1.2.2013 Daily Bears Report: The First of 2013

Before we go any further, Ahmad Dixon announced last night via twitter that he's coming back for his senior year. There was some consternation on the point in recent weeks, but I never really expected him to entertain the idea of leaving early. He's basically a player without position at this point (as the NFL would go) since he won't play LB there. I still think we need to move him back to safety, but reasonable minds differ.

So we have a basketball game this weekend against Texas, in case you didn't know. It's our first of the 2012-2013 Big 12 season. Crazy, right? I feel like it snuck up on us like a scheduling ninja, hiding behind the holidays just waiting to jump out and thrust a ... well now the simile breaks apart. Whatever. It's on Saturday. There won't be any bowl games happening that day, so there's no good excuse not to watch.

Speaking of the Big 12, now that just about everyone has finished their non-conference seasons (for now, anyway), here's how the conference stands up in terms of overall record:

I don't have a good explanation for why the teams are listed that way. All Kansas does is win games, regardless of the players on their own team. It's amazing.

Also, there's a game tonight between the now-#2-ranked Lady Bears and the TCU Lady Horned Frogs (I don't know if they are actually called the Lady Horned Frogs, but it sounded better than Frogettes.)

vs.

Baylor vs. TCU Jan. 2, 2013 | 7:00 p.m. CT Fort Worth, Texas | Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (7,201) TV: FSSW Plus

Listen | Gametracker | Notes | Tickets

I don't know exactly what "FSSW Plus" is, so I can't help you determine if you have this game available on television or will have to listen to the dulcet tones of Mr. John Morris. The name "FSSW Plus" makes it sound like this is something you'd want to have over FSSW, but how do you get it? Do you have to go on a quest? Kill a thousand kobolds? I NEED ANSWERS.

No. 2 Women's Hoops Opens Big 12 Play at TCU - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site - BaylorBears.com
The defending national champion and second-ranked Baylor Lady Bears (10-1) open Big 12 Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 7:00 p.m. (CT) when they travel to Fort Worth to take on Big 12 newcomer TCU.

Women's college basketball - Odyssey Sims, Baylor Lady Bears ready for Big 12 - ESPN
It's praise Kim Mulkey didn't hand out lightly. But the Baylor coach is finally ready to say it: Odyssey Sims is the country's best point guard.

Duh.

No. 2 Lady Bears' goal: Another unbeaten Big 12 run, opening at TCU tonight | Wacotrib.com
Expectation and motivation are relative notions in the warm afterglow of a national title. Especially one that came on the business end on the most rampantly successful season of any team in the history of college basketball.

Just one other link of interest for now. Maybe the writers are all still hungover from partying on NYE. So here's that link followed by random things I found on the SB Nation network that I thought might be of interest.

Baylor commit participating in Under Armour All-American game | College Sports Blog

There is no understanding Jadeveon Clowney's hit - SBNation.com
It's a day later, and Jadeveon Clowney's hit on Vincent Smith is still incomprehensibly awesome.

New Year's college football bowl recap: Streaks, turnovers and the best hit you'll ever see - SBNation.com
Stanford and Northwestern ended long bowl droughts, Jadeveon Clowney is ridiculous, the Big Ten lost a lot, Tyler Russell and Jordan Lynch struggled, and Aaron Murray did not. Let's recap a fun January 1.

Stanford band ruins 2013 Rose Bowl (for boring people) - SBNation.com
People are awful, have Twitter accounts, and use them to express opinions about harmless, fun things. Like say, the Stanford band!

The saddest athletes of 2012 - SBNation.com
This was a great year for sports, unless you happened to be an athlete who failed on the grandest stage or struggled through a depressing injury. These are the saddest athletes of 2012.