BAYLOR (6-1) vs. WAYLAND BAPTIST (4-5)
Dec. 15, 2007 • Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) • 8:00 p.m. CST

RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: none
INTERNET VIDEO: live video stream at BaylorBears.com
LIVE STATS:

THE GAME
Baylor returns to action following 11 days off for finals when it hosts Wayland Baptist Saturday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. CST at the Ferrell Center. The Bears are 6-1 and coming off an 82-50 win over Mississippi Valley State Dec. 3 in Waco. The Pioneers are 4-5 and last played Dec. 6, when they defeated Lubbock Christian 70-64 at home. Baylor is 3-1 at home this season.

FREE ADMITTANCE THROUGH TOY DRIVE
The Baylor athletics department, as part of its participation in the annual Toys for Tots campaign, is offering free tickets to Saturday's game vs. Wayland Baptist in exchange for new unwrapped toys brought to the Ferrell Center. For more information, call 710-8110.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
• Bears are 68-22 over last 8 seasons in regular-season, non-league play.
• Baylor is 20-6 in it last 26 games in Waco (dating to 2005-06).
• Aaron Bruce ranks 11th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,140 career points).
• BU is out-shooting its opponents 46.8-38.4%, including a 40.5-31.1% edge in 3s.
• 3 Baylor guards are shooting better than 40% on 3s: LaceDarius Dunn (46.7%, 5th in Big 12), Aaron Bruce (42.9%, 6th) and Tweety Carter (40.7%).
• 9 BU players average 16 minutes or more & none average more than 30.
• Aaron Bruce is shooting 85.0% on free throws.
• 62% (204-330) of Tweety Carter's career points have come from 3-pointers (68).
• Junior C Mamadou Diene has yet to play this season - sidelined first 7 game while recovering from an ankle injury.
• Baylor won the 2007 Paradise Jam, it's first non-hosted tourney title since 1971.
• Baylor is 21-1 in the Drew Era when scoring 80-plus points.

DIENE & DUNN EXPECTED TO RETURN FROM INJURIES
Junior C Mamadou Diene and true freshman G LaceDarius Dunn are expected to return from injuries and play limited minutes Saturday vs. Wayland Baptist. Diene has missed all seven games this season while recovering from surgery on his ankle Oct. 25. Dunn was injured Nov. 30 in Baylor's game vs. Washington State and missed the last game vs. Mississippi Valley State.

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 42-70 at the school and a career record of 62-81 (six seasons). Drew's 42 wins rank ninth all-time on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in eighth place on the list is Frank Bridges with 51 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.

THE WAYLAND BAPTIST PIONEERS
Head Coach: Robert Davenport (Oklahoma Baptist, 1988); 59-100, 7 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: never met
Last meeting: none
Streak: none
Series in Waco: never met
Drew vs. WBU: 0-0
Baylor vs. SAC: 0-0
WBU NOTES: Wayland Baptist (4-5) is located in Plainview, Texas, and is an NAIA school that plays in the Sooner Athletic Conference... The Pioneers are 0-4 away from home this season... WBU is led by sophomore G Jason Griffin, who averages 14.3 points per game... Senior P Danny Storey averages a team-high 10.0 rebounds and senior G Kris Hatley averages a team-best 4.1 assists.

BEARS CONTINUE MASSIVE REBUILDING PROCESS
The 2007-08 season is head coach Scott Drew's fifth at Baylor as he continues the unprecedented overhaul he began in 2003. After taking over a program decimated by tragedy, player departures, depleted rosters and NCAA restrictions, Drew has recruited a solid foundation of high school players that after earning valuable playing experience are showing progress. This year's squad is 6-1 and last season's youthful Bears posted 15 wins (the highest win total at Baylor in six seasons), including the program's first Big 12 Championship victory since 2001.

BAYLOR'S BACKCOURT: "IN GUARDS WE TRUST"
Baylor's strength in 2007-08 once again lies in its talented backcourt. The Bears utilize a rotation of five guards that each average 22-plus minutes per game. The quintet is made up of four returnees; senior Aaron Bruce (11.4 ppg, 23.9 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (12.4 ppg, 29.7 mpg) and Henry Dugat (8.7 ppg, 23.4 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (8.7 ppg, 22.7 mpg); and heralded true freshman LaceDarius Dunn (12.2 ppg, 22.2 mpg). The fivesome combines for an average 51.7 points and 17.0 rebounds per game and shoot 40.4 percent on 3-pointers.

ESTABLISHING A HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
The Bears are quietly establishing a winning tradition at home in the Ferrell Center. Baylor is 20-6 in its last 26 games in Waco (dating to 2005-06). The Bears are 3-1 at home this season.

DRAMATIC DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
Through seven games, one early indicator of Baylor's success this season compared with years past appears to be some marked defensive improvements, as evidenced by a look at opponent's shooting percentages and scoring figures. Baylor is holding opponents to a 38.4 shooting percentage from the field (lowest figure in school's researchable history), a 31.1 shooting percentage from the 3-point arc [second in Big 12] (lowest figure since 1993-94) and to 61.1 points per game (lowest average since 1958-59).

