[5] BAYLOR (21-9, 9-7) at 2008 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
vs. [12] COLORADO (11-19, 3-13)
Thursday, March 13, 2008 • 2:00 p.m. CDT
PDF of complete Tournament Notes & Stats
Pre-Tournament Quotes
RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: ESPNU & ESPN Plus [complete TV listings]
INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS: live GameTracker stats at BaylorBears.com
THE GAME
Baylor enters the Big 12 Championship as the No. 5 seed and will face 12th-seeded Colorado in Game 2 Thursday, March 13. Tipoff at the Sprint Center in Kansas City is approximately 2 p.m. and the game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU and regionally via ESPN Plus syndicated stations. Baylor is 21-9 and finished Big 12 play with a best-ever 9-7 record and tied for fourth place (the program's top finish ever). The Bears are coming off an 86-73 win at Texas Tech last Saturday. Colorado is 11-19, 3-13 in the Big 12 and has lost two straight games, most recently 68-49 at Nebraska Sunday. Baylor defeated Colorado 68-57 in Boulder on Feb. 27. The Baylor-Colorado winner will face fourth-seed Oklahoma Friday at approximately 2 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Baylor is 9-5 away from home this season and 3-1 in neutral-site games.
• BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP MISCELLANY: Baylor is 5-10 all time in Big 12 Championship play... BU is 2-0 in Big 12 Championship games as a higher seed... No. 5 seeds are 10-0 all-time in Big 12 Championship first round games... Baylor's 5 seed matches its top Big 12 seed in school history (also fifth in 1998).
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BAYLOR TIP-INS
• Baylor is 2-0 in Big 12 Championships games as higher seed (1998 #5 BU 66-63 over #12 A&M; 2001 #8 BU 86-84 OT over #9 CU).
• BU's 5 seed matches its highest seed in Big 12 Championship play: #5 in 1998, beat Texas A&M in first round, lost to #4 NU in quarterfinals.
• In 4 of 10 Big 12 Championships, Baylor has reached the quarterfinals (1998, 2000, 2001, 2007). Baylor is 4-6 in first round games, 1-3 in the quarterfinals and 0-1 in the semifinals.
• Baylor is 5-10 all-time in Big 12 Championship play.
•
Scott Drew owns a 3-4 record in conference tournaments (2-1 in Mid-Con & 1-3 in Big 12).
• No. 5 seeds are a perfect 10-0 in first round games vs. No. 12 seeds (2004 tourney No. 5 seed had bye into quarterfinals).
• In four of 11 Big 12 Championships, the 5 seed has reached the semifinals - 2 have played in the finals (OSU `99 & MU `03, both lost).
• Of BU's 9 losses, only one has been by more than 10 points & all but one has come to teams ranked among the top 50 in RPI (#82 OSU).
• BU is aiming for its first postseason action since 2001 (NIT); last NCAA berth 1988.
• BU's 21 wins are the most since winning 23 in 1987-88 (23-11, NCAA berth) & only 4th 20-win season in 102 seasons of basketball (won 25 in `45-46, won 24 & played in NCAA championship game in `47-48).
• Each of Baylor 3 previous 20-win teams have participated in the NCAA Tournament (1988, 1948 [Final Four], 1946).
• POSTSEASON HONORS: Curtis Jerrells All Big 12 1st tm (coaches, AP), All-District 9 1st tm (NABC), All-District VII (USBWA);
Kevin Rogers All-Big 12 3rd tm (AP) hm (coaches), Big 12 All-Underrated (media);
Henry Dugat All-Big 12, hm (coaches),
LaceDarius Dunn Big 12 All-Freshman (media, Rivals.com), Big 12 All-Reserve (media).
• BU is 5-3 in neutral-site games over the last two years, including a 3-1 record this season (3-0 at Paradise Jam, loss to Arkansas in Dallas).
•
Curtis Jerrells has averaged 23.3 points and shot 40% on 3s in 3 career Big 12 Championship games.
• BU is 9-5 away from home this season (6-4 true road, 3-1 neutral).
• BU is 4-1 since its staff promised to shave a coach's head after each victory (
Matthew Driscoll,
Jerome Tang &
Paul Mills have been shaved).
•
Scott Drew was named USBWA All-District VII Coach of the Year & the Big 12 Coach of the Year by Rivals.com and ESPN.com's Pat Forde.
• BU leads the Big 12 in free throw shooting (74.4%) & 3-pointers made (8.6).
• BU's 9 conference wins is the most in 12 seasons of Big 12 play.
• BU is receiving votes in the AP poll (spent two weeks in polls earlier this season, first national ranking since 1969).
