If you haven’t seen Brittney Griner yet, you’re missing out.

The 6-foot-8 center from Baylor continues to dominate women’s college basketball as she’s midway through her junior year season.

It’s not just because of her height. It’s not just her ability to dunk, a rarity in women’s basketball.

It’s her incredible reach on defense that has opponent’s game planning around her.

“She’s ridiculously talented offensively,” said Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson. “I’m not trying to discredit her on that end, but she is more impactful on the defensive end,”

This weekend, the Kansas women’s basketball team will have the daunting task of defending Griner and the No. 1 Lady Bears (19-0, 6-0 Big 12) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Waco, Texas.

With a wingspan of over seven feet, 3 inches, Griner consumes any basketballs that come inside the paint. She leads the NCAA with 5.3 blocked shots per game.

The Jayhawks (16-3, 5-2 Big 12) must rely on their own big woman, 6-foot-3 junior forward Carolyn Davis, who will be matched up with Griner for almost the entire game.

Both Davis and Griner are natives of Houston, Texas, so dealing with Griner on the court is nothing new.

“The fact that she can alter so many without coming really far outside the paint,” Davis said. “The defensive pressure she has and the presence in the paint makes everyone not want to go for those shots that you usually want to take.”

Over the past five years, Davis competed against Griner; she has seen vast improvements in her game.

“Just the way she can run the floor,” Davis said. “You would think of someone with that stature of 6’8” wouldn’t be able to run, but she can run the floor just as well as any other big. I think her ability to adapt to the women’s game as much as she has and her ability to grow as a player, she’s changed a lot since her freshman year.”

The defensive end is not the only place where Griner makes in impact; she also does an excellent job of making open shots. Currently, she is eighth in the country averaging 22.7 points per game.

“She can shoot over you with her length,” Davis said. “You can double-team her, you can triple-team her, but sometimes she’ll make those shots. It just one of those things where you have to respect a certain player will make those shots.”

What’s overlooked about Griner is her court vision. She looks for the open woman more often than not, which makes her a more dangerous player.

“It would be different if she was selfish,” Henrickson said. “It would be different if she wasn’t a good passer, but if you put those two things together on top of how talented she is, she’s like a really, really good point guard. She can get everyone else involved.”

One of the other players in charge of double — and sometimes triple — teaming Griner willbe 6-foot-2 senior forward Aishah Sutherland. Like Davis, Sutherland understands Griner is a special player who needs close attention.

“I’ve seen that’s she’s gotten stronger,” Sutherland said. “She’s able to run the floor better than she did when she first came to the Big 12.”

Regardless of how demanding this game will be for Kansas, it must realize they have to play an almost perfect game to get by Griner and the Bears.

“You have to steal possessions and not give them extra possessions,” Henrickson said. “Griner doesn’t miss a lot of shots but when she does, we have to make sure we defensive rebound.”

— Edited by Ian Cummings