BAYLOR vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES
Baylor boasts a 68-22 record over the last eight seasons in regular-season, non-league play (6-1 in non-conference this season).

JERRELLS POWERS BEARS
Curtis Jerrells is leading the Bears in scoring (12.4 ppg, 17th in Big 12), assists (31 apg, 12th in Big 12) and minutes (29.7 mpg) for the third straight season. The junior guard has started all 55 career games since arriving at Baylor, was named Big 12 Player of the Week Nov. 19 and took home tournament MVP honors after leading Baylor to the championship of the 2007 Paradise Jam. Jerrells is a preseason Cousy Award candidate and projected a preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league coaches, Athlon and Lindy's.

VETERAN LEADER BRUCE CONTINUES RECORD-SETTING PACE
Senior Aaron Bruce is averaging 11.4 points and continues his climb up the school's career scoring list. Bruce, Baylor's veteran-most player with 81 career games played, currently stands 11th all-time with 1,140 career points. He is currently shooting 85.0 percent (17-20) from the line. 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's 40.3 career 3-point percentage ranks third in school history and his 81.9 career free throw percentage ranks fifth all-time.

MR. ROGERS BUILDING ON BREAKOUT SOPHOMORE SEASON
Junior forward Kevin Rogers is averaging 11.4 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds (sixth in Big 12) this season. He has recorded two double-doubles, has five blocks and is shooting 55.7 percent from the field. During his breakout sophomore season in 2006-07, Rogers doubled his scoring average (6.1 to 12.8 ppg) and recorded five double-doubles.

HERALDED FRESHMAN DUNN MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
True freshman G LaceDarius Dunn of Monroe, La., is second on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.8 rpg) after six games played in his collegiate career. Dunn is the highest-rated Baylor 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. He was a three-time all-state player and two-time class MVP in Louisiana who led Excelsior Christian School to a 118-9 record and one state championship over his final three prep seasons. Dunn was rated the nation's No. 6 shooting guard prospect by Scout.com and the nation's No. 8 wing guard by Hoopmasters.com.

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.).

`THE MAYOR' REHABBING ANKLE
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, is expected to suit up and see limited action as he slowly recovers from an Oct. 25 procedure to repair a chronic stress fracture in his ankle. Diene has started all 43 games played in his two-year career and has recorded 22 multi-block games. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 26 games last season as a sophomore (missed a total of five games due to injury). Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks with 79. Diene led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman, averaging 2.21 in 2005-06, and his 1.88 career figure is second all-time at Baylor behind only current Phoenix Suns Brian Skinner's 3.36 average (1994-98). Diene is referred to as "The Mayor" due to his huge popularity across campus.

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. The Bears were led in scoring both games by junior Henry Dugat, who totaled 25 and 20 points over the weekend. Aside from the games, the players and travel party enjoyed swimming, jet skiing, fishing and shopping on the Yucatan Peninsula.

LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 82 - MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 50
Kevin Rogers hit 10 of his first 11 shots, including eight in a row, for a season-high 26 points to lead Baylor to an 82-50 win over Mississippi Valley State at the Ferrell Center. Rogers' double-double was his second of the season and the seventh of his career. Leading by just seven at halftime, the Bears outscored the Delta Devils 51-26 in the second half en route to its largest margin of victory of the season. Tweety Carter recorded a season high 17 points, while Aaron Bruce scored 14 points and Henry Dugat chipped-in 10. Baylor controlled the boards as the Bears out-rebounded the Delta Devils, 41-18, a season low for a Baylor opponent. Baylor trailed by one, 22-21 at the 3:18 mark of the first half, but finished the period on a 10-2 run to take a 31-24 lead into the break. Rogers led the way with 12 points in the opening stanza.

DUNN BIG 12 ROOKIE OF WEEK NOV. 26
Baylor freshman LaceDarius Dunn was named Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week Nov. 26 after leading the Bears to two wins, including the championship of the Paradise Jam. Dunn set career-highs for points with 17 in each game, shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor. He also shot 50.0 percent (5-of-10) on 3-pointers. Dunn averaged 5.5 rebounds, posting his numbers in just 23.0 minutes per game off the bench.

JERRELLS BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOV. 19
Junior G Curtis Jerrells was selected the Big 12 Player of the Week Nov. 19. The award was the first earned by a Baylor player since Lawrence Roberts was so honored in 2003, and the eighth P.O.W. honor by a Bear all-time. 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 victories and shot 54 percent from the 3-point line and 92 percent from the free throw line. He led Baylor with 17 points in the win over Notre Dame, and his 3-pointer with 3:15 in the game gave the Bears their first lead of the night.

FERRELL CENTER'S 20th YEAR
The Bears are in their 20th season in the beautiful Ferrell Center this year. Baylor is 3-1 at home in 2007-08 and owns a 170-119 all-time record in the arena, which opened in November 1988. The Ferrell Center is a golden-domed structure that seats 10,284 for basketball games.

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 the school in over a decade

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.

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.

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).

NEXT UP...
Baylor departs for its only two-game true road swing of the season that includes games at South Carolina (Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m. CST) and at Southern (Dec. 21, 7 p.m. CST).