Amanda Knapp
The Baylor Bears men's basketball team has won one national championship, defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2021. The women's basketball team, formerly known as the Lady Bears, has won three national championships, in 2005, 2012, and 2019. The men's team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 16 times, reaching the Final Four in 1948, 1950, and 2021. The women's team has also experienced sustained success, reaching the Final Four four times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first national championship win | 2021 |
| Opponent | Gonzaga Bulldogs |
| Final score | 86-70 |
| Venue | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis |
| Coach | Scott Drew |
| Key players | Jared Butler, Adam Flagler, Jackson Moffatt, Matthew Mayer |
| Number of NCAA tournament appearances | 16 |
| Number of NIT appearances | 6 |
| Number of NIT wins | 1 (2013) |
| Number of national championships won by women's team | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
Baylor men's basketball won their first national championship in 2021
The Baylor Bears men's basketball team won their first-ever national championship in 2021. The team, led by coach Scott Drew, defeated the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This win was especially sweet for the Bears as they had been eliminated by Gonzaga in the second round of the 2019 tournament.
The 2021 championship game was a dominant performance by Baylor, with the team jumping out to an early 9-0 lead and never looking back. The Bears were led by the outstanding play of guards Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, and MaCio Teague. Butler, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player, scored 22 points with seven assists and three rebounds. Mitchell and Teague also had impressive performances, adding 15 points and five assists, and 19 points, respectively.
The win capped off a remarkable season for the Bears, who started the year on an 18-game winning streak and finished with a record of 28-2. They also won the Big 12 regular-season title and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. This historic championship season was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches, solidifying Baylor's place in the history of college basketball.
The Baylor Bears men's basketball team has a long and proud history, having reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1946 and the Final Four in 1948 and 1950. However, the 2021 season marked a new pinnacle of success, as they claimed their first national championship title and established themselves as one of the top men's basketball programs in the nation.
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The women's basketball team has won three national titles
The Baylor Bears women's basketball team, formerly known as the Lady Bears, has won three national titles. They won their first NCAA Division I Basketball Championship in 2005, defeating Michigan State University's Spartans 84-62. The Lady Bears were coached by Kim Mulkey, who became the first women's coach and the third coach in history to win an NCAA Division I basketball championship as both a player and a coach.
In 2012, the Lady Bears achieved a perfect 40-0 season, becoming the first college basketball team, men's or women's, to finish with a 40-0 record. They won their second national championship that year. Their third national championship came in 2019. During the 2011-2012 season, Baylor set an NCAA record for most combined wins in the four major collegiate sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, and American football.
The men's basketball team won its first national championship in 2021, defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. The Bears were dominant throughout the game, starting with a 9-0 lead and never relinquishing their advantage. They relied on their guards' strong defence, numerous assists, and accurate three-point shooting to secure the victory.
Baylor's men's and women's basketball teams have experienced significant success, with the women's team achieving greater consistency and claiming three national championships, while the men's team celebrated its first championship in 2021.
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The men's team has reached the Final Four four times
The Baylor Bears men's basketball team has had a rich history, with several notable achievements over the years. One of their most impressive feats is reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament on multiple occasions. In total, the men's team has reached the Final Four four times, a testament to their consistent excellence.
The first time the Baylor Bears men's basketball team reached the Final Four was back in 1948. Under the leadership of coach Bill Henderson, the team advanced to the national stage but fell short in the championship game against the Kentucky Wildcats, losing by a score of 58-42. This game marked the first time that Adolph Rupp's Kentucky Wildcats claimed the national title.
A similar scenario played out in 1950 when the Baylor Bears men's team, once again coached by Bill Henderson, reached the Final Four for the second time in the program's history. However, they were defeated by the Bradley Braves in a close game that ended with a score of 68-66. Despite falling just short of the national championship, these back-to-back Final Four appearances established the Baylor Bears as a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
Fast forward to 2021, and the Baylor Bears men's basketball team made their third appearance in the Final Four. This time, they were able to overcome their in-state rivals, the Houston Cougars, to advance to the NCAA championship game. In that game, they faced off against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who entered the match with an undefeated record. However, the Baylor Bears emerged victorious, defeating Gonzaga by a score of 86-70. This triumph marked the first time that the Baylor Bears men's basketball team won the national championship, a historic achievement for the program.