• BU is averaging 81.3 points (2nd in Big 12 & 11th nationally), the highest average since `93-94; 2,438 total points set a new school record.
• BU is 19-1 this season when totaling a higher FG% than its opponents and 2-8 when not. In the Drew Era, BU is 51-8 when outshooting its opponents and 6-70 when not.
• BU's 5-guard rotation averages 57.9 points - 71% of teams scoring.
• 6 Baylor players average 9.0 points or higher.
•
Mamadou Diene led the Big 12 with a 2.1 blocks average in conference games.
•
LaceDarius Dunn's 42.9 3-point % (2nd in Big 12) is top all-time for a BU freshman.
•
Aaron Bruce ranks 7th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,330 career points).
•
Kevin Rogers has 12 double-doubles this season (4th most among Big 12 players).
•
Mamadou Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks in league games (80).
•
Curtis Jerrells ranks 12th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,138 career points).
• Baylor is 14-2 this season when
Aaron Bruce scores in double-digits.
BEARS MAKING PUSH FOR POSTSEASON
The Cinderella Bears are making a push for the school's first postseason appearance since 2001 when Baylor played in the postseason NIT (lost at New Mexico in opening round, finished season 19-12). Baylor's last NCAA Tournament appearance was 1988, when Gene Iba's Bears finished second in the Southwest Conference before losing to Memphis in the first round of the NCAAs (23-11 final record).
HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew, in his fifth season at Baylor in what many have called the most daunting rebuilding project in college basketball history, owns a four-year mark of 57-78 at the school and a career record of 77-89 (six seasons). Drew's 57 wins rank seventh on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in sixth place on the list is Dave Bliss with 61 career victories). Prior to Baylor, Drew spent 10 seasons at Valparaiso, the last as head coach after nine seasons as an assistant to his father Homer. During his decade at Valpo, the Crusaders earned six NCAA Tournament berths, including five straight from 1996-2000. An outstanding recruiter, Drew is responsible for five national Top-20 recruiting classes over the last eight years (No. 17 in 2006, No. 11 in 2005 and No. 10 in 2004 at Baylor; No. 6 in 2001 and No. 13 in 1999 at Valpo). He was named the 1998-99 National Recruiter of the Year by Court Vision.
DREW RECEIVING COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Scott Drew's efforts in turning around the Baylor program have earned him some coaching awards this season. This week Drew was named the District VII coach of the year by the USBWA, as well as selections as Big 12 Coach of the Year by Rivals.com and Pat Forde of ESPN.com. Drew has rebuilt Baylor from the depths of its tragedy and sanctions into a contender for postseason play this year.
BAYLOR'S RUN TO POSTSEASON FINAL STAGE OF HUGE REBUILDING PROJECT
• BAYLOR PROGRAM BACK FROM THE DEAD: The 2007-08 season is Scott Drew's fifth in the unprecedented overhaul that began at Baylor in 2003. After taking over a program decimated by tragedy, player departures, depleted rosters and NCAA restrictions, Drew has slowly and methodically turned the program around by recruiting a solid foundation of talented high school players that, after earning valuable playing experience, are posting impressive results. After fighting their way to a 15-16 record last season (the first in the Drew Era without restrictions), the Bears have turned the corner with a 21-9 record this season, including a school-record 9-7 finish in the Big 12.
• BEARS' TURNAROUND SEASON: Baylor burst onto the national basketball scene this winter when, despite being picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 by the league's coaches, the Bears raced off to a 12-2 non-conference record (including a Paradise Jam championship) and opened conference play 4-0. The 16-2 start was Baylor's best since 1946 and resulted in the school's first national ranking since 1969. The Bears, who are in the latter stages of one of the most incredible rebuilding projects in college basketball history, own a 21-9 record and earned the school's best-ever Big 12 finish with a fourth-place tie at 9-7. Baylor topped the 20-win plateau for just the fourth time in the program's 102-year history.
DUGAT, JERRELLS & ROGERS NAMED TO ALL-BIG 12 TEAMS
Curtis Jerrells was selected first-team All-Big 12 and is among three Baylor juniors named to postseason all-conference teams. Jerrells is just the second first-team All-Big 12 selection in Baylor history and the first since Terry Black in 2000-01. Jerrells was also selected a first-team All-Big 12 honoree by the Associated Press. Kevin Rogers was named third-team All-Big 12 by the AP and both he and Henry Dugat were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the league's coaches.
DUNN & ROGERS NAMED TO BIG 12 SPECIALTY TEAMS
LaceDarius Dunn was named to Big 12 All-Freshman and Big 12 All-Reserve teams as voted on by a panel of the league's sportswriters. Kevin Rogers was voted to the Big 12 All-Underrated team. Dunn was also an All-Freshman selection by Rivals.com.
