Both basketball squads ranked as Big 12 play begins

Believe it or not, we’re about at the halfway point of the college basketball season. With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, the Bears and Lady Bears each begin Big 12 play on Saturday; the men host Texas Tech in the Ferrell Center (12:45 p.m., televised across much of Texas) while the women hit the road to face Colorado (5 p.m. CT, televised regionally).

Both teams begin conference play about where they hoped to be. With a 12-1 record, the Lady Bears are ranked No. 5 in the coaches’ poll and No. 6 by the Associated Press, their highest places so far this season. Head coach Kim Mulkey’s squad has now been ranked in a school-record 100 straight AP polls dating back to the 2003-04 season.

The men are boasting a program-record streak as well, sitting at No. 23 in both rankings and having appeared in  the AP poll for six consecutive weeks — a program first. Head coach Scott Drew’s team matched the program’s highest-ever ranking at No. 19 last week before a one-point loss to South Carolina in the squad’s final non-conference match-up.

Sic ’em in Big 12 play, Baylor basketball!