NCAA Women's Tournament 2012: Baylor Lady Bears Are in the Driver's Seat

In the midst of a perfect season, there's no question that the Baylor Lady Bears (36-0) are in the driver's seat for this year's NCAA crown.

Led by easily the best player in the nation in Brittney Griner, the Lady Bears have won their first two tournament games by an average of 30 points, rummaging into the Sweet 16 on a tear.

The Big 12 Player of the Year leads the nation in blocks (5.1) and is second with a stellar 61.4 field goal percentage. She's also in the top five in scoring, with 23.1 points per game. Griner captivated the nation Tuesday night, when she became the second woman in history to dunk in a NCAA tournament game. She takes the term "beast mode" to a whole new level.

However, games cannot be won by one player alone. In their 76-57 win over Florida, all five Baylor starters finished in double figures. Odyssey Sims averages 14.6 points per game. 

Kimetria Hayden helps the Lady Bears stretch their game to the perimeter with 38.7 percent from three-point range. Despite her front court counterpart being a towering 6-foot-8, Destiny Williams leads Baylor in rebounding with 9.3 boards per game.

Baylor's field goal percentage (49.3) is first in the nation by a long shot. They don't take bad shots, which isn't surprising considering the presence Griner brings inside. 

It won't be an easy road to Denver for the Lady Bears. They're set for an Elite Eight matchup against No. 2 seed Tennessee, whose won so many titles that Pat Summitt nearly needs three hands to count all of them. Though they aren't as dominant as in years past, Summitt's Lady Vols aren't an easy out.

The Lady Vols played Baylor tough in their early-season 76-67 loss in Knoxville, Tennessee. Baylor also have a tough round-of-16 matchup with No. 4 seed Georgia Tech, who have won nine of their last 10 games.

The field is due for some upsets in the next two rounds, as the last time every No. 1 seed made the Final Four was in 1989.

Yet, Baylor is the head of the pack among all No. 1 seeds. They've already defeated Notre Dame and Connecticut, the two No. 1 seeds that Baylor is most likely to face off against in the national championship.

Until proven otherwise, Griner's Lady Bears are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in this year's tournament.