Just a few months ago, March Madness evolved into a Baylor Bash.

Who can forget the sight of 45,000 fans decked mostly in green and gold filling Houston’s Reliant Stadium?

The Baylor men’s basketball team’s Elite Eight appearance against Duke was a watershed moment that showed how passionate the fan base can be.

A week later, the Alamodome was crammed with Lady Bears fans to see Kim Mulkey’s overachieving team face powerful Connecticut in the Final Four.

But a spring for the ages has unexpectedly turned into a summer of fear and uncertainty.

With the Big 12 headed toward oblivion, Baylor could be among several Big 12 schools that will be like hitchikers looking for a home. On Tuesday, the University of Texas is expected to announce it’s packing up for the Pac-10, and Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are expected to follow.

Texas A&M might jump to the SEC or head west with the others.

Is anybody’s head spinning? I know mine is.

Since the news broke 10 days ago that the Pac-10 was looking to raid half of the Big 12, it’s been pure chaos. Baylor has been working hard to convince its Big 12 South brethren to stay in the league, but it’s going to take divine intervention or an unexpected commitment from the Longhorns to pull it off.

There’s a feeling of desperation in the air for Baylor.

It’s a 180-degree turn from the optimism so many people had been feeling.

Under the guidance of athletic director Ian McCaw, Baylor has built an athletic program anybody would be proud of. Most of Baylor’s teams are good enough to be in the mix for Big 12 championships, and many are of national caliber.

Just a few weeks ago, the Baylor men’s and women’s tennis teams both made the final eight in the NCAA tournament. The men’s golf team recently reached the NCAA championship tournament. Last fall, the Baylor volleyball team enjoyed its best season ever with a Sweet 16 appearance.

The Baylor football team hasn’t turned the corner yet, but there’s still plenty of optimism as Art Briles begins his third season with quarterback Robert Griffin coming back from a knee injury.

Since the Big 12 began, Baylor has built some of the most attractive athletic facilities in the league.

If the league breaks up, Baylor would have a lot to offer any potential suitor.

Baylor’s options

But what will its options be?

The remaining five Big 12 teams could try to stay together and bring in teams from other conferences.

Baylor’s next best option would probably be the Mountain West if the league is interested. The Mountain West, which includes TCU, Utah and BYU, became a 10-team conference with Friday’s addition of Boise State. Commissioner Craig Thompson has indicated he’s interested in bringing in more teams as the league works toward automatic qualification for a BCS bowl.

Baylor’s inclusion might depend on how many teams the Mountain West adds. The league could also be looking at other Big 12 schools like Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State. But it never hurts to have another team in the Texas market.

The Bears could end up in Conference USA, which should also expand if the Big 12 breaks up. The 12-team Conference USA is spread from El Paso to the East Coast, but Baylor could be placed in a division closer to home with former Southwest Conference rivals Rice, SMU and Houston.

Of course, these leagues aren’t as prestigious or profitable as the Big 12, and Baylor is fighting desperately to keep it together.

But by Tuesday, the great league could go the way of another once-great league — the Southwest Conference.

jwerner@wacotrib.com

757-5716

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