TUESDAY | MARCH 19, 2013 | the Sports A2 Baylor Lariat www.baylorlariat.com Baylor must win Got game? By Greg DeVries Sports Editor Sports Take Anyone that has been to a Bay- but its last National Title was in lor Lady Bears basketball game has 2001. Sims leads team seen the video that plays before Baylor and UConn are set player introductions. Head coach apart, however. Kim Mulkey stands before her UConn has won six National players and talks about the expec- Championships since the millen- on, off court tation that this team will repeat as nium, including five in a row from National Champions. 2007-2011. The Huskies’ head By Phillip Ericksen “I take on a Those are some pretty lofty Reporter big role,” Sims coach, Geno Auriemma, has a expectations, but that’s where this winning percentage north of .860 said. “To lead the team is. If the Lady Bears don’t Compared to her teammates, junior guard Od- team, be the floor and will go down as one of the best win the National Championship, women’s basketball coaches of all yssey Sims is small, but that doesn’t mean her game general on the court, then this season has been a fail- is. and take control time. Of the six women’s basketball ure. It may be harsh. It may even Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, the All-American when Coach Mulkey players to win an NCAA Title, a be unfair, but it only speaks to how has led the Lady Bears to another successful sea- can’t call plays when it’s WNBA title, a World Champion- son. As the top-ranked team in the nation, the down to the wire.” much this team has accomplished ship and an Olympic Gold Medal Lady Bears charge into the Big 12 and NCAA tour- The Lady Bears (29-1) seem to be constantly and how talented it is. Big 12 regu- in women’s basketball, four are for- naments. Personal accolades are also on the way in rhythm while dominating at both ends of the lar-season championships and Big mer Connecticut Huskies. for her. court. The opportunity to complete their ultimate 12 Tournament championships are While Baylor doesn’t have the Sims is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman goal of winning another national championship nice, but for Mulkey and the Lady reign of dominance that UConn Award, which is given to the best point guard in looms as they are projected to be the top overall Bears, those trophies may as well can claim, the Lady Bears do the nation. She has averaged 12.2 points and 5.8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. be paperweights when the real have Griner. Her size and skillset assists per game this season. Sims maintains that the team is always trying goal is a National Champion- make her a transcendent figure “It’s exciting,” Sims said. “I was nominated last to improve through drills and working on funda- ship. that reaches beyond the realm of year I think, so hopefully I’ll just keep playing and mentals in practice. The senior class con- women’s basketball. UConn play- maybe I’ll win. That’s my biggest goal.” “We take it one day at a time,” Sims said. “We’re sisting of center Brittney A top high school recruit from MacArthur not focusing on staying perfect because you can’t ers like Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Kara Griner, guard Kimetria Wolters and Diana Taurasi couldn’t High School in Irving, Sims decided on a college be perfect.” Hayden, guard Jordan career at Bay- After a reach this. In fact, only the most Madden, forward Brooklyn informed sports fans even know lor because of historic, un- Pope and forward Destiny its dominant defeated sea- who these accomplished athletes Williams has earned this ex- program and son last year are. If she is able to stay healthy “We take it one day pectation. Back-to-back Na- proximity to that ended throughout her career, Griner will home. The at a time. We’re not in a national tional Championships will be the be women’s basketball’s Michael process was focusing on staying champion- best way to end the Griner Era in Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Babe Ruth, stressful for ship, the Lady Lady Bears basketball history. or Usain Bolt. her, but she perfect because you Bears have Over the last three seasons, the Griner is the reason that about said she knows continued Lady Bears are 106-4. This run has can’t be perfect.” 9,100 people show up to Baylor she made the their domi- included three Big 12 Champion- women’s basketball games. To put right deci- nance since ships, an Elite Eight appearance, Odyssey Sims | Lady Bears this in perspective, the men’s team sion when she a two-point and most importantly, a National only averages just more than 7,100 chose to play point guard loss to Stan- Championship. fans per game. for head coach ford early in This recent success has put the She is also the reason that the Kim Mulkey. the season. Lady Bears in a select group of She plays They quickly bar is set so high this year. Griner teams that have gone into seasons and the Lady Bears have pushed on a team featuring one of the greatest women’s overcame that loss and continued on a 27-game with championship-or-bust men- college basketball players of all time: senior center win streak. this program into elite company talities. that expects National Champion- Brittney Griner. Sims embraces this opportunity Sims said she has a wide range of emotions be- Going into the Women’s NCAA of having such a resource at her availability on the fore a big game, especially one deep in the NCAA ships, not tournament appear- Tournament, there are five 30-win court. “From the beginning of the season until Tournament against a tough opponent such as ances. teams in the top 10: Baylor, Notre now, their chemistry and trust in each other has Stanford or Connecticut. the The road to the Final Four starts Dame, Connecticut, Stanford and continued to grow by a game-by-game basis,” as- Though she admits to being nervous before game. M with a first-round game against sociate head coach Bill Brock said. “They can read these games, her mindset is always focused, ex- Fortunate- EAGAN Duke. While Duke has had seven Prarie View, but Baylor fans know D each other without looking at one another. Odys- cited and hyped. ly, Sims can OWNING consecutive 30-win seasons, the that the true obstacles are found in also run the Bears’ | R B l u e Devils have sey knows where Brittney wants the basketball, Sims said she gains this enthusiasm from a OUND the later rounds. Stanford, the only and Brittney can tell where Odyssey wants the out- number of different inspirations. slower half-court of- U yet to win P P team to beat the Lady Bears in the let passes every time there’s a defensive rebound. “It’s a little bit of everyone I guess,” Sims said. fense with ease. HOTO it all. E last two years, is a possible Final DITOR They work so well together.” “Some days it can be my coaches, some days it can As six seniors leave the team at Stan- Four opponent for Baylor. the conclusion of this season, an even Both players were named to the All-Big 12 First be my momma, some days I can motivate myself.” f o r d ’ s The Lady Bears lost to Stanford Team and the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. While Griner’s dominant plays make most of bigger spotlight will be created for her dur- recent 71-69 in the third game of the sea- “It’s just a joy to watch those two play together the headlines for Lady Bears basketball, Sims’ con- ing her senior season. histor y son. Junior guard Odyssey Sims and show their skills on the floor,” Brock said. sistency on the court and willingness to accept the “With these six seniors leaving you will prob- i s Sims embraces her unique role on the team as a team’s philosophy of quickly moving the ball down ably see us being able to run more scoring options played just four minutes in the leader and role model for the other players as well. the court is a huge factor in the team’s success, ac- for our perimeter players than we have in the past,” game before leaving with a strained rid- hamstring. Freshman guard Alexis Prince said she looks cording to Brock. Brock said. dled Moving forward into the postseason, the Lady Despite losing the first meeting, up to Sims and appreciates her guidance both on “Odyssey Sims is the quarterback of our bas- with deep and off the court. ketball team,” Brock said. “She is the one who di- Bears continue to feed off the energy and leader- Baylor should still expect to win. tournament “She’s a good teammate,” Prince said. “Being rects traffic in all situations for us, whether it be in ship of Sims and her chemistry with the rest of the This team plays on another level, runs, but its last the point guard, she’s a good leader. She helps you the fast break or the half-court set. We are always team. and if the Lady Bears don’t hoist when you need help with anything.” looking for the opportunity to run more and get After all of the praise and accolades, Sims is National Cham- pi- the National Championship trophy This translates into the Lady Bears’ offense, more easy baskets in transition.” confident in her answer of who can win a game of onship came in the e a r l y in New Orleans, then we will all be where distributing the ball through Sims is key to As the postseason begins, Coach Brock said he one-on-one between her and Griner.