Daily Bears Reports: 7/22- Expansion Talk, Billings, Miller and Tennis!

Big 12 expansion discussions continue. Houston and U.T. may be reaching some weird agreement. Texas’ President came out in support of Houston joining the league. Kyle Jacobson of Via the Matadors wonders if Texas politics could give Houston a spot.

My general feeling is that Houston would be the worst team to add from Baylor’s perspective. They would be a strong team that could recruit Texas far better than they do now, and they have done well recently in recruiting without the advantage of the Big 12. Add Kelvin Sampson back to the Big 12 in hoops, and the league gets way tougher for Baylor.

Soon to be Bear Aaliyah Miller finished second in the 800 at the world under 20 championships. The Waco Tribune-Herald has more:

Aaliyah Miller has yet to run her first college race, but she already has a world silver medal.The Baylor signee finished second in the women’s 800-meter final at the IAAF World U20 Championships Thursday. Miller, an incoming freshman out of McKinney Boyd, clocked in at 2:05.06, second to fellow American Sammy Watson, who went 2:04.52. Watson will be a high school senior in the fall in Henrietta, N.Y.

Baylor men’s tennis is doing well in the classroom. From KXXV:

For the ninth consecutive season, the Baylor men's tennis team earned ITA All-Academic team recognition, while six players, Jimmy Bendeck, Julian Lenz, Tommy Podvinski, Felipe Rios Tyler Stayer and Max Tchoutakian were honored as ITA Scholar Athletes, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Thursday.

Andrew Billings is making moves for the Bengals. Geoff Hobson of bengals.com writes:

“His lower body strength is the best I’ve ever seen here,” Marshall says. “His upper body is in the same category as Geno Atkins, Bobbie Williams, Tank Johnson.”

A few days ago, Marshall’s heart did a bench press when he saw Billings squat 605 pounds so easily that the bar was moving around like Giovani Bernard in the flat.

“That told me he could put on 100 more pounds, but we don’t want anybody getting hurt,” Marshall says. “So I put a governor on him. I didn’t want him going over 600.”