DREW & JERRELLS EARN DISTRICT VII HONOR BY USBWA
Baylor head coach Scott Drew was named the District VII Coach of the year and junior guard Curtis Jerrells was selected to the All-District VII team by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Drew has led a Baylor team projected to finish ninth the Big 12 preseason coaches poll to a fourth place tie in the conference and to the cusp of an NCAA Tournament berth. Jerrells has racked up several postseason honors after leading the Bears in scoring (14.8 ppg) and assists (3.6 apg). He is the first BU player to receive All-District VII status since teammate Aaron Bruce was so honored in 2005.
BEARS IN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
In the short 11-year history of the Big 12 Championship, the Bears have compiled a 5-10 record (Baylor did not participate in 2004 tourney). In four of 10 tournaments participated in, Baylor has reached the quarterfinals (1998, 2000, 2001, 2007). Baylor is 4-6 in first round games, 1-3 in the quarterfinals and 0-1 in the semis. Baylor matched its highest seeding with a No. 5 seed (also No. 5 seed in 1998). The Bears top finish at the Big 12 Championship was a semifinal appearance in 2001 (lost 76-62 to Texas).
THE COLORADO BUFFALOES
Head Coach: Jeff Bzdelik (Illinois-Chicago, 1976); 86-66, 2 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: CU leads 13-7
Series Streak: BU won 2 straight
Drew vs. CU: 3-3
CU Record in Big 12 Tournament: 6-11 (.353)
Series Record in Big 12 Tournament: BU 1-1
• BU 86-84 OT, 2001 First Round
• CU 65-61, 2006 First Round
2007-08 Meeting: BU 68-57 (2-27-08 at Boulder)
CU NOTES: Colorado is 11-19 and 3-13 under first-year head coach Jeff Bzdelik... The Buffaloes are the No. 12 seed in the Big 12 Championship... The Buffs have lost six of their last seven and 12 of 14 games... Colorado is 5-10 this season away from home, including 2-0 at neutral sites... The Buffs are led by senior G Richard Roby, who averages 16.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game... Senior G Marcus Hall is the only other double-figure scorer, averaging 13.7 points per game.
DREW IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
Scott Drew has compiled a 3-4 career record in four previous conference tournaments: the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Big 12 Conference Championships and the 2003 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament (only season as head coach at Valparaiso, Crusaders lost by two points in championship game). Baylor did not participate in the Big 12 Tournament in Drew's first season due to self-imposed sanctions.
DUNN EARNS SECOND ROOKIE OF WEEK HONOR THIS WEEK
Baylor freshman guard LaceDarius Dunn has been named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week the league office announced Sunday. The selection is the second for Dunn this season. Dunn posted 21.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the Bears' 1-1 week. The freshman guard had his top performance in a 86-73 road win at Texas Tech, posting a career-high 38 points. The total set a new freshman scoring record at BU and was the sixth-highest mark in school history, the most since 1988. Dunn shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the field in two games, including a 7-for-12 (.583) effort from 3-point range. He also made 14-of-15 (.933) shots from the free throw line. Dunn averages 13.3 points per game this season (13th in the Big 12). He leads the league in free throw shooting at 84.2%, and ranks second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9%) and 3-point baskets made per game (2.41).
BAYLOR STAFF LOSING HAIR WITH WINS
The Bears are 4-1 since the Baylor coaching staff pledged to shave a staff member's head following each win in the final weeks of the season. After a fourth-consecutive loss at Oklahoma Feb. 19, the pact was struck with five regular-season games remaining. Since then, four staffers have received haircuts: assistant coach Matthew Driscoll (Feb. 23 after 92-86 win over No. 24 Kansas State), assistant coach Jerome Tang (Feb. 27 after 68-57 win at Colorado) and coordinator of operations Paul Mills (March 1 after 100-89 win over Missouri).
IMPROVED ROAD FORTUNES
• TRUE ROAD GAMES (6-4 in `07-08):
The Bears are 6-4 this season on opponents' home courts, reversing a 2-37 record in 39 true road games before this season (from 2002-03 to 2006-07).
• BIG 12 ROAD GAMES (4-4 in `07-08):
Baylor finished 4-4 this season on the road in Big 12 games, the win in its first road game Jan. 19 snapped a 25-game losing streak prior to this season (dating to 2004).
• ALL AWAY GAMES (9-5 in `07-08):
Baylor is 9-5 this season away from Waco (6-4 in true road games, 3-1 at neutral sites). The Bears were 4-41 in their previous 45 games outside of Waco before this season (from 2003 to 2007).
