What you should know about Baylor basketball so far in 2015

With most eyes focused on Baylor football’s run to a second straight Big 12 title and then the lead up to the Cotton Bowl, it’s understandable if a few of you need some catching up when it comes to the 2014-15 Baylor basketball teams. So here you are, as we join the Bears’ and Lady Bears’ seasons, already in progress…

The Baylor men are 11-2 and ranked 21st in the nation headed into tonight’s showdown vs No. 12 Kansas. The Bears and Jayhawks are the only Big 12 schools to have cracked the top 25 each of the last eight seasons; this year’s Baylor team is succeeding thanks to a stingy defense and a balanced offense.

Head coach Scott Drew’s Bears rank 13th nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 56 points per game, and eighth in rebounding margin, out-rebounding opponents by 10.5 boards per game. Six different players are averaging 8+ points per game, led by junior Taurean Prince, who is putting up 12 points and 5.1 rebounds a game off the bench. Junior Rico Gathers ranks 10th in the nation in rebounding (and tops in the Big 12) at 10.6 rpg.

Meanwhile, head coach Kim Mulkey’s Lady Bears are up to their usual tricks, ranked No. 5 in the nation thanks to a 13-1 start to the season. That includes wins over three top-20 opponents, with the lone loss coming on the road at No. 10 Kentucky. Baylor ranks second nationally in points per game and margin of victory.

The young team features just one senior and three juniors. Sophomore Nina Davis leads the Big 12 in scoring (22.5 ppg, 10th nationally) and is third in the league in rebounding (8.8 rpg), while junior Niya Johnson is second in the country in assists per game (8.3 apg).

With students still out on break, the Bears will need all the fans they can get for tonight’s top-20 match vs. Kansas (8 p.m., ESPNU). See you at the Ferrell Center!

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!