The 1-3-1: Baylor (13-5, 4-2) vs No. 25 Texas (13-6, 4-2)
After getting back in the win column in deciding fashion on Wednesday night, Baylor (13-5, 4-2) will look to knock off No. 25 Texas (13-6, 4-2) at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday in the Ferrell Center. In an attempt to spread the word to “Fill the Ferrell”, Jaden Owens and Caitlin Bickle took to campus to spread the word.
“Jaden and I had an opportunity to go around campus and promote a previous game with a dunk contest, so this time we went around playing pig — or in this case bear — with some students which was really fun,” said Bickle. “It’s really important for our fellow students to come out and show support. The men obviously get a strong showing from the student section, and we’re looking for that same energy on Sunday.”
Head coach Nicki Collen also expressed the importance of having the fans show up in full force to help create the type of home-court advantage that she and the team have faced on the road this season.
“I just hope they come to the game. You know, I think it's great to say you want to beat Texas and this game is a big deal, but if you really want us to beat them, then we need you in the building cheering us on,” said Collen. “I think you're talking about two really good basketball teams and the edge could go to the team with home-court advantage.”
“We need that and we're seeing across the board Michigan's had back-to-back games where they've had 10,000 people in the building, you're seeing these huge crowds in women's basketball and we need to continue to grow ours.”
Fans in attendance can also stop by the marketing tables on the concourse to get an exclusive “Greater Than” T-shirt while supplies last.
So as you get set to show up and show out, here is the 1-3-1 on the Bears vs Horns.
One Player:
Sophomore sensation Rori Harmon has been the catalyst for Texas’ success this season. The Houston native missed the first five games of the season with an injury, but since her return, the Horns are 11-3.
Harmon secured her spot in the record books earlier this season against TCU, as she became just the fourth player in Texas history to record a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. During Big 12 play this season, Harmon is averaging 11.5 points, 9.2 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals.
Three Nuggets:
● Last season, the Bears topped Texas twice in three days during the month of February, before the Longhorns responded with a 67-58 victory in the Big 12 Championship game in Kansas City.
● Texas holds the 59-48 advantage in the all-time series with Baylor, as the teams are knotted at 24 wins apiece in Waco
● The Longhorns are forcing 22.0 turnovers per game. In the last nine games, they hold a 224-81 advantage over opponents in points off turnovers.
One Concern:
While it’s been nice to see Aijah Blackwell back on the court in a limited capacity during the past two games, Baylor has still yet to play a game this season with everyone available. Texas is very talented and if they force the Bears into relying on their bench, then things could be very difficult.
Baylor has found itself in difficult situations when forced into foul trouble, which is something that the Longhorns are fully aware of. As for Blackwell getting more minutes on the court, it’s a day-by-day situation that the team will have to navigate.
“There are no specific expectations or timetable when it comes to Aijah, which is the biggest challenge,” said Collen. “I think she has grace with herself. This idea that I've never been injured before. I've never come back from an injury before and I can't get overly frustrated with myself, and I am just trying to guard her against this idea that there will come a point in time when she is tired of not being herself.”
“I think the more repetitions she gets the more she's going to get better. But then you know we're trying to protect long term and, and so it's just a tough situation,” continued Collen, “I just want her to keep kind of giving herself that grace that she's gonna bring something to us. She is gonna bring something, but I don't know what it's gonna look like from game to game.”
Watch/Listen
The contest between the Bears and Horns can be seen nationally on ESPN2, while the live radio broadcast is also available for fans on the Varsity Network App. Live in-game updates will also be provided via Twitter or live stats.