MOST WINS SINCE...
• OVERALL: The Bears' 21 wins in 2007-08 is the highest victory total at Baylor since Gene Iba's 1987-88 squad finished 23-11 (the last Baylor team to participate in the NCAA Tournament). This is only the fourth 20-win Baylor squad in school history (102 seasons); the previous three have all participated in the NCAA Tournament (including `47-48 national runners up).
• BIG 12: Baylor's nine conference wins (9-7) is the most in 12 seasons of Big 12 play.
BAYLOR'S BACKCOURT: "IN GUARDS WE TRUST"
Baylor's strength in 2007-08 once again lies in its talented backcourt full of combo guards. The Bears utilize a rotation of five guards that each average 20-plus minutes per game. The quintet is made up of four veterans; senior Aaron Bruce (9.0 ppg, 22.1 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (14.8 ppg, 30.7 mpg) and Henry Dugat (11.9 ppg, 26.7 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (9.4 ppg, 25.2 mpg); and true freshman standout LaceDarius Dunn (13.3 ppg, 21.3 mpg). The fivesome accounts for 71 percent of the team's scoring (average 57.9 points) and shoots 38.8 percent on 3-pointers.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES...
Baylor is receiving votes in this week's Associated Press poll (7 votes; 31st). The Bears spent two weeks [Jan. 21 & 28] in the Top 25 (school's first national ranking since 1969) and have received votes in the polls in 13 of 19 weeks this season.
HIGHEST-SCORING BEARS TEAM EVER 11th NATIONALLY IN POINTS
Baylor is averaging 81.3 points per game, second-highest among Big 12 schools and the 11th most nationally. That figure, bolstered by six overtime periods, is the highest total at BU since the `93-94 team finished with an 85.5 scoring average. Baylor's 2,438 total points is a new school record.
NO LEAD SAFE AGAINST COMEBACK BEARS
In addition to a 9-6 record when trailing at the half, Baylor has notched eight wins this season after trailing by 9 or more points. In two additional games (both vs. Oklahoma), the Bears erased double-digit deficits before being edged at the whistle.
CURRENT BEARS AMONG BEST 3-POINT SHOOTERS EVER
Statistically speaking, several of the best long-range shooters in Baylor basketball history play for the 2007-08 Bears squad. Three of the top six (by career percentage) and four of the top nine Baylor shooters ever are current players. See list below:
• CAREER 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (min. 50 made)
Player (years), 3FGM-3FGA, pct.
1. Melvin Hunt (1987-91), 81-162, .500
2. Mark Buchanan (1983-87), 55-113, .487
3. LaceDarius Dunn (2008), 70-163, .429
4. Aaron Bruce (2004-08), 217-554, .392
5. R.T. Guinn (2001-04), 103-263, .392
6. Henry Dugat (2005-08), 120-307, .391
7. Kenny Taylor (2001-03), 105-269, .390
8. David Wesley (1989-92), 123-326, .377
9. Tweety Carter (2006-08), 108-287, .376
10. Willie Sublett (1990-94), 144-393, .366
SUCCESS FROM THE LINE
Baylor has been incredibly successful from the foul line this season. The Bears are shooting 74.4 percent from the line (491-660), which is tops in the Big 12 Conference and currently ranks 27th nationally. That percentage is on pace to be the fourth-best figure in school history. Baylor is led individually from the line by freshman G LaceDarius Dunn (84.2%, first in the Big 12), junior F Kevin Rogers (80.4%, fourth in Big 12), and senior G Aaron Bruce (79.1%).
SEASON OF FIRSTS, BROKEN STREAKS & NEW RECORDS
Baylor's turnaround season in 2007-08 has included various program `firsts', snapped streaks and new records. List below:
• Most wins (21) since 1987-88
• Only fourth 20-win team in Baylor history
• First Top-25 ranking since 1969 (BU ranked in Jan. 21 & Jan. 28 AP polls)
• First back-to-back weekly rankings in school history (Jan. 21 & 28)
• Highest finish in Big 12 history (tied for 4th)
• Most Big 12 wins (9) in school history
• Most Big 12 road wins (4) ever
• Most wins over ranked teams since 2000-01 (2: beat #16 Texas A&M & #16 Kansas St.)
