The Big 12 Womens Basketball season kicks off in earnest this week. The Big 12 led the nation in attendance last year, and boasts the Champions of the NCAA Tournament AND the WNIT Champion. Lets take a quick look at each team and my prediction of their finish in the league.
1. Baylor Bears: The Bears return all 5 starters from last years 40-0 National Championship Team. As if the Bears needed more talent, a stellar freshman class is in Waco ready to go. The Bears are built around C Brittney Griner, the National Player of The Year. The Bears start 4 seniors, so the kids will get to learn while not having the pressure of winning on them, a testament to the depth Kim Mulkey has built at Baylor. The key to stopping the Bears is to contain Griner, but, no pun intended, thats a tall task.
2. Oklahoma Sooners: The Sooners always find a way to win while overcoming injury or misfortune, and already theyve lost a part time starter in Kaylon Williams to an achilles injury. The Sooners return 5 players who all have starting experience, including Aaryn Ellenberg. The team is led by senior Whitney Hand, who averaged just over 13 points a game. Oklahoma may very well get caught by the two teams below here, but we wont know what the Sooners really are till later in the year.
3. Kansas Jayhawks: Last year the Jayhawks finally broke into the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2000 as an at large selection. Once there, KU took out Nebraska and Delaware before falling in the Sweet 16 to national power Tennessee.  The Jayhawks leader is senior point guard Angel Goodrich, whose averaged 14 points and 7 boards a game.  Post Carolyn Davis also returns from a knee injury. Prior to being hurt in February, she led the Jayhawks in scoring at just under 17 points a game. The Jayhawks have the talent and experience to repeat a trip to the NCAA tourney.
4. Texas Longhorns: Karen Aston comes home, and along with a fabulous staff and great incoming class, the Longhorns being the rise back to prominence. The big get for the Longhorns was 6-7 Post Imani McGee-Stafford, daughter of former Southern California and WNBA player Pam McGee. She is one of seven new players Texas welcomes to the family. Texas did lose 3 starters from last years team, but returns the talented Chassidy Fussell, who averaged over 16 points a game. Other newcomers to watch are Ashley Roberts and Celina Rodrigo.
5. Oklahoma State Cowgirls: Tragedy struck the OSU family last year, as head coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna died in a plane crash November 17th while out recruiting. Jim Littell stepped up to lead the team, and Oklahoma State to the WNIT championship. The Cowgirls return everyone, including team leaders guard Tiffany Bias and forward Liz Donohoe, the reigning Big 12 freshman of the year. Both averaged 13 points a game. Everyone around them has improved, and it remains to be seen if OSU can keep the fire going from last seasons tragedy.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers: In their final Big East Season, the Mountaineers went 11-5 and are looking to bring their success with them to the Big 12. Unfortunately for them, center Asya Bussie has been lost for the season to a knee injury. Four other starters are back for this season, including Ayana Dunning a center who grabs over 8 rebounds a game. The Mountaineers did defeat Texas last year in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament.
7. Iowa State Cyclones: ISU returns a decent front court of Chelsea Poppens and Nikki Moody. Past them, there is a ton of youth, and little to no experience on the court. For ISU to make its 14th NCAA Tournament in the last 17 years, The Poppens and Moody have to help the rest of a very young roster grow up in a hurry.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders: The Red Raiders made the WNIT last year, and bring back four starters and nine players overall from that squad. Once a national power, Tech has made the NCAA Tournament just once in the last six years, something the fan base finds unacceptable. For Kristy Curry to keep her job, shell need everything and then some from senior guard Casey Morris.
9. Kansas State Wildcats: A surprise (to me) 20 win team last year, the Wildcats dropped 3 starters from last years team. Another telling stat from the roster, the Wildcats have no one over 6-1, a problem they Cats probably cant overcome in an ultra competitive conference. To stay out of the bottom of the conference, Kansas State will need everything and then some from senior Guard Brittany Chambers.
10. TCU Horned Frogs: TCU won 9 games last year in the MWC, and failed to make the NCAA or WNIT post season tournament. The Horned Frogs lack badly in talent and depth compared to the rest of the schools in the conference. TCU has a long road to go before they become competitive in recruiting or playing in the Big 12.
Our Texas Longhorns open today against St Johns. HookEm!, and watch them rise back to the top in 2012
Follow Johnny on Twitter @Texas0205
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