:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30503269/20140321_lbm_ai1_094.0.jpg)
March Madness is in full swing. After the first and second rounds, there are few, if any, perfect brackets left thanks to the upset efforts from the likes of Mercer and North Dakota State. Unfortunately, the last two days were not national holidays, meaning that not everyone could sit in front of the television for 12 hours straight like they wanted to. For us students, class certainly interfered with our viewing efforts (I missed the second half of the Baylor game because of class). Then again, that's not saying there weren't people watching basketball on their laptops in class... Madness, y'all!
MBB Downs Nebraska
MBB Advances, Takes Down Nebraska, 74-60 - BaylorBears.com
Like I mentioned above, I wasn't able to watch the second half, so my commentary will be limited to the first half. You can read Mark's post-game thread here. And what an ugly half it was. Nebraska and Baylor combined to shoot a paltry 27.6% from the field with the lone three coming from Baylor's Gary Franklin. Defense on both sides was very solid, partially because the shooter's touch missed a turn on I-35 and didn't show up to the AT&T Center until the second half. The Bears took a 29-16 lead into half.
Then, the scoring erupted in the second half, with Baylor outscoring the Huskers, 45-44. Hopefully that means the refs let the boys play in the second half.
Baylor will play Creighton at 6:40 pm CT Sunday on truTV. #SicMarch
— Baylor Basketball (@BaylorMBB) March 22, 2014
Ted has a Stats Preview up already. We'll have more up about this game as the day goes on. Thankfully, a Sunday game means that both Conner and I will be able to go (along with lots of other students, from what I'm hearing). See y'all in San An and Sic 'em!
WBB Faces The Lady Toppers
No. 5 WBB Faces Western Kentucky in First Round - BaylorBears.com
Your No. 2 seed Lady Bears should have no trouble with No. 15 Western Kentucky, but this is March and anything can happen.Our friend OKC Chuck will be putting up a preview post later today, so I'll save the good stuff for then.
Odyssey Sims
Odyssey Sims One of Five Finalists for Lieberman Award - BaylorBears.com
Lieberman candidates "exhibit the floor leadership, play-making ability, and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman." Sims is a finalist alongside Jerica Coley, Florida International University, Brittany Boyd, Cal, Moriah Jefferson, UConn, and Heather Butler, University of Tennessee at Martin.
The winner will be announced during the Final Four.
Odyssey Sims One of Four Naismith Trophy Finalists - BaylorBears.com
The Naismith Trophy is presented to the best player in college basketball. Sims is already among elite company by being named as a finalist. Can she carry Griner's torch and win the third-straight Naismith for Baylor?
My picks from my National Awards Preview turned out pretty well. Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford and Breanna Stewart of UConn both made the shortlist. Notre Dame's Kayla McBride ousted my pick of UConn's Stefanie Dolson for the fourth spot.
From the BB.com write-up: "For the 10th consecutive year, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the player of their choice and help determine the 2014 Naismith Trophy winner. Beginning March 24 and running through April 5 fans can cast their vote through the online and mobile optimized site www.NaismithVote.com. The fan vote represents 25 percent of the selection process - the largest fan impact of any collegiate basketball award."
I'll be sure to remind y'all to go and vote. Meanwhile, this is great stuff for Sims. Sic 'em Odyssey!
Junior Day / Football Tickets
Today is the second of Baylor's Junior Days. Although news is sparse at the moment, hopefully we'll get more throughout the day. Here's what I've got right now:
In Waco.
— Jermaine Tully!1⃣0⃣ (@JayTee_Life) March 22, 2014
That's Ridge Point High School's Jordan Tolbert, a U of H commit. He was at the last Junior Day, as well.
Troup fellas checkin out #SicEm junior day. RT @Marcuskincade: We Just Coasting Along Jammin @BlakeLynch7 . On The way To Baylor 👌🏈
— Gabe Brooks (@gabrieldbrooks) March 22, 2014
Football tickets!
RT @BearFoundation: 2013 @BUFootball season ticket holders who ARE BBF members should receive brochure within days!: http://t.co/jWgCnwQg0T
— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) March 21, 2014
Other Baylor News
My goodness, so many sports are happening right now!
Baseball Wins Series Opener 4-1 vs. No. 20 Oklahoma State - BaylorBears.com
Behind Brad Kuntz's seven innings and eight strikeouts, Baseball beat the Okie aggys, 4-1. Baylor is now 11-2 at the Ballpark this year, the best home start since going 11-2 in 2009. The Bears will look to take the series today at 2:00.
No. 12 SB Opens Big 12 Play at Home vs. Texas - BaylorBears.com
Softball begins Big 12 play against the Longhorns. Baylor is on a five-game home losing streak to the Horns, but this year's team is looking like they're going places. Plus, free breakfast tacos!
Game day! 11:00am. Free Rudy's breakfast burritos, @hollytmusic singing NA!, and @CoachArtBriles throwing out the first pitch! #Big12!!
— Glenn Moore (@BUMoore) March 22, 2014
BU (23-4) v Texas (18-15) Thumann RF Hawkins 2B Smith 3B Hosack C Hays DP Cargill CF Strickland SS Holl 1B Young LF Canion P #SicUT
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) March 22, 2014
The game will be on FSSW. (Man, this looks like fun, wish I could go...)
Men's Tennis Blanks No. 35 Tulsa, 4-0 - BaylorBears.com
The Bears look to remain undefeated at home in two matches today: SMU at 1:00 and Laredo College at 6:00.
Baylor Futbol are playing an exhibition match against Trinity tonight at 6:00 in Waco. I would assume the stands will be open, but I bet most people will be at the Lady Bears Basketball game.
Women's Golf in 7th Place at Tiger Classic - BaylorBears.com
Lady Bears shot 18-over-par 306 in the first round Friday. Play is scheduled to continue today, but weather will likely delay the tournament until tomorrow.
Track & Field Wins Eight Events At TCU Invitational - BaylorBears.com
Freshman Trayvon Bromell wins 200 meters in 20.23. That mark is 6th-fastest in Baylor history, behind only Michael Johnson.
— BaylorTrack (@BaylorTrack) March 21, 2014
Follow the link for other results.
Die Tollheit von März
The last two days were fun. Let's do that again. There's a plethora of articles up on the Mothership, so I'll just link the ones that look interesting.
NCAA Tournament 2014: Best and worst of all the madness from day 2
Stephen F. Austin completes the wildest comeback of the NCAA Tournament
Mercer's very simple play to put Duke away, Mercer wins, dude does the NaeNae, and Mercer's robot photo-bomb is the greatest photo-bomb of them all - Yeah, you should click these links; you won't be disappointed.
Kansas State got a technical for dunking in warmups … what? NCAA: killer of fun since 1910.
Premier League Madness
Chelsea destroyed Arsenal, 6-0. Yes, you read that correctly.
#ArsenaLOL pic.twitter.com/tdARyYEW1i
— nick pants (@nick_pants) March 22, 2014
Liverpool are currently up 4-2 on Cardiff. With a win, they'll move into second place behind Chelsea.
Alexander Tettey is a wizard. 35 yard volley. Ridiculous.
That'll about do it for now. There's basically everything happening today, so try and keep up while you're on your way to Waco to watch the Lady Bears beat W. Kentucky!