Game on. They called the men elite. This year, they’ll call them champions. The women will continue their dominance as they defend and repeat. Game on. They called the men elite. This year, they’ll call them champions. The women will continue their dominance as they defend and repeat. FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 2, 2012 | the Sports B2 Baylor Lariat www.baylorlariat.com Whoop Baylor students have option of There it is front row hoops By Lindsey Miner The Bear Pit would typically Sports Reporter stand all game while yelling and How ready is Baylor Nation? distracting Baylor’s opponent with This basketball season, Baylor feisty cheers. The Bear Pit also put students better be prepared to lose on pep rallies before big games. their voices from excessive cheer- “If people get rid of the Bear Q ing, paint their bodies green and Pit, I hope they get rid of it be- gold. And earn some camera time cause it becomes too big to man- with Alexa Brackin and Lindsey Miner at the men’s and women’s basket- age,” Friedman said. A ball games at the Ferrell Center. The bill passed by Baylor Sen- The sections behind the bas- ate last semester recommended The Lariat sports reporters went around the Baylor campus and asked kets, typically reserved for mem- that anyone in the student body bers of the Bear Pit, will be open should be privy to those court students questions about the upcoming basketball season. to all students on a first-come, seats. After last season’s excite- first-served basis. ment with the men’s trip to the This year, you do not have to Elite Eight and the Lady Bears Are you excited for our upcoming basketball sea- Do you know what the women won at the end of pay for the floor seats. You can, unprecedented 40-0 season, fans however, buy a five dollar t-shirt, have something to be proud of and son? the year? but that is the extent of the Bear want to relive that thrill. Yes, I am. No, I don’t. Pit. “I think more fans should No, I don’t get into games. In the past, the students not come out and support, but for involved with the Bear Pit would those who are there, we love it,” Do you know how many starters we are returning be forced to sit in the upper corner Baylor basketball senior guard AJ Do you watch much Baylor basketball? from last year’s team? section of the Ferrell Center. Walton said. “The fan support al- “The idea of keeping the Bear ways makes us feel loved and ap- Some, kind of, not really. I don’t keep up with it. I don’t know. Twenty? Pit alive is understandable because preciated.” A little bit. it’s been going on for a while,” said This year will be a trial year to What makes women’s basketball so appealing to senior Rachel Armstrong, a previ- see how the student body, as an ous Bear Pit member “But I think unorganized section, fills in the Who are you more likely to watch, men’s or wom- you? it would be a great choice to open gaps of the Bear Pit. With the ad- en’s? It’s just fun to watch them play to be honest. They that up to anyone in the student vantage of getting prime seats, the Probably men’s, but I would go to women’s. I don’t don’t get paid. They’re obviously in it for the game. body who wants to be closer to the most enthusiastic basketball fans action, no matter if they are part will get the chance to be close to really know honestly. Men are more intense. I feel They’re more willing to take risks than the men’s of the club or not. First come, first the action, cheering on both the like I enjoy watching men more than women. Not team. It’s just more exciting. I see them run a lot more serve ensures that those students men’s and women’s teams. who really want those seats will be “I do like having the option that women aren’t intense, I just would rather watch than the men. the ones filling them.” of better seats,” junior Thomas men, I guess. The Bear Pit was organized Leathers said. “I feel like the peo- How do you think both teams will do this season? in 2005 to promote school spirit ple who do wear those jerseys are during the basketball games. The die-hards and would show up first Do you have a specific player you like the most? We’re going to kick butt. We’re Baylor. membership fee included reserved to get those seats.” Perry Jones I think the ladies will win the whole thing. Guys, seats, pizza and drinks at each College basketball begins home game and referee-style black across the nation Nov. 9. The I mean Jones, I don’t know if he’s gone or not, but I have faith that they will win the Big 12 and make and gold striped jerseys. Ferrell Center will host a double- Jones. some moves in the tournament to get to the Final Last year’s Bear Pit president header with the defending nation- Four. Benjamin Friedman, said the or- al champions, No. 1 Baylor Lady ganization’s seats are well earned Bears, against Lamar at noon and Do you know where Brady Heslip is from? I think we’ll do really well. Heck, we may go unde- and that he would hope all stu- the No. 18 Bears against Lehigh at Is he from Canada? feated again. dents embody the same level of 4 p.m. Both games will air on Fox passion that the Bear Pit does. Sports. FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 2, 2012 www.baylorlariat.com Sports the Baylor Lariat|B3 2012-2013 Three-goggles...so last year Schedule Heslip’s three-goggles don’t compare to freshman forward 11/9 Lehigh 11/11 Jackson St Isaiah Austin and his Oakleys 11/15 Boston Coll. By Greg DeVries games that start on sive end,” Drew said after the game. 11/16 Colo. / Drayton Sports Writer the defensive end. “He did a lot of good things, and Isaiah Austin Davis broke the he’s done a lot of good things in 11/18 TBD Baylor fell to the eventual record for most practice.” 7’1” 280 pounds 11/24 Coll of Charleston National Champion, Ken- blocks in a single Both Davis and Austin pos- Grace Prep Academy tucky, last year in the season with sess skills that are uncharacteristic Elite Eight 82-70. A 183, and of players their size. Austin can McDonald’s All-Amer- 12/1 Kentucky big reason for Ken- A u s t i n handle the ball well, and he can ican 12/4 N.Western tucky’s success was led his step out and hit long-range shots. ESPN No. 3 its 6-foot-10-inch high Against ACU, Austin shot 1-2 from Finance major 12/12 Lamar freshman An- school beyond the three-point arc. thony Davis. t e a m Austin may, in fact, be one of 12/17 USC Upstate D a v i s w i t h the best three-point shooters on torched f i v e the team. 21 12/21 BYU t h e blocks “I think I’m better than Brady play with a guy like him.” 12/28 Gonzaga p e r [Heslip],” Austin joked. “I’m just Gathers is also optimistic about game. playing, but I have a pretty nice Austin’s skill set playing a big part I n shooting touch…Pierre has a nice in the Bears’ success this season. 1/5 Texas Baylor’s shot [too].” “He brings a silver platter,” 1/8 Texas Tech exhi- Austin’s combination of size Gathers said. “He’s that player bition and athleticism is also compa- that you want to have 1/12 TCU g a m e rable to former Baylor Bear on your team rath- 1/14 Kansas against Perry Jones III. Despite being er than going Abilene tall post players, both can take against him.” 1/19 Hardin-Simmons B e a r s Christian, defenders off of the dribble 1/21 Oklahoma State that game for 18 A u s t i n and get to the basket. points, 11 rebounds only re- “I’m very ath- 1/26 TCU and six blocks. Baylor corded one letic. I’m very ag- 1/30 Oklahoma had no answer for the block in 20 ile for my size,” Associated Press Player minutes, but Austin said. “I’m of the Year and eventual the Wildcats 7-1, I can run the 2/2 Iowa State first overall pick in the struggled to court like a guard, 2/6 Oklahoma State NBA Draft. get shots off I can block shots, I So what did Baylor head in and around can rebound. When my team 2/9 Texas Tech coach Scott Drew do about it? the paint while needs me to, I can score.” 2/13 West Virginia He went to Arlington and got Austin was in the Austin was a consensus top-5 an Anthony Davis of his own, game. Baylor national recruit this past year. He 2/16 Kansas State minus the unibrow. This one won the exhibi- was listed as the third-ranked in- 2/20 Iowa State goes by the name of Isaiah tion game 103- coming freshman in the nation by Austin.