• First win over ranked opp. since 2003 [broke 29-gm losing streak] (116-110 over #16 TAMU)
• Best start (16-2) since 1946
• First 4-0 start in Big 12 since 1998
• Most pre-conference wins in school history (12)
• First 8-team tournament title since 1968 (BU won 2007 Paradise Jam)
• Most Big 12 weekly honorees ever (6: Jerrells 2 POW, Rogers 2 POW, Dunn 2 ROW)
• Set new home attendance record of 116,015 (16 games)
• Highest average attendance in Ferrell Center history (7,251 in 16 games)
• Largest crowd in school history (overflow 10,545 vs. A&M March 5)
• Broke school's scoring record - new mark of 2,438 points and counting
• First true road win since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (92-84 win at USC Dec. 19)
• First road win in Big 12 since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (72-70 win at NU Jan. 19)
• First 5-overtime game in Baylor & Big 12 history (116-110 win over Texas A&M Jan. 23)
FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG 12 PICK JERRELLS LEADING BEARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Curtis Jerrells, a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection, powers the Bears and continues to stand out as the most lethal offensive weapon on a high-scoring team full of scorers. Jerrells was named all-conference first team by the league's coaches and the Associated Press, only the second Baylor player to earn Big 12 first-team honors (joins Terry Black in 2001). He is leading the Bears in scoring (15.1 ppg, ninth in Big 12), assists (3.7 apg, sixth in Big 12) and minutes (31.0 mpg) for the third straight season. Jerrells became the 20th player in Baylor history to reach the 1,000-point plateau this season and he currently ranks 12th all-time in points scored (1,132). He was recently named to the NABC All-District 9 first team and has twice earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season: Jan. 28 after exploding for 36 points in an epic five-overtime win at Texas A&M; and Nov. 19 after leading Baylor to the championship of the 2007 Paradise Jam (was named tournament MVP). The junior guard has started all 77 career games since arriving at Baylor and he ranks ninth in school history in assists (279). In conference games, Jerrells ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.3 ppg), fifth in assists (3.6 apg) and eighth in steals (1.5 spg). He recently became the first alum of Del Valle High School in Austin to have his jersey retired.
JERRELLS NAMED TO NABC ALL-DISTRICT 9 FIRST TEAM
Curtis Jerrells earned a spot on the 2008 All-District 9 first team, selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Jerrells is the first BU player to be honored with all-district distinction since Lawrence Roberts was named to the first team in 2003.
MR. ROGERS PILING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Junior forward Kevin Rogers, who averages 12.5 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds (fifth in Big 12), was named an All-Big 12 selection by both the Associated Press (third team) and the league's coaches (honorable mention). He was also selected to the Big 12 All-Underrated Team by the league's media. He has recorded 12 double-doubles on the season, including eight in league games - the fourth-highest total among Big 12 players. In conference games Rogers averaged 12.9 points and 10.2 rebounds (fourth in Big 12). He has twice been named the Big 12 Player of the Week; most recently March 3 after averaging 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in wins at Colorado and vs. Missouri as well as Dec. 24 after averaging 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in road wins at South Carolina and Southern. Rogers was named to the 2007 Big 12 All-Improved team after a sophomore season in which he doubled his scoring (12.8 from 6.1 ppg) and nearly doubled his rebounding from his freshman season (7.6 from 4.0 rpg).
FRESHMAN DUNN REMINDING BEARS FANS OF VINNIE "THE MICROWAVE"
True freshman LaceDarius Dunn, who is quickly making a name for himself for his instant offense off the bench, is beginning to remind Baylor fans of former Bear Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson. Dunn exploded for 38 points in 31 minutes off the bench in Baylor's regular-season-ending win at Texas Tech (the top scoring mark ever for a BU freshman and sixth-highest scoring effort in school history). That performance helped him earn his second Big 12 Rookie of the Week award this week. He has been named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and Big 12 All-Reserve Team by a panel of league media. Dunn immediately impacted a Baylor squad stocked with talented guards this season. The highly recruited rookie from Monroe, La., is second on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.0 rpg), despite playing just 21.3 minutes per game off the bench and playing through a knee injury. His 42.9 3-point percentage ranks second in the Big 12 and is on pace to be the top percentage ever recorded by a Baylor freshman (and third-best overall single-season percentage in school history). Dunn leads the Big 12 with an 84.2 free throw percentage. Dunn was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week Nov. 26 after leading BU to wins over Winthrop in the Paradise Jam championship and over Centenary and he has notched five 20-plus scoring games. Dunn is the highest-rated BU signee in recent memory (rated the nation's No. 24 recruit by Scout.com). He was named the "Best Perimeter Scorer" among incoming Big 12 newcomers by Rivals.com.
