Autumn Johnson | October 28, 2020 Baylor's DiDi Richards is college basketball's best defender and ready to be known for more in her last run DiDi Richards is back and eager to resume where she left off Share When we last checked in on Baylor, the defending NCAA champ was right where it needed to be in the chase for a second consecutive title. The Bears were first in the Big 12, 28-2 overall and ranked third in the nation. Then came the pandemic and the cancellation of the season. DiDi Richards, the Naismith Defensive player of the Year, is ready to pick right up where she left off. Richards said Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey and her team have adopted “Finish what we started” as their motto headed into the 2020-21 season. They’ll get their chance to do just that beginning Nov. 25 on the road against Central Arkansas. Richards is known as one of the nation's top on-ball defenders. She told NCAA.com that she wants to be known for more in her last run. "I want to be a better help defender for my team," she said. "I want to help [Queen Egbo] and [NaLyssa Smith] whenever they're getting buried inside. Right now I'm playing point guard, so I want to be able to dish the ball to my teammates ... or score the ball when I need to. I just want to be the player that you can't take off the court." The 6'1" guard averaged 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds with 170 assists and 52 steals in her junior year. She was fourth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Richards will be one of two returning starters along with NaLyssa Smith after losing three starting seniors — Lauren Cox, Te'a Cooper and Juicy Landrum — to the WNBA. Knowing the leadership both Richards and Smith have to bring as the Bears' leading scorers, plus Baylor getting accustomed to a new starting five, they are both determined to be on the same page to remain championship contenders. 📅 Get out your planners! 📅The Lady Bears 2020-21 schedule is finally here!https://t.co/PgU0wyafRU#SicEm pic.twitter.com/CBVWMlfa6b— Baylor Women's Basketball (@BaylorWBB) October 26, 2020 There's also some newcomers that have been added to Baylor's successful program Stanford transfer Dijonai Carrington joins forces with the Bears as do top recruits Hannah Gusters and Sarah Andrews. Richards believes they've already made an impact, and she's excited for fans to see their abilities on the court. 🧹SWEEP 🧹Baylor sweeps @Big12 Preseason Awards & lands 3⃣ on the All-Preseason Team!PPOY 👉 @imwithhoops PNCOY 👉 @DijonaiVictoria PFOY 👉 @sarah_T2D TEAM: @imwithhoops, @Deauzya, @QueenEgbo_ 📰 https://t.co/Hd8y5kcu4W pic.twitter.com/uWTPMA2qpR— Baylor Women's Basketball (@BaylorWBB) October 21, 2020 "I think it's how fast we are," Richards said. "Last year we were pretty fast, but I think this year we're getting up and down the court a lot smoother, a lot faster with Queen and Nalyssa having a little bit more experience from last year. I think our post are able to run a lot more, so I'm pretty excited for you all to see that, because I see it every day." NCAA Power 10: Women's college basketball rankings: South Carolina leads preseason Power 10 for 2020-21 With Richards' junior year cut short due to the spread of the virus, she is looking forward to lacing up Nov. 25th and closing out her legacy strong with Baylor. "I'm just trying to make a statement that I'm not just a defender that everyone kind of paints me out to be," Richards said. "That's probably my own thing that I'm reaching for this year. Other than that, making my name known as a winner." 2022 March Madness South Carolina beats UConn for 2022 title | Tournament results | Full bracket BRACKET TRACKER: How every perfect bracket busted STORE: Official South Carolina championship gear| Latest college basketball gear Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer announces retirement after Hall of Fame coaching career Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer announces her retirement after a Hall of Fame career, leaving the game with 1,055 wins and countless lives improved through leadership, mentorship and guidance. READ MORE The colleges (and conferences) with the most players taken in the 2022 WNBA draft Thirty-six new players were drafted into the WNBA in 2022, including 34 from NCAA Division I programs. The most came from the ACC and SEC. READ MORE College basketball teams with the most WNBA 1st-round draft picks Connecticut leads all women's college basketball programs with 25 players taken in the first round of the WNBA draft. READ MORE