The 2022 NCAA Tournament saw the Baylor Bears aiming to defend their national championship title. They had added depth to their roster and were considered a strong contender. However, they fell short of reaching the Final Four in this campaign, unable to replicate the success of the previous year. Nonetheless, their consistent appearances in the later stages of the NCAA Tournament solidify their reputation as one of the top men's college basketball programs in the nation.
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The women's team has reached the Final Four four times
The Baylor Bears women's basketball team, formerly known as the Lady Bears, has reached the Final Four four times and won three NCAA Division I Basketball Championships. In 2005, under the leadership of coach Kim Mulkey, the Lady Bears defeated the Michigan State University Spartans by a score of 84-62 to claim their first national title. This victory was particularly notable as Mulkey became the first women's coach and only the third coach overall to win an NCAA Division I basketball championship as both a player and a coach.
The Lady Bears returned to the Final Four in 2010 but fell short in the national semifinals against the eventual champions, UConn. They continued their success in the 2011-2012 season, winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and advancing to the Elite Eight before being knocked out by rival and eventual national champion Texas A&M. This season also marked an NCAA record for Baylor, with the football and men's and women's basketball programs combining for 80 wins and a stretch of 40 consecutive wins between them.
In 2012, the Lady Bears achieved perfection, becoming the first team in college basketball history, regardless of gender, to finish with an undefeated 40-0 record and capturing their second national championship. During this historic season, the Lady Bears showcased their dominance and cemented their place in the annals of college basketball.
The fourth time the Baylor women's team reached the Final Four was in 2021, adding to the program's already impressive history. While they did not win the national championship that year, their sustained success and appearances in the Final Four demonstrate the consistent excellence of the Baylor women's basketball program.
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The men's team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 16 times
The Baylor Bears men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with 16 appearances to their name. Their first appearance came in 1946, and they have since established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, reaching the Final Four on multiple occasions.
In their early history, the team experienced success under the guidance of coach Bill Henderson. In 1948, Henderson's team advanced to the Final Four, where they faced the Kentucky Wildcats for the NCAA championship but ultimately fell short. Two years later, in 1950, the Bears, once again led by Henderson, returned to the Final Four, only to be defeated by the Bradley Braves in a close contest.
It would be several decades before the Baylor Bears men's team would reach such heights again. In 1988, under the leadership of coach Gene Iba, the team made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 38 years. However, it was in the 2020s that the Baylor Bears truly cemented their legacy.
In 2021, the Bears, coached by Scott Drew, had a historic run, defeating Hartford, Wisconsin, Villanova, and Arkansas to reach the Final Four. They then beat the Houston Cougars to advance to the NCAA championship game, where they faced the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Gonzaga Bulldogs entered the game with an undefeated season and were heavily favoured. However, the Baylor Bears pulled off a stunning victory, winning their first men's NCAA basketball championship with a dominant 86-70 performance. This win marked a significant milestone for the program and ended a 70-year drought for Texas men's college basketball teams.
The 2021 championship win was a testament to the determination and talent of the Baylor Bears men's basketball team. It also served as a turning point, as they had previously fallen short in their quest for the title. The team's 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament showcase their consistent excellence, and their 2021 victory solidified their place in the annals of college basketball history.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Baylor Bears have won a national championship in basketball. The men's basketball team won their first national championship in 2021, defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. The women's basketball team, formerly known as the Lady Bears, won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in 2005, as well as in 2012 and 2019.
Scott Drew was the head coach of the 2021 national championship team.
The men's and women's basketball teams' new permanent home stadium is the Foster Pavilion, which was constructed in 2022 and held its first game in 2024.
Baylor has won 5 NCAA team national championships.