VETERAN BRUCE CLIMBING RECORD LISTS
Senior Aaron Bruce is averaging 9.0 points per game and continuing his climb up several of Baylor's all-time records lists. Bruce, Baylor's veteran-most player with 104 career games played, currently stands seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,326 career points (complete list of his ranking on seven different Baylor career charts below). He recently became the fourth player in Baylor history to top 1,000 points and 300 assists (along with Vinnie Johnson, David Wesley and Micheal Williams). The guard was selected a preseason All-Rolls Royce (All-American) fourth-team selection by ESPN.com's Dick Vitale and was named the Big 12's "Best Leader" by the Sporting News preseason publication prior to his final season in Waco.
BRUCE ON BAYLOR'S CAREER RECORD LISTS
• 3-point FGs: No. 2 - 217
• Assists: No. 3 - 317
• Games Started: No. 4 - 98
• Minutes Played: No. 4 - 3,026
• 3-point FG %: No. 4 - 39.2%
• Points scored: No. 7 - 1,330
• Free Throw %: No. 8 - 81.1%
BRUCE JOINS ELITE BAYLOR TRIO IN CAREER POINTS & ASSISTS
Aaron Bruce recently recorded his 300th career assist and became the fourth player in Baylor history to top 1,000 points (1,330) and 300 assists (317), joining greats Vinnie Johnson (1,231/308), David Wesley (1,224/316) and Micheal Williams (1,854/464).
"FLASH" DUGAT USING ENERGY & QUICKNESS TO SPARK BEARS
Junior G Henry Dugat, in his first full season as a starter, has played well enough to be named an All-Big 12 honorable mention by the league's coaches. Since re-entering the starting lineup this season he has used his high energy and athleticism to boost Baylor during its turnaround season. In Big 12 Conference games, Dugat averaged 13.1 points (16th in Big 12), 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals (ninth in Big 12) and shot 46.2 percent on 3-pointers. He has started all 30 games this season after finishing his sophomore year in the sixth man role. Dugat earned the nickname "Flash" from former teammate Tim Bush due to his quickness and style of play similarities to Dwyane Wade.
TWEETY FLOURISHING IN STARTING ROLE
Sophomore G Tweety Carter, who started the last 13 games of his freshman season, re-entered the starting lineup six games ago after coming off the bench the first 24 games this season. Carter is shooting 42.1 percent on 3-pointers (the fourth highest percentage in Baylor history) and is second on the squad in assists with 87. He is averaging 9.4 points on the season, but in six games as a starter has averaged 12.5 points and has shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) on 3-pointers. Carter is Baylor's first-ever McDonald's All-American and the highest scoring high school player in U.S. history (7,457 points in six varsity seasons). He received his nickname Tweety (given name is Demond) due to the sound of his crying as a baby.
"THE MAYOR" BACK TO SHOT-BLOCKING WAYS
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, has averaged 3.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 16.9 minutes off the bench in 23 games played since returning from a procedure to repair a chronic stress fracture in his ankle (missed season's first seven games - had started all 43 games played in his first two seasons). He led the Big 12 in blocks in conference games this season with a 2.1 average. Diene's 80 career blocks in Big 12 play is the most among the league's active players. His 120 career blocks and 1.82 career average are both second all-time at Baylor behind only current Phoenix Suns Brian Skinner's 346 total and 3.36 average (1994-98). Named the Big 12's "Best Shot Blocker" by the Sporting News preseason publication, Diene led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman (2.3 bpg) and was third (1.6 bpg) in an injury-plagued sophomore season. He is referred to as "The Mayor" due to his huge popularity across campus.
MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
• Curtis Jerrells is 2 3-pointers shy of moving into 6th place (136, Tevis Stukes No. 6 with 138) on Baylor's career 3-pointers list.
• Kevin Rogers is 1 double-double shy of moving into 5th place (12, William Chatmon & Alex Holcombe No. 5 with 13) on Baylor's single-season double-doubles list.
• Aaron Bruce is 30 points shy of moving into 6th place (1,330, Darrell Hardy No. 6 with 1,360) on Baylor's career scoring list.
• Curtis Jerrells is 85 points shy of moving into 11th place (1,138, Willie Sublett No. 11 with 1,223) on Baylor's career scoring list.
• Mamadou Diene is 8 blocks shy of moving into 6th place (41, Ben Echols No. 6 with 49) on Baylor's single-season blocks list.
• Aaron Bruce is 13 3-pointers shy of moving into 5th place (133, ISU's Jake Sullivan No. 5 with 146) on Big 12's career 3-pointers in conference games list.
• Scott Drew is 4 coaching wins shy of moving into 6th place (57, Dave Bliss No. 6 with 61) on Baylor's career coaching victories list.
• Baylor is 6 team 3-pointers shy of moving into 2nd place & 14 shy of 1st place (259, 1994-95 made 265; 2001-02 made 273) on Baylor's all-time 3-pointers made list.
