Friday, February 17, 2017 The Baylor Lariat B6 A&L Baylor Lariat www.baylorlariat.com Friday, February 17, 2017 The Baylor Lariat B7 sportsbaylorlariat.com Baylor Lariat Radio @BaylorBaseball vs. @NiagaraBASE Tonight @ 6:35 p.m. LINK: -> bit.ly/lariatradio Baylor vs. Kansas: NOT OVER JUST YET Baylor Lariat Radio on baylorlariat.com The Final Battle Men’s basketball Listen to live play-by-play Here’s our take on still has much to commentary of Baylor athletics online No. 4 vs. No. 3 in accomplish before they at two locations: a battle for Big 12 celebrate Supremacy pg. B10 pg. B8 baylorlariat.com | bit.ly/lariatradio Penelope Shirey | Lariat Photographer STARING INTO THE FACE OF ADVERSITY Lady Bears basketball head coach Kim Mulkey crouches on the sideline in a game against the Oklahoma Sooners on Jan. 29 in Waco. The Lady Bears won the game 92-58. This game was one of only six games to be nationally televised this season. Lady Bears receive sparse coverage NATHAN KEIL will women’s teams get equal Bears set an NCAA record for Texas, which saw both teams women’s college basketball had 25 games, including all Sports Writer buzz?” margin of victory with a 140- enter with a combined 37- games as well. but one conference game, air “Money will go to women’s 32 win over Winthrop on Dec. game winning streak, made it “Ohio State just played on ESPN. The one conference Seemingly every night sports as soon as an audience 15 than showed up when the on Fox Sports networks. South Carolina, and that game not airing will be the from the end of November wants to watch women, so the men’s team upset No. 4 Oregon This unbalancedgame wasn’t picked up either,” Bears’ showdown with Kansas, through March, if you want to best way to support women on Nov. 15. distribution of games did not Mulkey said. “But they did get as it will air at noon Saturday watch some college hoops, all athletes is by attending The Lady Bears also drew sit well with Mulkey after her Texas and Stanford on there.” on CBS. you have to do is turn on ESPN women’s sports in the first a larger crowd in their home team had just knocked off No. Even the University of This does not take into or any other station within its place.” opener against Houston 9 UCLA 84-70 and before her Connecticut, which just won account the Phillips 66 Big 12 family of networks to get your If fans in the stands and Baptist University than the team was about to travel to its 100th consecutive game championship for the men. basketball itch scratched. wins on the scoreboard equal men did against Oral Roberts take on No. 3 Connecticut, on Monday by beating No. 6 The conference tournament However, if you are looking television appearances, then University. with neither being broadcast South Carolina 66-55, has only for the women will air on the for women’s college basketball, why are the Baylor Lady Bears And yet there is a great on ESPN. had eight games this season Fox Sports networks, but ESPN you might just have to look a not on national television disparity between the number “I think that it’s really sad nationally broadcast on ESPN. does own the rights to the little bit harder. Why is this? more? of women’s games on TV that ESPN did not pick up Even though many of its games Women’s NCAA tournament. According to Head coach Kim Mulkey compared to the number of this game [UCLA], and for have been available to stream The Lady Bears return Michael Graber, a sports and the Lady Bears are 24-2 men’s games on TV. the most part it was a good via the Watch ESPN app for to action at 5 p.m. Saturday cinematographer, the way that overall, 13-1 in Big 12 play, The Lady Bears have played game,” Mulkey said. “Thursday smart phones, tablets and against Oklahoma State in the TV networks decide on which and sit one game behind Texas 10 games this season against is going to be on a New York computers. Sic ’Em for the Cure game at games to air ultimately comes for the conference lead. They ranked opponents. Only two Station. We are playing two When the season is all said the Ferrell Center. down to money. have been ranked in the top of them, at Tennessee and a good teams in top 10, and and done, Baylor will have had Baylor will have its last “In sports TV, the tail wags 10 the entire season and have home game against Oklahoma, neither game was picked up by five women’s basketball games ESPN televised game at 8 p.m. the dog. The money goes where an