By Brice Cherry

Tribune-Herald staff writer

For a self-proclaimed “country girl” from Tickfaw, La., Kim Mulkey has done her share of globe-trotting. Through basketball, she has literally traveled the world.

But until this coming weekend, the Baylor women’s coach had never ventured north of the border to the land of maple syrup and ice hockey.

Mulkey’s Lady Bears are getting a rare early tipoff to their 2008-09 season with a pair of exhibition games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Baylor will play Simon Fraser University at 7 Central time Saturday night and then will face the University of British Columbia at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Mulkey said she’s not overly concerned with the outcome of either game, but is treating the trip as an opportunity to get a sneak peek at the team’s seven newcomers.

“They’re going to want to impress me, but we’re not going to look good,” Mulkey said. “. . . I just want to see individuals and see what their strengths and weaknesses are. I want to win, but in all honesty, if these two teams in Canada are good, four days are not going to prepare us for them.”

Per NCAA rules, athletic programs are granted one international offseason trip every four years. This is the first for Baylor in Mulkey’s nine-year tenure, and the players said they’re looking forward to the journey, especially since it doesn’t carry the same pressure or expectation as the regular season.

“It’s going to be a nice team-bonding experience, seeing that we have so many newcomers with us this year,” post Danielle Wilson said. “We’ll have to show them the ropes, but they’re ready to learn whatever Coach throws at them.”

“It’ll be a great experience,” senior guard Jhasmin Player said. “It’s great for Coach Mulkey and the other coaches to be able to see the new players, see what they can do, how well they can play with the other players and see what they can do well. But at the same time, when we get back, we still have a bigger game (the regular season) to play.”

Player will make the trip, but is not expected to suit up after an offseason of rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament surgery last February. She’s been cleared by doctors, and said she’s “extremely pleased” that she’s ahead of schedule on her rehab, but she’s not going to risk further injury in a pair of exhibition games.

“I may try to get out there a little bit, just to show the world I’m back,” Player said, laughing. “No, I’m kidding. I want to be with my team as much as I can, because I haven’t played ball in seven months. It’s a blessing to be out here practicing. I’m just happy to be doing something that’s not in the training room.”

Baylor began practicing for the Canadian games Monday, and Mulkey said she’s been impressed with how quickly the newcomers have grasped what’s been thrown at them. The group includes five freshmen, plus a pair of transfers — junior forward Morghan Medlock of USC and sophomore forward Whitney Zachariason of Arkansas.

Medlock has been granted a waiver by the NCAA and will be immediately eligible to compete this season, while Zachariason will become eligible beginning with Baylor’s Dec. 20 game at Oregon.

With the mix of rookies and veterans, Mulkey isn’t expecting anything close to midseason form — or even early-season form.

Ever the competitor, she won’t back down from coaching to win, but she knows the trip is most useful as a meet-and-greet mixer.

“I can’t coach, because seven newcomers don’t know any plays,” she said. “I can’t call out a play in seven days. I might be able to put in one offense, one defense, one inbounds (play), one sideline (play). I’ve just got to be patient and sit there.

“That’s not my personality to do that, it’s not my personality to go in with a defeated attitude, but I’m not going there to even look at the other team. I’ve got to go watch the seven newcomers and see who can help me play.”

Baylor, 25-7 last year, will open its regular season Nov. 14 at home against Florida Atlantic.

bcherry@wacotrib.com

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