• Baylor is 12 team blocks shy of setting a new single-season blocks record (136, record is 148 in 1992-93).
BIG 12 HONORS
Baylor players have received six weekly Big 12 honors this season, the school's most-ever single-season weekly awards. The Bears have been honored with four player of the week awards and two rookie of the week award:
• Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Nov. 19, 2007
Jerrells was honored after leading Baylor to wins over Wichita State and Notre Dame at the Paradise Jam tournament. He averaged 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two wins and shot 54 percent from the 3-point line and 92 percent from the free throw line.
• Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Jan. 28, 2008
Jerrells earned his second honor after averaging 26.5 points as No. 25 Baylor split two games, an epic five-overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M and a 77-71 loss to Oklahoma. He scored a career-high 36 points and made a Big 12 and school-record 20 free throws in the Bears' 116-110 marathon thriller at A&M, including 11 points in the last overtime period to clinch the win in the longest game in Big 12 history.
• Kevin Rogers, Big 12 Player of the Week, Dec. 24, 2007
Rogers was honored after leading the Bears to two road wins at South Carolina and Southern that snapped a 25-game losing streak in true road games. He averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and had two double-doubles. Rogers had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double at USC and scored a game-high 21 points in a win at Southern.
• Kevin Rogers, Big 12 Player of the Week, March 1, 2008
Rogers earned his second award after averaging 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two wins. He had a team-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 68-57 win at Colorado. He followed with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 100-89 win over Missouri. He shot 54.2 percent from the field and made 10-of-12 free throws in the two wins.
• LaceDarius Dunn, Big 12 Rookie of the Week, Nov. 26, 2007
Dunn was honored after leading the Bears to to wins over Winthrop (in the championship game of the Paradise Jam) and Centenary. Dunn set then-career-highs for points with 17 in each game, shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor off the bench. He also shot 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and averaged 5.5 rebounds.
• LaceDarius Dunn, Big 12 Rookie of the Week, March 10, 2008
Dunn earned his second rookie honor after posting 21.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the Bears' 1-1 week. The freshman scored a career-high 38 points in a 86-73 road win at Texas Tech. The total set a new freshman scoring record at BU and was the sixth-highest mark in school history, the most since 1988. Dunn shot 11-of-21 from the field, 7-for-12 on 3s and 14-of-15 from the free throw line in two games.
LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 86 - TEXAS TECH 73
LaceDarius Dunn scored a career-high 38 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead Baylor past Texas Tech 86-73 at the United Spirit Arena.
Baylor finished eight 3-pointers on 19 attempts, led by 6-of-9 shooting from Dunn.
The Bears trailed by a point at halftime but started taking control with a 16-6 run in the first 6 minutes of the second half for a 52-43 lead. Dunn was 4-of-4 on 3-pointers during the run.
Baylor later scored seven points in less than a minute, capped by another 3 by Dunn. The quick seven points were part of a 10-2 run that put the Bears ahead 66-54 with 8:12 remaining.
Baylor went up 78-63 on a dunk by Kevin Rogers with just more than 3 minutes remaining, and Tech had no more answers after that.
Dunn's record-setting night included a 12-of-13 performance from the free throw line. Dunn's 38 points was the most by a Baylor player since 1988, the sixth-most in school history, and the highest recorded by a freshman.
Tweety Carter scored 16 points and Rogers added 10 for the Bears.
The two teams traded runs late in the first half, with Baylor's 9-0 leveling the score at 34 with 1:49 remaining.
Curtis Jerrells, the Bears' leading scorer, was scoreless in the first half and left the game with 5:24 remaining before the break after getting his third foul.
THE LAST MEETING: BAYLOR 68 - COLORADO 57 [Feb. 27, 2008]
Henry Dugat scored 21 points, behind five 3-pointers, to lead Baylor to a 68-57 win over Colorado at the Coors Events Center, the Bears' first win in Boulder in nearly 57 years.
Kevin Rogers scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds, giving him his fourth straight double-double, and 11th of the season.
Baylor led by as many as 20 points in the second half, but Colorado trimmed it to 63-54 on a basket by Levi Knutson with 1:10 remaining. However, the Bears went 5-for-7 from the free throw line over the final 1:30 to seal their second straight win.
The Bears outrebounded the Buffaloes 38-24 and had 13 offensive rebounds.
Baylor entered the game 1-7 lifetime against Colorado in Boulder, its lone win coming on Dec. 15, 1951. The Bears were 0-5 in Boulder since the inception of the Big 12 before the win.
RECORD ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Baylor's on-court success attracted record numbers of fans to the Ferrell Center and resulted in several new attendance records this season. The Bears set new records for total attendance (116,015), average attendance (7,251) and single-game attendance (10,545 vs. Texas A&M 3-5-08). In fact, Baylor recorded four of the top seven crowds all-time in 2007-08.
