As Baylor gears up for its final non-conference matchup before diving into the grind of Big 12 play, the Bears will host Southern on Thursday night at Foster Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
CT, with the game available on ESPN+ and the Baylor Sports Media Network. On paper, this one might look like a tune-up, but make no mistake-there’s still plenty on the line as Baylor sharpens its edge for the battles ahead.
This will be the fourth meeting between Baylor and Southern in program history, and the second under head coach Nicki Collen. The last time these two teams met, the Bears rolled to an 85-53 win in 2023. While that result was decisive, every game offers a new set of challenges, especially with conference play looming.
Baylor enters this one ranked No. 15 in both the AP Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, riding a 10-2 record that ties for the second-best start in the Collen era. Only the 2023-24 squad got off to a hotter start, going 11-0 in non-conference play and pushing that streak to 14-0 before finally taking a loss in Big 12 competition. That kind of early-season momentum can be a springboard, and this year's team is looking to replicate that trajectory.
The Bears have been doing it with a combination of veteran leadership and standout individual performances. Three players-Kiersten Johnson, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, and Taliah Scott-are currently leading the Big 12 in multiple statistical categories.
Johnson is dominating the paint with her shot-blocking, while Littlepage-Buggs continues to be a double-double machine and a force on the glass. Scott, meanwhile, has been lights-out from the free-throw line, both in percentage and volume.
Collectively, Baylor leads the conference in blocks per game, a testament to their defensive presence around the rim.
From a metrics standpoint, Baylor sits at No. 28 in the NET rankings through games played on December 16. That’s a solid position, but there’s still room to climb-especially with conference play offering more chances to notch quality wins.
So far, the Bears are 0-2 against Quadrant 1 opponents, with those losses coming against Texas and Iowa. Their best win to date remains the season opener against Duke in Paris, a victory that still holds weight in the eyes of evaluators.
One of Baylor’s biggest assets heading into conference play? Continuity.
The Bears have four players who are in their fourth season under Collen, the most among Big 12 teams. That kind of experience matters-not just in terms of on-court chemistry, but in understanding the demands of the system and the grind of a Big 12 season.
Across the Power Four conferences and the Big East, only UConn has more fourth-year returners (five), while Baylor's four match Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington for second-most.
So while Thursday’s game against Southern might not carry the same high-stakes feel as a Big 12 showdown, it’s an important checkpoint. It’s a chance for Baylor to tighten up the rotation, polish execution, and head into conference play with momentum.
With a mix of seasoned leadership, statistical firepower, and a top-15 national ranking, this team has the tools to make noise. Now it’s about putting it all together-starting with one more non-conference test.