Aug. 11, 2008
Complete 2008-09 Men's Basketball Summer Prospectus (in PDF format)
After a record-setting 2007-08 season in which they won 21 games and advanced to their first NCAA Tournament in 20 years, the upstart Baylor basketball program is poised to go where no other team has gone before in school history - back-to-back NCAA tournaments. Sixth-year head coach Scott Drew has built Baylor into one of the best teams in the Big 12 Conference and his Bears are a legitimate title contender. Behind one of the best backcourts in the country, BU posted just the fourth 20-win season in the program's 102-season history en route to its best Big 12 finish and a NCAA appearance. Drew, who assembled the greatest scoring team in school history last season, believes his Bears have gone from the hunters to the hunted in 2008-09.
"Every program goes through a natural maturation," Drew said, "and we have continued to climb and become more successful. "Now, instead of being the hunters, we are now becoming the hunted."
Gone are reserves Richard Hurd, Mark Shepherd and Aaron Bruce, the school's seventh-leading scorer with 1,330 career points, who is currently playing professionally with the Adelaide 36ers in his native Australia. Despite the loss of Bruce, the Bears return a strong dynamic foursome in the backcourt, while also adding one of the most exciting Texas high school prospects. What Drew's teams have been able to accomplish in his first five seasons has been nothing short of remarkable and is a testament to him and his coaching staff's dedication.
A preseason No. 21 pick by ESPN.com's Andy Katz in June, the Bears are believed to be one of the frontrunners this season in the Big 12 - a change for a program which posted a fourth-place finish last season in the league (the best finish in school history).
"Being ranked in the preseason is a credit to last year's team accomplishments and this season's expectations," Drew said. "However, preseason polls don't mean much because it's the final poll that counts the most.
"The fact that we were able to win so many close games allowed us to gain confidence, which transpired into several firsts for the program. The effects of last season's successes have been tremendous as far as respectability with recruits across the country, as well as this season's television schedule and increased ticket sales."
Baylor returns eight letterwinners which have combined for 278 starts in 485 career games. Averaging a school-record 81.3 points per game, the Bears' sharpshooting offense featured a balanced attack with five players scoring at least 9.0 points per contest. Curtis Jerrells led the team with 15.3 points per game, while becoming the 20th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points.
With more than 80 percent of the team's scoring returning in 2008-09, Baylor's hopes of posting back-to-back NCAA tournament trips appear to be well within reach. Behind the many records that fell last season, expectations have grown exponentially over the summer.
"Every team at the beginning of the season sets high goals," Drew said. "We are like every other team - we want to win every game.
"We are excited to have an opportunity to potentially get back to the NCAA tournament and stay a little longer. We now have the confidence and experience to compete for a Big 12 title this season."
THE BACKCOURT
Returning (4) Cl. Ht. Wt. PPG APG
Tweety Carter Jr. 5-11 180 9.6 2.8
LaceDarius Dunn So. 6-4 196 13.6 0.8
Henry Dugat Sr. 6-0 173 12.2 1.6
Curtis Jerrells Sr. 6-1 208 15.3 3.8
Lost (1) Ht. Wt. PPG APG
Aaron Bruce 6-3 185 8.4 1.9
Newcomers (1) Cl. Ht. Wt.
Kendall Wright Fr. 6-0 180
Jerrells, Henry Dugat, Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn provide Baylor with one of the nation's best and most athletic backcourts. Baylor's "Big Four" were responsible for nearly 65 percent of the team's record-setting offensive production last season. Carter (9.6) is the only returning guard that did not average double figures in scoring. