WE’RE THERE WHEN YOU CAN’T BE 2012 Hoops Review TheWEDNESDAY | APRIL 4, 2012Baylor Lariatwww.baylorlariat.com MEN’S TEAM Page A6 CELEBRATION Page A3 POSTER Page A8 Making us proud Time to party One for the ages See highlights of the men’s historic When the women’s team was crush- Check the back page of this special Elite Eight run through stories and ing everyone on the court, the Lariat edition for a poster you’ll want to images on pages A6 and A7 photographed every moment hang with pride Vol. 113 No. 39 © 2012, Baylor University Perfect! Meagan Downing | Lariat Photographer Lady Bears grab title, reach 40 wins By Krista Pirtle Griner, junior Jordan Madden The most outstanding player, field goal for six minutes. “We’re going to guard people,” For Baylor, all the starters will Sports Writer and Sims never won a champion- Griner, led the Lady Bears with a Early in the first half, the Lady Mulkey said. “Everyone talked return for the 2012-2013 season. ship in high school. double-double: 26 points and 13 Bears were giving up offensive about it being Notre Dame’s of- The Lady Bears’ senior class of The Baylor Lady Bears took “I’m just so happy,” Baylor rebounds. Sims followed with 19 boards and second chances to the fense versus our defense. We Terran Condrey, Lindsay Palmer care of unfinished business, de- head coach Kim Mulkey said. points and four assists. Irish. scored 94 on them last time, we and Ashley Field finished their feating Notre Dame 80-61. “That old saying, ‘you’re so happy As a whole Baylor shot 50 Once the offensive run start- scored 80 today. We can score four-year careers with a record of “Now you can see we did you cry,’ I can’t quit crying.” percent from the floor on the eve- ed, Baylor took advantage of its with the best of them. Defense 131-19 in addition to one national something,” sophomore Odyssey Now, they have experienced ning, while only allowing the Irish height, going into the locker room wins championships. Don’t ever title, two Final Four appearances, Sims said. the confetti and the ultimate 35 percent. at the half leading the battle of the forget that.” four NCAA tournament trips and Baylor is the first team in climb up the ladder to snip away “Our defense is what led us boards 25-17 with 11 offensive Notre Dame found itself in five Big 12 titles (two regular sea- NCAA Division I history to finish a piece of the net. all year,” Williams said. “We frus- rebounds and 10 second chance foul trouble when Devereaux Pe- son, three tournament). the season with 40 wins, doing it “It’s sinking in,” Griner said. trated our opponents. I think our points. ters with three and Diggins with As for scrubby little Baylor, with the top RPI in the nation. “I know I’m about to get up there defense is one-of-a-kind.” To open both teams shot un- two. it has the most wins combined “We finally did it,” junior and cry.” Junior Skylar Diggins led the der 40 percent from the floor, “When we got in foul trouble in football (10), men’s basketball Brittney Griner said. “The unfin- The All-Tournament team was Irish with 20 points followed by with the Irish going 50 percent that destroyed our game plan,” (30) and women’s basketball (40) ished business is over.” made up of Notre Dame junior Kayla McBride with 11. from three-point land. Notre Dame head coach Muffet in NCAA Division I this season. The Lady Bear become the Skylar Diggins, Stanford senior Back in November, Natalie “We were chasing,” Diggins McGraw said. “In the second half, “At Baylor they used to not let seventh undefeated national Neka Ogwumike and Baylor’s ju- Novosel scored 28 points but to- said. “We spent a lot of energy we were afraid to foul. Every time the Baptists dance,” Mulkey said. champion, joining Texas (1986), nior Destiny Williams and Sims. night was held without a field chasing. In the second half, those Brittney got the ball, we didn’t “I bet they’re dancing now. It’s Tennessee (1998), and UConn “It’s dedication that we put in,” goal, finishing with five points shots just weren’t falling. They lean on her and she got really fun. Look, it’s been a great year for (1995, 2002, 2009, 2010). Williams said. “We put in a lot of from the charity stripe. were hitting a lot of theirs.” close to the basket. She shot over Baylor. Robert Griffin being here. “There is no significance in work in the summer. We’re just In the first half, a Griner block The Irish hit only 36 percent of us. There really wasn’t anything I don’t know what other coaches 40-0 right now,” head coach Kim excited to finally get the cham- sparked a 12-1 run by the Lady their shots in the final half while we can do.” from Baylor were here. It’s just a Mulkey said. “Because the only pionship. We’re just ready to cel- Bears, proving that Baylor is a the Lady Bears were 63 percent Griner only missed one shot fun time. I look forward to going words coming out of our mouths ebrate it and enjoy it with our team fueled by defensive play. from the floor, a perfect 3 for 3 out of nine attempts in the final back. Let’s enjoy it. This is a mem- today are ‘national champions.’” families and teammates.” The Irish would not score a from downtown. half for the Lady Bears. ory. This is for Baylor.” WEDNESDAY | APRIL 4, 2012 the 2012 Hoops Review A2| Baylor Lariat www.baylorlariat.com Season A little While coach Kim Mulkey led the Lady Bears to an NCAA record 40-0, birdie Recap her other 11 seasons at Baylor have also added to an incredible career At the top told us Nov. 13 40 40, Championship Head coach Kim Baylor Nation tweets Mulkey gets her On the Lady Bears being NCAA Champions 300th career win, 35 33, Championship 34 a 91-31 beatdown @jonschr against Chattanooga. “‘Scrubby little Baylor’ 29 has been the dominant 30 force in not only the Big Nov. 20 WINS 27 12, but in the NCAA this 26 26 26 year. #sicem” The Lady Bears defeat 26 24 then-No. 2 Notre 25 25 @janaghsteacher Dame 94-81 at the “So proud to be a Baylor Ferrell Center in the 21 Bear and to have a Baylor freshman daughter. NO Preseason WNIT. 20 BETTER FRESHMAN Junior Brittney 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 YEAR EVER! Even beats Griner had 32 points. my ‘80 SWC champs!” Nov. 27 @LilyBelle78 “Beyond excited for @Bay- Against legendary lorWBB #BaylorAthletes head coach Pat and #BaylorNation ... We are Baylor!! We are Proud!! Summitt, Baylor Naismith Numbers Brittney Griner won this year’s female Naismith award, described as “the most prestigious award in basketball in #FinishedBusiness” comes back to beat the nation.” Here’s her mindblowing statistics from the Lady Bears national championship season. then-No. 6 Tennessee @christinecanvas 76-67, the Lady Bears’ “All we do is WIN WIN third win against a WIN. 40-0, baby! #sicem- top-25 opponent. 23.2 points per game ladybears” @wesmilam “could not be more proud to be a Bear alum ‘86. Dec. 18 9.4 rebounds per game What an unbelievable year. And it’s not over. Baylor defeats #heisman #perfection champion head coach 5.2 #bowlwin” Geno Auriemma blocks per game @JordanOliver7 and then-No. 2 “WAASSUP WASSUP Connecticut 66-61, its BAYLOR!” second No. 1 vs. No. 2 straight games with victory. 80 @angfunai double-digit scoring “Business was FINISHED in Denver tonight! Sic ‘em, Lady Bears!” Feb. 4 18 double-doubles @raschelle Griner records 2000 “so proud to be alums! Feb. 11 March 20 March 26 40-0 Lady Bears played points and 500 blocks out their faith on the for her career, the The Lady Bears debut Griner dunks in the For the second time court! They walk their March 10 first player to do so their silver Nike 76-57 win against this season, the Lady talk! Well deserved National Champions!” in NCAA Division Hyper Elite uniforms Baylor wins its Florida to advance Bears defeat Summitt I history, in a 70-41 and defeat reigning second-straight Big to the Sweet Sixteen. and Tennessee 77-58 @Wagonwheelmusic win against Kansas champion Texas A&M 12 Tournament title Griner becomes the in Des Moines, Iowa, “Coach Kim - ONLY per- State in Manhattan, 71-48 at the Ferrell with a 73-50 win over second woman to to advance to the son to win Natl. Cham- pionship as Player, Asst. Kan. Center. Texas A&M. dunk the NCAA Final Four. tournament. Coach and Coach!!” @qmillertime “Baylor took the world by storm in every sport! Every Bear here is #win- Championship earned by ning” @biggitio “Congratulations to the Lady Bears, not just Griner Lady Bears from an alum in STL on their perfect, By Krista Pirtle Mulkey said. “Destiny Williams Nae-Nae and Jordan, they have to history-making season Sports Writer is averaging a double-double. accept the challenge to defend on (40-0!) and National Brooklyn Pope is coming off the the defensive end, make big shots, Championship” The No. 1 Lady Bears are na- bench. They’re not surrounded get steals and run the floor.” tional champions, beating their by average [players] but by All- Senior Terran Condrey comes opponents by an average of more Americans.