average attendance of 6,088 have been broadcast on the ESPN.” air on ESPN this season. Monday when the Lady Bears the audience is,” Graber said in at the Ferrell Center. The men ESPN family of networks. It wasn’t just the Baylor Comparatively, the men’s travel to Austin for a rematch Kelly Wallace’s March 14 2016 average about 800 more people Another three games, both games that weren’t being team, which has also risen against Texas. article for CNN entitled “The per contest, but, more people games against West Virginia picked up that upset Mulkey. through the rankings and sits Real March Madness: When showed up to watch the Lady and a home game against It was other high quality at No. 6 right now, will have IS 2016-17 THE ACTUAL YEAR OF THE BEAR? Baylor Lariat Radio Live from Baylor Ballpark all season long Baylor athletics’ current rankings as of Feb. 17, 2017 Baylor Lariat Radio will be broadcasting live play-by-play commentary of Baylor Bears baseball this season from Football: No. 9 Baylor Ballpark. Men’s basketball: No. 1 While you are watching the game from the grandstands, be sure to listen to our live commentary from the game. Lady Bears basketball: No. 2 Men’s golf: No. 13 Ways to listen live: Women’s golf: No. 23 1. Connect to a Wi-Fi system (Better safe than sorry, am I right?) Equestrian: No. 1 2. Use the “Mixlr” app (iPhone, Android) and search for “Baylor Lariat Radio” Soccer: No. 68 (out of 334) 3. Access www.mixlr.com/baylor-lariat-radio with your Men’s tennis: No. 13 preferred web browser and search for “Baylor Lariat Radio” Women’s cross country: No. 23 4. Enjoy the ballgame in a whole new way Softball: No. 23 Friday, February 17, 2017 The Baylor Lariat B8 Sports Sports Take: Men’s basketball still has much to accomplish JAKOB basketball has done under won 22 games and earlier BRANDENBURG coach Scott Drew. this season rose to the No. 1 Reporter In 2012 and 2014, the ranking for the first time in Bears played in the conference program history. Joe Lunardi’s Baylor men’s basketball is championship game. In 2010 “Bracketology” projects the ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and 2012, Baylor made it all Bears will be a No. 1 seed in and is off to the best start in the way to the Elite Eight this year’s NCAA Tournament. program history. However, of the NCAA tournament, That all goes down the drain the Bears have lost three of losing to the eventual national with another early exit during their last five games. At a time champion both times. March Madness. like this, it is important to Unless this year’s team To this Baylor team’s credit, remember that this team hasn’t at least matches those feats, they know they still have work accomplished anything yet. they will fall short of the to do. Led by the team’s lone The last time a Baylor expectations the program has senior, Ish Wainright, the men’s basketball team won created for itself. Bears have adopted the mantra a conference championship What this Baylor team “We Still Suck.” It serves to of any kind was in 1950. For does in the postseason is remind the Bears that despite those of you younger than 67, critical, especially due to the their success, they still haven’t that was in the old Southwest embarrassing round of 64 earned national respect and Conference and occurred 44 losses the last two seasons. that their team goals, namely years before the Big 12 even In 2015, Baylor won 24 conference and national existed. games and was awarded a championships, are still ahead Since that last Baylor title, No. 3 seed in the NCAA of them. every other school in the Big 12 Tournament. They were upset The Bears have five Liesje Powers | Lariat Photo Editor has won at least six conference in their opening game by 14- games left on their schedule. CHARGING IN Baylor sophomore guard King McLure drives the lane in a game against the TCU championships in basketball, seed Georgia State. The next They are still in position Horned Frogs on Feb. 11 in Waco. Baylor won the game 70-52. either in the regular season year, the Bears won 22 games to end Kansas’ streak of 12 or by winning the conference and were given a five seed. consecutive regular-season Big The Bears have another important test comes when the Drew has coached, but the best tournament. That ended with another first- 12 Championships, and the chance to make their mark field of 68 teams is set to battle the school has ever had.