SHEPHERD & LOMERS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM HONORS
Mark Shepherd and Josh Lomers were honored as Academic All-Big 12 first team selections. Shepherd is a graduate student in the Baylor MBA program after graduating in May of 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business. He also earned Academic All-Big 12 first-team honors in 2006, and is a five-time selection to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Shepherd has seen action in all 29 of Baylor's games, earning starts in the last five. He averages 1.6 points and 12.6 minutes. Lomers is a pre-business major and is a first-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. He has started 24 of 28 games played and shoots a team-best 62.0 percent from the floor. He averages 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and has recorded 21 blocked shots on the season. The academic all-league first team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA.
PARADISE JAM CHAMPS
Baylor earned the 2007 Paradise Jam championship with an impressive three-game run Nov. 16-19 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bears defeated Wichita State (64-55), Notre Dame (68-64) and Winthrop (62-54) to earn the title at the eighth annual tournament. Baylor overcame second-half deficits in both the semis (down 10 to N.D) and the final (down six to Winthrop) to earn the title. Curtis Jerrells was named the tournament MVP after leading the Bears with 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and Aaron Bruce also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. The title marked Baylor's first in-season tournament championship (excluding the Baylor-hosted Dr Pepper Invitational) since winning the 1971 Holiday Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. (last eight-team tournament title was the 1968 East Carolina Classic in Greenville, N.C.).
BAYLOR'S SUMMER TOUR TO CANCUN
Baylor spent Labor Day weekend 2007 on a basketball tour to Cancun, Mexico. The four-day trip included two exhibition games as well as sun and fun for the Bears. Baylor beat Belize Tuff E Nuff 115-47 Sept. 1, before defeating the hometown Mexican professional team Quintana Roo 91-57 Sept. 2. Both games were played in Cancun's sweltering Kuchil-Baxal Gymnasium. Baylor was led in scoring both games by junior Henry Dugat, who totaled 25 and 20 points. Aside from the games, the players and travel party enjoyed swimming, jet skiing, fishing and shopping on the Yucatan Peninsula.
BEARS RETURN HIGH PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Baylor in 2007-08 returned all five starters, nine of 12 roster players and nearly all of its statistical production. The Bears return 90.6 percent of last season's points, 86.9 percent of rebounds and 94.5 percent of assists.
MOST EXPERIENCED BEAR SQUAD IN YEARS
For the first time in years, Baylor took the court in 2007-08 with a predominantly upperclassman, experienced team. After several seasons of young, inexperienced teams, the Bears returned nine lettermen, including seven lettermen with multiple letters. The roster includes two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. Veteran Aaron Bruce is the just the fourth four-year senior to play at BU in the last eight seasons. Baylor's '07-08 returnees entered the season with a combined 246 career starts under their collective belts, the highest such number at BU in over a decade [see list below].
THIAM LEAVES PROGRAM
Redshirt freshman Djibril Thiam left the Baylor basketball program in early December with the intent of transferring to another school. Thiam played in each of the season's first seven games, averaging 2.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. The second-year wing from Dakar, Senegal, played in four games as a true freshman in 2006-07 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Thiam left Baylor with career totals of 26 points (2.4 ppg) and 34 rebounds (3.1 rpg) in 11 games played.
DEPARTED PLAYERS
Baylor lost just three lettermen from its 2006-07 roster: three-year forwards Tim Bush (6.3 ppg) and Patrick Fields (3.0 ppg) and one-year forward Jari Vanttaja (0.9 ppg).
EARLY 2009 SIGNEES
Baylor signed two players in the early signing period, Anthony Jones of Houston (Texas) Yates High School and Russian Artem Valov of Three Rivers Community College. Jones, a senior at Yates, is rated 46th nationally by Rivals.com and is a consensus top-70 recruit. He is rated No. 51 by Hoopmasters.com and No. 62 by Scout.com. Jones averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds last season as a junior for a Yates squad that finished 25-8 in 2006-07. A 6-10 forward, Jones is rated No. 8 among the nation's forwards by Rivals.com and ranked as the fourth-best recruit in the state by TexasHoops.com. Valov is a junior college sophomore who was recently named a preseason NJCAA first-team All-American. He is rated the No. 12 junior college recruit nationally by Rivals.com's JucoJunction.com. The 6-9 forward helped lead Three Rivers to a 26-11 record and into the second round of the NJCAA tournament. Valov was named to the 2007 NJCAA All-Tournament team. Valov finished his freshman season with averages of 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds.
