The Baylor Challenge Question!

[acoustimac]

I floated this to a few friends in the past few days. One immediately thought I was insane and laughed. A college basketball coach took it in a more thoughtful manner and we had a great conversation about the matchups and walked away truly wondering...

Could the national champion Baylor Bears women's team beat a low level Div I men's team?

What do you think?

My thoughts? I believe they could. Many of the men's athletes that scrimmage against a women's team could play at the D-I level albeit a "lowly" school. Would Griner have as big an impact? Probably not, but she would still be decent. Where I think the matchups would be interesting are in the guard court. Someone like Sims could probably go toe to toe with her counterpart pretty easily. I also took into account that the matchup would have officials that actually call fouls and other rule offenses...of course this rules out nearly all D-I officials!

[chuckd4735]

The pace of Mens and Womens games are so different that I don't think any womens team could really keep up with a mens team...however, if there was any womens team that could do it, it would be this years Baylor's team. From what little I have seen of them, they play some damn good defense that I think would fluster just about anybody. In the end, athleticism and pure size would win.

[3TrueFans]

No, just no. Wouldn't even be close.

[Incyte]

Men would win by 30 easy.

[VeloClone]

The pace of Mens and Womens games are so different that I don't think any womens team could really keep up with a Mens team...however, if there was any womens team that could do it, It would be this years Baylor's team. From what little I have seen of them, they play some damn good defense that I think would fluster just about anybody. In the end, athleticism and pure size would win.

They would have a chance against a half court team, but a team that likes to run would run all over them. When you compare Griner to most 6-8 men's players with a similar build she is glacial running the floor. Of course, that is just my opinion. We'll never know until it happens. Maybe Bobby Riggs can set this up.

[Cydwinder]

If the men's team had an athletic post, they would win easily. About 75% of the reason Griner is so dominant is pure size. It's almost impossible for most girls to defend her because she has long arms and they can barely jump to get it before Griner jumps at all.

[3TrueFans]

Women's basketball in general is like watching people run through 2 feet of molasses compared to watching men's basketball.

[chuckd4735]

If the men's team had an athletic post, they would win easily. About 75% of the reason Griner is so dominant is pure size. It's almost impossible for most girls to defend her because she has long arms and they can barely jump to get it before Griner jumps at all.

Which is exactly why no women's team could really ever hang with a men's team.

[ISUKing]

The question was a low level D1 team, which to me says some random team at the bottom of one of the non-power conferences. I bet Baylor could take on some of those teams. I have a feeling people saying no adamantly right away are thinking teams like Tech, who are at the bottom of our conference, but would still beat the Baylor women by 30.

How about the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders

[ISUKing]

Which is exactly why no women's team could really ever hang with a men's team.

But this years Baylor team has Griner....so I guess the question really boils down to could a ****** D1 team's post match up with Griner.

[cyclonepower]

Women's basketball in general is like watching people run through 2 feet of molasses compared to watching men's basketball.

this, good grief they would have trouble beating regular high school teams..

[Rabbuk]

I think most high school mens teams could beat baylor. Then again I think women's basketball is unwatchable.

[Cydkar]

Baylor couldn't beat any of the 4 teams at the 4A State Championship.

[PabloDiablo]

Plus, the fact that nearly every outside shot would be put back in the shooters face by bigger more athletic perimeter players.

No way. No even on a lucky night.

[chuckd4735]

The question was a low level D1 team, which to me says some random team at the bottom of one of the non-power conferences. I bet Baylor could take on some of those teams. I have a feeling people saying no adamantly right away are thinking teams like Tech, who are at the bottom of our conference, but would still beat the Baylor women by 30.

How about the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders

But just about everyone of those teams could match up with Baylor minus Griener. Most men are taller, stronger, and have larger wingspans and verticals. Thats not a knock on women, but just a fact of anatomy. I'm sure there are some lowly teams out there that Baylor might be able to beat, but I would like to think that 99% of D-1 Men's teams could take Baylor.