Previews: Falling Forward

COACH: Scott Drew (seventh year at BU, 81-95; and eighth overall, 100-106)

LAST YEAR: 24-15 (5-11, ninth in Big 12)

OUTLOOK: After a disappointing 2009 conference season, the Bears turned it around in the postseason by reaching the Big 12 Tournament championship game before making a run to the NIT finals in New York City. However, Baylor lost four key seniors from the team, including all-Big 12 guard Curtis Jerrells. The Bears have some veterans returning, but several new players may have to make an impact.

TOP RETURNEES: Tweety Carter, sr., guard; LaceDarius Dunn, jr., guard; Quincy Acy, so., forward; Josh Lomers, sr., center; Anthony Jones, so., forward.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Ekpe Udoh, jr., center; Nolan Dennis, fr., guard; Mark McLaughlin, fr., guard; Cory Jefferson, fr., forward; A. J. Walton, fr., guard; Givon Crump, fr., forward.

STRENGTHS: The Bears have been driven by their backcourt during most of Drew’s tenure, and that probably won’t change this year. LaceDarius Dunn ranked second on the team with a 15.7 scoring average last season and nailed a team-high 109 three-pointers. Tweety Carter averaged 10.6 points and hit a team-best 40.3 percent from three-point range. Center Josh Lomers and forward Quincy Acy bring experience inside, but they should get a boost from Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh, who redshirted last year. The development of freshman guards Nolan Dennis, A. J. Walton, and Mark McLaughlin could be vital.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

COACH: Kim Mulkey (tenth year at Baylor and overall, 237-66)

LAST YEAR: 29-6 (12-4, second in the Big 12; lost to Louisville, 56-39, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament)

OUTLOOK: A trio of veteran warriors in Jhasmin Player, Rachel Allison, and Jessica Morrow has departed, but the Lady Bears’ rebuilding will be offset by the arrival of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. Much-heralded six-foot-eight freshman Brittney Griner offers a dunking, shot-blocking presence the likes of which the program hasn’t seen. Expectations for a deep NCAA tourney run haven’t dimmed.

TOP RETURNEES: Melissa Jones, jr., guard (pictured); Morghan Medlock, sr., forward; Kelli Griffin, jr., guard; Ashley Field, so., post.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Brittney Griner, fr., post; Mariah Chandler, fr., forward; Jordan Madden, fr., guard; Shanay Washington, fr., guard; Kimetria Hayden, fr., guard.

STRENGTHS: The return of Bill Brock, who rejoined the program in July after a three-year stint at Texas Tech, adds an experienced, familiar face to the coaching staff. Despite the loss of four starters, Melissa Jones and Kelli Griffin remain significant contributors, and the freshmen are not short on either size or talent.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

COACH: Todd Harbour (tenth year at Baylor and overall)

LAST YEAR: Tenth in the Big 12 and tenth at the NCAA South Central Regional

OUTLOOK: All of Baylor’s best runners return from last year, including junior Jeff Sadler, the team’s top finisher in nearly every meet. Moving up to the middle of the pack in the Big 12 isn’t a stretch.

TOP RETURNEES: Jeff Sadler, jr.; Robbie Knorr, jr.; Ben Haby, sr.; Brandon White, so.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Ben Allen, fr.; Brady Desko, fr.; Taylor Jackson, fr.; Blake Niccum, fr.; Tyler Stewart, fr.; Erik Williams, fr.

STRENGTHS: The team made strides last year after finishing last at the conference meet in 2007. With plenty of experience returning, further progress seems imminent.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

COACH: Todd Harbour (tenth year at Baylor and overall)

LAST YEAR: Second in the Big 12, tied for second at the NCAA South Central regional and nineteenth at NCAA Championships

OUTLOOK: The Lady Bears have made six straight NCAA meet appearances, and that string shouldn’t end anytime soon. “We’ve got a chance to have one of our best teams yet,” Harbour said.

TOP RETURNEES: Erin Bedell, sr.; Nichole Jones, sr.; Danielle Bradley, sr.; Leigh Ann Ganzar, jr.; Katie Shaw, jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Stephanie Morgan, fr.; Katie Barry, fr.; Amanda Hammer, fr.; Caitlin Waters, fr.

STRENGTHS: In Erin Bedell, Nichole Jones, and Danielle Bradley, a trio of all-region performers last fall, Baylor has its most experienced, gifted nucleus in years. Depth shouldn’t be an issue, as Stephanie Morgan, an Ohio prep standout, and Leigh Ann Ganzar are expected to push the front-runners.

EQUESTRIAN

COACH: Ellen White (fifth year at Baylor and overall)

LAST YEAR: Finished fourth in Hunter Seat and seventh in Western competition at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships

OUTLOOK: After last year’s breakthrough season in which the Lady Bears were briefly ranked number one in the country and posted their best-ever English finish at nationals, the team enters the season at a full gallop. They fully expect to capture their first Big 12 title.

TOP RETURNEES: Lisa Goldman, so.; Allison Orosz, sr.; Madelyn Mooney, sr.; Lindsey Tomko, sr.; Amber Mooney, so.; Margaret Beaudoin, sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Pamela Evans, fr.; Taylor Pfaff-Brown, fr.; Dominique Pollett, fr.; Olivia Rogers, fr.

STRENGTHS: Although the equestrian team has to replace one of the more decorated riders in program history in Nicole Brown, there should be plenty of talented returning riders poised to step up. Lisa Goldman is expected to be one of the top performers in Equitation over Fences in the nation after competing in the individual bracket at nationals as a true freshman.