Sic 'em Bears - Athletics

Athletics

Baylor student athletes participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Big 12 Conference. Baylor men’s sports teams are named the Bears, and most women’s teams are named the Lady Bears. Although athletics have long been important to the university, it became especially noted for its prowess in sports in the 2011-2012 season when Baylor broke the NCAA record for most combined wins in the four major collegiate sports: baseball, football, and men's and women's basketball.

The university has won NCAA titles in 2004, 2005 and 2012. The men's tennis team defeated UCLA in the 2004 championship match to garner the Baylor’s first title. One year later, the Baylor Lady Bears basketball team beat Michigan State in the championship game and was subsequently named as the only women’s team to be nominated for a 2005 “Best Team” ESPY. In 2012, the Baylor Lady Bears basketball team beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA National Championship; the first college basketball team to ever finish with a perfect 40-0 record.

The Baylor men's basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA 'March Madness' Championship tournament in 2010 and 2012. Under the direction of head coach Scott Drew, Baylor achieved a record of 121-55 (.688) between the 2008-2012 seasons and reached post-season play in four of those years. Four former Baylor basketball players were drafted in the first or second round of the NBA draft in the 2011 and 2012 seasons:

• Epke Udoh (first round)
• Perry Jones III (first round)
• Quincy Acy (second round)
• Quincy Miller (second round)