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  • Udoh, Griner leading hot Baylor hoops teams into conference play

    // Posted In Athletics, Honors

    Ekpe UdohIf you haven’t been following Baylor basketball (both the men and women) through their non-conference schedules, boy, have you missed out.

    We’ll start with the most recent news — Ekpe Udoh’s triple-double last night for the Baylor men, in which the junior forward scored 18 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and blocked 10 shots. The triple-double was just the fifth in program history and the 11th in Big 12 Conference history. His overall numbers (14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game) have garnered attention from such outlets as FOXSports.com, CBSSports.com and Rivals.com.

    However, it wasn’t the first triple-double for a Baylor player this year; Lady Bear Brittney Griner recorded the first such occurrence in Baylor women’s basketball history Dec. 16 with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 blocks. The 6-8 freshman has already set a new program record for blocks in a season and is averaging 19.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.3 blocks a game. She’s also drawn attention for her dunks, including two in one game Jan. 2 (see video here) — just the second woman ever to do that. Her all-around game has earned her Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors four times in the past six weeks, plus a three-page profile in Sports Illustrated — believed to be the first on a Baylor student-athlete since Michael Johnson.

    Head coach Kim Mulkey’s Lady Bears are ranked 5th in the nation as they start Big 12 play Saturday at Oklahoma State (2:30 p.m. tip). The squad is dominating both on offense (No. 2 in the country in scoring margin and field goal percentage) and defense (No. 1 nationally in field goal percentage defense and blocks).

    Scott Drew’s Bears are 12-1 and receiving votes in both polls as they head into their Big 12 opener Saturday vs. Oklahoma (5 p.m.; get your tickets now, or watch along the Big 12 Network). Thanks in large part to Udoh, the Baylor men lead the nation in rebounding margin, are fourth in field goal percentage defense and ninth in blocks per game.

    Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!