Big weekend for Baylor athletics

This weekend holds all kinds of drama for Baylor sports fans. It starts tonight at 6:30 p.m. as Baylor baseball kicks off its 2008 season against Purdue at Baylor Ballpark–a season that holds great promise for Bear fans. Head coach Steve Smith was quoted in today’s Waco Tribune-Herald as saying, “This team is capable of going to the College World Series for sure. From an ability and talent standpoint, this is as good of a team as we’ve had here.” That series continues Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

Saturday, the men’s basketball team hosts No. 24 Kansas State and national player of the year candidate Michael Beasley. For the Bears to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, this one is pretty much a must-win. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.; the game will be televised in Texas on Fox Sports Net. Tickets for both this game and the baseball series are available online now.

Meanwhile, the Baylor women’s basketball team and reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Jessica Morrow is headed to Ames, Iowa, for an 11 a.m. meeting Saturday against Iowa State. The No. 9 Lady Bears can claim their second Big 12 Conference title in four years if they can win out over their final four games. Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net.

If that’s not enough, there’s plenty more sports in action this weekend, as well. Led by Big 12 Player of the Week Jordan Daniels, the No. 10 Baylor softball team looks to continue its hot start to the season at a tournament in California this weekend. Baylor equestrian hosts Kansas State today and Fresno State tomorrow at the Willis Family Equestrian Center. The No. 10 women’s tennis team hosts No. 16 William & Mary Saturday at 1 p.m., while the 11th-ranked men host Kentucky Sunday at 2 p.m.

Sic ’em, Baylor athletics!