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Baylor Women's Basketball

SicEm365 All-Decade Team: Brittney Griner changed the game for Baylor - and women's hoops

April 16, 2020
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*Over the next several weeks, SicEm365.com will publish all-decade teams for most Baylor sports. The series continues today with our all-decade Lady Bear squad.

FIRST TEAM

Brittney Griner - 6-8 Center; 2009-2012; Houston Nimitz

Griner was the Big 12 Player of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013. In her 148 starts, she scored 3283 points, blocked 748 shots, put up 63 double doubles, and had five triple-doubles. The two-time National Player of the Year may be most dominant player in the game’s history. She is now a WNBA All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury.

Lauren Cox - 6-4 Power Forward; 2017-2020; Flower Mound

Cox was a complete player on both ends of the court and an underrated passer. Just ask frontcourt mate Kalani Brown, the recipient of some beautiful feeds from Cox for three straight seasons. Cox—who led Baylor to the 2019 NCAA title, averaged 12 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and swatted 301 shots in a career that ended prematurely because of Covid-19. 

Nina Davis - 5-11 Small Forward; 2013-16; Memphis Cental HS

This vote was tight, but the 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year was the call. Davis was first-team All-Big 12 her final three seasons. She averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while also playing undersized at power forward when needed. Davis found a way to put the ball in the basket.

Kristy Wallace - 5-11 Shooting Guard; 2014-2017; Loganholme, Queensland, AU

The Australia native exploded her senior season, scoring 12.9 points and hitting over 50% of her shots from the floor. Unforturnately, Wallace tore her ACL in the final home game of her career on a team poised to go deep in the NCAA tournament. Wallace hit 38.3% of her three point shot attempts during her career while being the consumate glue player. In her career she averaged 9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.

Odyssey Sims - 5-10 Point Guard; 2010-2013, Irving MacArthur

Sims wasted no time making an impact on the Lady Bears’ program, as she was named National Freshman of the Year. Sims finished her career as the leader in assists (572) and three-point field goals made (223). She guided the 2012 National Championship team by averaging 14.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game. She averaged 17.5 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.3 steals in her career. Sims is expecting her first child while sitting out the 2020 season for the Minnesota Lynx.


 

SECOND TEAM

Kalani Brown - 6-7 Center; 2015-2018; Slidell, LA

If not for possibly the greatest center in the game being a Lady Bear, Brown would receive first-team recognition after averaging 15 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 assists over her All-American career.

Brooklyn Pope - 6-3 Power Forward, 2009-2012; FW Dunbar

Pope averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds her senior year and was an integral part of the dominant 40-0 National Championship squad.

DiDi Richards - 6-2 Small Forward; 2017-Current; Cypress Ranch

With one year left to play, Richards’ dominance on defense and increasing offensive presence places her on the second team. Richards currently averages 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals a game.

Jordan Madden - 5-11 Shooting Guard; 2009-2012; Lepanto, AR

Madden averaged 7.7 points and 4 rebounds her senior year, but her domination was on the defensive end in Kim Mulkey’s attacking defense.

Niya Johnson - 5-9 Point Guard; 2012-2015; Gainesville, FL

The Big 12 career assists leader with 988 also ranks fifth in NCAA history. She rarely turned the ball over during her career. Johnson played in every game but one during her career and was the only freshman to play in 2012.


 

THIRD TEAM

Sune Agbuke, 6-4 Center - 2011-2014; San Antonio Cornerstone Christian

In her final season, Sune averaged 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Khadijiah “K.K.” Cave - 6-3 Power Forward; 2013-2016; Augusta, GA

Cave provided a spark off the bench with 7.4 points and 4.5 blocks over her career.

NaLyssa Smith - 6-2 Small Forward; 2018-Current; East Central San Antonio HS

Smith could move up this list if her career continues in the upward trend from her first two seasons. Her career averages are 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds while only starting 28 of the 66 games she’s played.

Makenzie Robertson - 5-9 Shooting Guard; 2010-2013; Midway

Robertson had to earn time on the court from her coach and mother, but once she did she wasn’t coming off of it. Robertson left her mark on the program and continues to do so as a current coach on the staff.

Chloe Jackson - 5-9 Point Guard; 2019; Upper Malboro, MD

Jackson led the 2019 team to its third NCAA tite in her only season, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals.


 

PLAYER OF THE DECADE

Who else could it be but Brittney Griner

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE DECADE

Griner collected over double the blocked shots of the next Lady Bear on the career list, but Odyssey Sims is our choice with her tenacity out front, disrupting offenses who then ran into the road block of Griner at the rim. 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE DECADE

Griner is the easy pick and ours, but the offensive games of Kalani Brown and Odyssey Sims cannot be ignored.

THREE POINT SHOOTER OF THE DECADE

Juicy Landrum hit 14 threes in a game and shot over 40% in her career.

LOCKDOWN DEFENDER

DiDi Richards has turned defense into an art form over her first three years. 

Discussion from...

