Baylor vs UConn-This Time The Script Is Flipped

The last time they played each other both were ranked as the number one and number two women's college b-ball teams in the nation.  

Both had their superstar players in UConn's Maya Moore and Baylor's Brittney Griner and as the Baylor Lady Bears painfully remember the then Number 2 ballers had a chance to be the team that ended UConn mammoth win streak in Storrs, CT. 

They had an eight point 56-48 lead with seven minutes to go before a late Huskie rally fueled in large part by Griner missing some crucial free throws down the stretch as part of a horrific 8 for 13 night at the line led to a narrow 65-64 loss and Baylor becoming victim number 80 of The Streak.  

It was eventually ended by Stanford and the Ogumwike sisters ten games later on December 30, 2010..

Brittney and her Lady Bears teammates are getting their wish for another shot at redemption versus a UConn team that doesn't rebuild, they reload. 

Maya Moore has taken her talents to Minneapolis and led the Lynx to a WNBA title but don't cry for the Huskies.   They may have found her replacement in freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who is leading the Huskies in scoring at 15.9 ppg and have Stefanie Dolson patrolling the lane  to anchor their defense.   

Griner this season is averaging 22.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.9 blocks in just 30 minutes a game this season for the Lady Bears (10-0) and shooting 73 percent from the foul line in the runup to this titanic b-ball shootout.

So far no dunks as of yet.

Before Maya Moore departed for the WNBA she played on three NCAA championship squads while my Houston homegirl hopes to lead Baylor to their first since 2005   

Now the script is flipped and it's 10-0 Baylor with the number one ranking and the winning streak trying to defend it and a sold out Ferrell Center against 9-0 number two UConn in a prime time Sunday night matchup on ESPN.

Both teams have knocked off top ranked opponents.   Baylor has already taken down then number two Skylar Diggins led Notre Dame in Waco and Tennessee in Knoxville while UConn demolished defending national champ Texas A&M by 30 points in Madison Square Garden.. 

Should be a fun game to watch tomorrow

UH Joins Big East!

The long and agonizing wait for AQ conference status is over at Cullen Blvd. Starting on July 1, 2013 the University of Houston will say goodbye to their charter membership in C-USA that they've had since the breakup of the SWC in 1996 and will join the Big East conference in all sports 

Coming to the Big East with them will be fellow C-USA schools SMU and Central Florida and football only members Boise State and San Diego State.  

"Over the last 32 years, the Big East Conference has constantly evolved along with the landscape of college athletics," said Big East Commissioner John Marinatto. "The inclusion of these five great Universities, which bring a unique blend of premier academics, top markets, strong athletics brands and outstanding competitive quality, marks the beginning of a new chapter in that evolution. We are proud to welcome these schools to the Big East family.

"Much like the conference as a whole, the Big East name -- though derived 32 years ago based on the geography of our founding members -- has evolved into a highly respected brand that transcends borders, boundaries or regions. It's national. Our membership makeup is now reflective of that."

UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator had this to say about the Cougars joining the Big East.

“I am honored and very pleased to accept the invitation to be a member of the Big East family,” Khator said. “Our vision at the University of Houston is to be a nationally competitive university in every field: research, student success and athletics. This affiliation gives us an opportunity to play in a nationally competitive environment and to show our talents on a national stage.

“This is a game-changer for us, and I know everybody here is very excited.”

We sure are President Khator.  The addition of UH, SMU,.Central Florida, Boise State and San Diego State brings the number of Big East football playing schools to 10 members as it seeks to add the two additional schools the conference needs in order to host a Big East championship game.

The rumblings about the Big East losing their AQ status when the current BCS contract expires at the end of that season are the least of our worries right now since we have other institutions trying to hire Kevin Sumlin away from us. 

Joining the Big East may help us retain his services.

The AQ conference status will make it easier to continue the progress toward upgrading Hofheinz Pavilion and constructing the new football stadium as part of UH president and chancellor Renu Khator's push for UH to have Tier One status in athletics to go hand in hand with the Tier One academic status.

We UH alums along with the school administration and current students are ecstatic about the news that we're finally members of an AQ conference again starting in 2013 and look forward to seeing the Coogs competing in Big East play in all sports.