Baylor hoops teams both open 2015-16 Friday night ranked among top 25

Not to be lost amidst the excitement for ESPN’s College GameDay and #EveryoneInBlack on Saturday is that both the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams open their 2015-16 seasons at home Friday night.

Head coach Kim Mulkey’s Lady Bears, the five-time defending Big 12 champs, are again the favorites to win the league this year and start the winter ranked No. 5 in the nation. Preseason All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year Nina Davis and preseason All-Big 12 point guard Niya Johnson will lead the Baylor women, joined by the league’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year Alexis Jones, a transfer from Duke.

Coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in program history, head coach Scott Drew’s Bears begin the season among the preseason top 25 for the fifth time in six years (No. 21 Coaches, No. 22 AP). The Baylor men will be led by preseason All-Big 12 selections Rico Gathers and Taurean Prince, both seniors who have been named among the nation’s top 50 players by ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS Sports.

The Lady Bears kick things off Friday night, hosting UT-Arlington at 6 p.m., followed by the Bears vs. Stephen F. Austin at 8:30. Both games will be televised regionally on FSSW+. Season and individual game tickets are now on sale for both the Baylor men and women.

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!