- Lauren Mansfield
- Liz Donohoe
- Mariah White
- Mike Carey
- Monica Englemann
- Monique Smalls
- Morgan Hook
- Natalie Ventress
- Nicole Griffin
- Nikki Moody
- Niya Johnson
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Shauntal Nobels
- sherri coale
- Tania Jackson
- texas
- Texas Christian
- Texas Tech
- Tiffany Bias
- Tony Young
- West Virginia
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