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Mulkey's squad held to high expectations

Nov. 3, 2009

File Photo Head Coach Kim Mulkey shouts from the sideline at the Lady Bears vs. Iowa State basketball game on January 14, 2009 at the Ferrell Center.

By Justin Baer
Sports Editor

Head Coach Kim Mulkey spent the last two weeks on the admittedly tough task of training a young team to perform to her expectations.

Meanwhile voters have formed their own Lady Bears projections, which foresee the team using 2009-10 for much more than just growth and development.

The Associated Press ranked the women seventh in its preseason poll, the second-highest ranking in Lady Bears history behind a No. 6 ranking entering the 2004-2005 season. In the Big 12 coaches poll, the team stands at No. 1.

Though Baylor has produced strong teams in recent seasons, this year's projections are heavily based on expectations of young, inexperienced players. They share very little experience, Mulkey said, and because of that fact she challenges the talent assessments at this point in the season.

"As a coach I think it's very unfair. We haven't earned that yet," Mulkey said. "I think people voted the way they did because of what's on paper."

Proven players for Baylor include junior guard Kelli Griffin, the Bears' only returning starter, Morghan Medlock, the team's lone senior, and junior guard Melissa Jones, whose 2008-09 scoring average is the highest among current team members.

All four players averaging more than Jones' 8.0 points per game no longer play for the Lady Bears.

On paper, statistics and team photos alike, the Lady Bears' standout recruit is clearly the 6-foot-8-inch Brittney Griner, whose height alone allowed her to dominate the competition at Nimitz (Houston) High School. In addition to numerous state and national accolades, she has garnered dozens of autograph requests from local fans at other Baylor sporting events.

The veteran Mulkey, though, has played and coached enough basketball to realize the error in expecting so much of any freshman at the collegiate level.

She has worked in the offseason to train Griner in becoming a better player, not necessarily in living up to others' aspirations.

"We will protect (Griner) as much as we possibly can," Mulkey said. "She will demand a lot of attention on the defensive end of the floor."

Everyone on the team has taken notice of the attention from the media and community. Jones, however, said the Lady Bears have set their own standards regardless of what people outside the team.

"Our expectations for this season are definitely really high," Jones said. "We have a lot that we need to prove. We're just really excited about what we have talent wise."

After preseason work with the team, Medlock can easily spot what separates the 2008 from the 2009 Lady Bears.

"Last year it was a veteran team," Jones said. "We were able to pick up on things quickly and move smoothly and transition throughout the practice, with not as much teaching."

Mulkey has no doubt that the young players she recruited will one day reach that polished product capable of conference and national championships.

"We're not anywhere close to where we need to be," Mulkey said. It will happen for us, I just don't know when."

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