SicEm365 All-Decade Team: Brittney Griner changed the game for Baylor - and women's hoops

9,260 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by baylor1984
Task Force 2015
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What about Juicy?
Brian Ethridge
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Task Force 2015 said:

What about Juicy?
Who do you replace on the team?
Task Force 2015
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Good question. Madden or Robertson even though both were valuable contributors.Juicy is a pure shooter who can play defense.She will probably be drafted.
Task Force 2015
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Maybe there should be an honorable mention category.
setshot
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Landrum has been better at both ends of the floor for her career than Robertson, and incomparably better at the defensive end.
DFW Bill
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setshot said:

Landrum has been better at both ends of the floor for her career than Robertson, and incomparably better at the defensive end.
The comparison is not even close, not just shooting and defense, but Juicy was a better passer, rebounder and played more minutes on better teams. Ask yourself who decides on the minutes played.
WacoKelly83
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Juicy over Mac.
Brian Ethridge
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Yeah, I could see that one, but it seemed Mac was more leave it all out there at all times.
setshot
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No one questions her effort, but Mackenzie has less to leave out there than Landrum.
geewago
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Double Amen to Setshots and DFWBills comments.
Task Force 2015
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When I raised the issue my belief was that Landrum was a better player than Robertson(who I agree left nothing on the floor).There has since been strong agreement with that assessment.Who do you think would start if Madden and Landrum are both in their prime?
Brian Ethridge
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Task Force 2015 said:

When I raised the issue my belief was that Landrum was a better player than Robertson(who I agree left nothing on the floor).There has since been strong agreement with that assessment.Who do you think would start if Madden and Landrum are both in their prime?
Madden was better defensively and on the boards, but Juicy better offensively.
Task Force 2015
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Waco paper today has its all decade team. First team Griner,Sims,Brown,Cox and Davis.Second Team Destiny Williams,Wallace,Johnson,Jackson &Landrum.So Wallace and Brown switched teams(This first team is post heavy)(The second team is guard oriented).Pope selected as 6th woman.Juicy is selected second team not Madden.Now,where is DiDi?Griner was named best player and defender.
Brian Ethridge
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Task Force 2015 said:

Waco paper today has its all decade team. First team Griner,Sims,Brown,Cox and Davis.Second Team Destiny Williams,Wallace,Johnson,Jackson &Landrum.So Wallace and Brown switched teams(This first team is post heavy)(The second team is guard oriented).Pope selected as 6th woman.Juicy is selected second team not Madden.Now,where is DiDi?Griner was named best player and defender.


Yeah, I wanted to put a real team on the court. I don't think Griner, Cox, and Brown, while all deserving first team, is realistic.

baylor1984
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Brian Ethridge said:

Task Force 2015 said:

Waco paper today has its all decade team. First team Griner,Sims,Brown,Cox and Davis.Second Team Destiny Williams,Wallace,Johnson,Jackson &Landrum.So Wallace and Brown switched teams(This first team is post heavy)(The second team is guard oriented).Pope selected as 6th woman.Juicy is selected second team not Madden.Now,where is DiDi?Griner was named best player and defender.


Yeah, I wanted to put a real team on the court. I don't think Griner, Cox, and Brown, while all deserving first team, is realistic.


Cox at the SF, Brown at the PF and Griner at C. It would work and would be unstoppable.
Brian Ethridge
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baylor1984 said:

Brian Ethridge said:

Task Force 2015 said:

Waco paper today has its all decade team. First team Griner,Sims,Brown,Cox and Davis.Second Team Destiny Williams,Wallace,Johnson,Jackson &Landrum.So Wallace and Brown switched teams(This first team is post heavy)(The second team is guard oriented).Pope selected as 6th woman.Juicy is selected second team not Madden.Now,where is DiDi?Griner was named best player and defender.


Yeah, I wanted to put a real team on the court. I don't think Griner, Cox, and Brown, while all deserving first team, is realistic.


Cox at the SF, Brown at the PF and Griner at C. It would work and would be unstoppable.
I don't see that working.
SSadler
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I see it working since Griner never REALLY enjoyed the physicality of play under the basket while Brown made a career there. Both would need to face the basket on offense.And every now and then back off on defensive rebounds so they did not harm the other.

Cox, while certainly comfortable and productive in the lane, could make a really good living from 15-18 ft., especially if she knew she did not HAVE to hit the boards on every play.

Would be different, and very strange looking to have all 3 on the court at the same time, but if the two other teammates were stereotypical shooting and point guard types with high percentage shooting skills so that the other team could not "get it and go" and thus outrun the 3 BIGS . . . I agree it could work (and of the three--both Cox and Brown were noted for their better-than-average ability to run the floor).

Here's the deal. If you offered that BIG lineup to any/all NCAA coaches (and most WNBA coaches) they would not hesitate one second to take it, play it 25-30 minutes a game, and dare you to try to defend it.

Fun to consider.
baylor1984
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You would have plenty of 3 pt. shooting with O and Kristy. Lauren has proven she can play/defend in space as well as hit the 15 to 18 ft. shots. Brown and Griner inside would be unstoppable. That team would dominant the glass on both ends and pity the fool that would try to drive to the hoop with Griner, Cox and Brown awaiting them.
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