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Just over an hour ago, the Big 12 portion of Baylor Basketball's 2012-2013 was released, with the rest of the schedule-- the non-conference portion-- due out next Tuesday. That schedule of conference play includes 18 games against Big 12 opponents, 17 of which will be televised in some way as of this moment. 14 of those games will be on the ESPN family of networks, meaning they should be watchable at the very least online on ESPN3. Those hoping that Baylor could capitalize on increased national exposure will have their wish granted; 17 televised conference games is a program record. That's in addition to the game we know will be televised nationally against defending national champion Kentucky. Here's the conference schedule as it stands today:
| 2013 MEN'S BASKETBALL BIG 12 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE | |||
| Jan. 5 | Texas | ESPNU | 1 p.m. |
| Jan. 8 | at Texas Tech | ESPN2 | 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 12 | TCU | TBD | |
| Jan. 14 | at Kansas | ESPN Big Monday | 8 p.m. |
| Jan. 21 | Oklahoma State | ESPN Big Monday | 4:30 p.m. |
| Jan. 26 | at TCU | Big 12 Network | 3 p.m. |
| Jan. 30 | Oklahoma | ESPNU | 6 p.m. |
| Feb. 2 | at Iowa State | ESPN2 | 7 p.m. |
| Feb. 6 | at Oklahoma State | ESPN2 | 8 p.m. |
| Feb. 9 | Texas Tech | Big 12 Network | 3 p.m. |
| Feb. 13 | West Virginia | ESPN2 | 8 p.m. |
| Feb. 16 | at Kansas State | ESPNU | 6 p.m. |
| Feb. 20 | Iowa State | ESPNU | 8 p.m. |
| Feb. 23 | at Oklahoma | ESPNU | 4 p.m. |
| Feb. 27 | at West Virginia | Big 12 Network | 7 p.m. |
| March 2 | Kansas State | ESPN2 | 6 p.m. |
| March 4 | at Texas | ESPN Big Monday | 8 p.m. |
| March 9 | Kansas | ESPN | 5 p.m. |
| March 13-16 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship Kansas City | |||
Not to be outdone, the Lady Bears made the opposite move, releasing what has to be the most impressive, and difficult, non-conference schedule not only in program history, but possibly in the history of the women's basketball. If Kim Mulkey's squad wants to complete another undefeated season, it will do so after having faced all three Final Four teams from last season (Notre Dame, UConn, and Stanford) in addition to perennial powers Tennessee and Kentucky. (You can click on that link for the entire schedule).
Those are just five of the eight 20-win teams the Lady Bears will face in 2012-2013, with three joining Baylor in the rarefied air of 30 wins.
I'm going to say something a little crazy here, so bear with me. If the Lady Bears can make it through that schedule unscathed and run the table again in 2012-2013, I have to believe that, combined with the first 40-win season in the history of college basketball, will constitute one of the greatest accomplishments ever in collegiate sports.