Top Moments in Baylor Basketball History

Baylor basketball has come a long way in the last decade.

After the 2003 murder of Patrick Dennehy by teammate Carlton Dotson, the Bears were down...but not out.

With a rich history dating back to the 1948 runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament, the Bears regrouped and have become a team to contend with in both men's and women's play.

While the women still hold a 2-0 edge in national titles, both teams are forces to be reckoned with when stepping on the floor.

Here's a look at the top 10 moments in the history of Baylor basketball.

10. 5OT Win vs. Texas A&M

It what was perhaps the best played game in Baylor basketball history, the Bears held on for a 116-110, five-overtime victory over Texas A&M in 2008.

Curtis Jerrells had 36 points (20-24 FT) and eight assists to lead the Bears to the victory in the longest game in Big 12 history. Of his 36 points, 11 came in the fifth overtime.

The victory did come at a cost, however. The Bears lost six of their next seven. But, it still doesn't take away what they accomplished in this game.

In fact, later in the year, Baylor returned...

9. Back from Sanctions

After everything Baylor had gone through in the previous six seasons, a return to the NCAA tournament is just what the doctor ordered in 2008.

After a disappointing two seasons prior to the Dennehy murder, Baylor went spinning out of control with self-imposed and NCAA sanctions placed on the program, which took many years to overcome.

In 2008, nothing could stop the Bears from returning to the NCAA tournament. Not even a loss in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

In the end, Baylor lost in the first round to Purdue, but it was back after years of being on the bottom.

8. Three-Straight Southwest Conference Titles

Baylor dominated things in the old Southwest Conference from 1948-50.

With a combined record of 26-10 in three seasons of conference play, the Bears solidified themselves in the conference.

The Bears won three-straight conference titles, but failed to make the 1949 NCAA tournament.

However, two out of three is not bad, especially considering the teams that did make it in in 1949.

7. 2012 Sweet 16 Win over Xavier

It looked good early for Baylor in its Sweet 16 matchup against Xavier in the 2012 NCAA tournament.

Jumping out to a lead by as many as 17 points, the Bears fought off a tough Xavier team to hold on for a 75-70 win to advance to the Elite Eight.

Xavier got it as close as 73-70 late, but the Bears got two free throws from Brady Heslip to put the game away.

For Baylor, the win moved them to the Elite Eight for the second time in three years, officially putting the Bears back on the map for good.

6. Lady Bears Upset Duke in Tournament

To say it was an upset for Baylor to beat Duke in the 2010 regional finals would be an understatement.

The Lady Bears saw Brittney Griner fall one block short of a triple-double as they upset the Lady Blue Devils 51-48. The win sent Baylor back to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.

Duke led for almost the entire second half.

When Griner hit a jumper with 45 seconds to go, Baylor took the lead for good.

5. A.J. Walton Gives Bears Upset Win in OT

Baylor's 80-77 victory in overtime over Texas gave the Bears the win in 2010.

Although Baylor had defeated Texas in the past, the Bears entered the game losing three of their last five and were struggling.

Then, up stepped freshman guard A.J. Walton, who came into the game shooting 47 percent from the free-throw line.

Knocking down three of four free throws in the final 17 seconds of overtime, Walton sent the Bears to the win over the No. 6 team in the country.

For Baylor, it would be their first of three victories over the Longhorns that year, en route to the Elite Eight.

4. 1950 Final Four

Baylor went 10-14 in the 1949-50 season, but still managed to make it to the Final Four.

The Bears defeated BYU in the quarterfinals, 56-55.

Then, in the semifinals against Bradley, the Bears almost pulled another upset before losing 68-66.

3. 1948 NCAA Runners-Up

The greatest men's team in school history (at least in terms of the NCAA tournament) was the 1948 squad.

That year, Baylor was the runner-up in the tournament, losing to a Kentucky team led by consensus All-American Ralph Beard.

To get to the final, the Bears beat Washington in the quarterfinals (64-62) and Kansas State (60-52) in the semifinals.

Baylor went 24-8 in Bill Henderson's third year, which was its last 20-win season until 1988.

2. First National Title

Nothing against the men's teams, but the Baylor women have won two national titles, which is why they're at the top.

The Lady Bears won their first title in the 2004-05 season, going 33-3 en route to the title.

That year, Baylor scored an average of 74.3 points per game.

In the NCAA tournament, the Lady Bears joined the 1987 Tennessee and 1988 Louisiana Tech teams as the only teams to beat three No. 1 seeds in the tournament.

Baylor beat North Carolina, LSU and Michigan State in the final three rounds to secure its first title.

1. Undefeated National Champions

The 2011-12 season was the greatest season in Baylor basketball history—men or women.

Brittney Griner cemented herself as the best player in the country with dominating performance every night on the floor.

Griner led Baylor to an undefeated season (40-0), as the Lady Bears averaged 78.4 points per game, while allowing 52.1 points per game.

The season was the first undefeated season in team history and had the Lady Bears join six other teams to finish a season undefeated with a national title.