It’s been a surreal academic year for Baylor Athletics, hasn’t it? Even Baylor’s biggest and most vocal haters can’t deny that our athletic programs are the best of the best in the entire country and we’ve found success in almost every sport! Our athletic over-achievements were on display over the past week as both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams earned their second and 12th consecutive Big 12 titles, respectively (read about their wins here and here). And following the end of the regular basketball season, the 2022 Big 12 championship squads each earned accolades in the conference’s All-Big 12 awards.
Men’s Basketball head coach Scott Drew led the charge by clinching the 2022 Big 12 Coach of the Year honor for his third consecutive season—becoming the first head coach in conference history to win outright three times! Since 2020, Drew’s teams notched a 42-8 Big 12 record and this season, the Bears finished with a school-record 26 wins. Following the lead of former Bear Davion Mitchell, now-injured junior F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua was named 2022 Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year totaling 88 of 130 field goal attempts (67.7%), 6 of 13 3s (46.2%), 27 of 35 free throws made (77.1%), 170 total rebounds, 17 assists, 9 blocks, 17 steals, and 209 points. Freshman F Jeremy Sochan earned the 2022 Big 12 Sixth Man Award as the third Baylor athlete to win the accolade in five seasons. Sochan totaled 86 of 117 field goals attempts (48.6%), 20 of 67 3s (29.9%), 42 of 75 free throws (56%), 164 rebounds, 45 assists, 18 blocks, 34 steals, and 234 points. Senior G James Akinjo was named to the All-Big 12 First Team with 134 of 344 field goal attempts (39%), 38 of 124 3s (30.6%), 81 of 98 free throws (82.7%), 77 rebounds, 168 assists, 59 steals, and 387 points; junior G Adam Flagler was picked to the All-Big 12 Second Team after notching 141 of 314 field goal attempts (44.9%), 70 of 172 3s (40.7%), 35 of 47 free throws (74.5%), 65 rebounds, 85 assists, 3 blocks, 33 steals, and 387 points; and Sochan and senior F Matthew Mayer each grabbed Honorable Mention spots. Mayer recorded 105 of 263 field goal attempts (39.9%), 38 of 120 3s (31.7%), 34 of 52 free throws (65.4%), 151 rebounds, 33 assists, 23 blocks, 37 steals, and 282 points. Sochan and freshman G/F Kendall Brown who inked 125 of 209 field goal attempts (59.8%), 13-35 3s (37.1%), 49 of 70 free throws (70%), 156 rebounds, 59 assists, 12 blocks, 31 steals, and 312 points were both named unanimous picks to the 2022 Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Tchamwa Tchatchoua earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team and Akinjo was placed on the All-Newcomer Team.
Baylor Women’s Basketball senior F NaLyssa Smith was named the unanimous pick for the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year as, according to Baylor Athletics’ Jerry Hill (papa), “she becomes the fifth player in Big 12 history, and the first since 2013, to go back-to-back.” Throughout Big 12 play, Smith recorded an average of a conference-high 23.1 points and 10.7 rebounds. She had 263 of 469 field goal attempts (56.1%), 8 of 31 3s (25.8%), 134 of 170 free throws (78.8%), 350 rebounds, 35 assists, 35 blocks, 22 steals, and 668 points. She’s the first and only Big 12 WBB athlete to win the award consecutively since Brittney Griner’s three picks from 2011-13. Senior G Jordan Lewis nabbed the 2022 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year—the third consecutive Bear to win the award with 108 of 253 field goal attempts (42.7%), 47 of 121 3s (38.8%), 92 of 139 free throws (66.2%), 102 rebounds, 160 assists, 7 blocks, 38 steals, and 355 points. Smith and Lewis were both named to the All-Big 12 First Team with Smith as a unanimous pick. Smith also gained a spot on the All-Big 12 Defensive Team. Sophomore G Sarah Andrews took her place on the All-Big 12 Second Team following her 128 of 306 field goal attempts (41.8%), 56 of 138 3s (40.6%), 37 of 55 free throws (67.3%), 87 rebounds, 137 assists, 5 blocks, 37 steals, and 349 points. Senior C Queen Egbo and junior G Ja’Mee Asberry clinched positions as All-Big 12 Honorable Mentions. Egbo had 131 of 264 field goal attempts (49.6%), 69 of 96 free throws (71.9%), 254 rebounds, 27 assists, 54 blocks, 27 steals, and 331 points. Asberry finished with 96 of 258 field goal attempts (37.2%), 69 of 189 3s (36.5%), 24-30 free throws (80%), 86 rebounds, 62 assists, 3 blocks, 41 steals, and 285 points.
There are still other national awards to be handed out nationally, but here’s to the Bears for their most current 2022 postseason honors!
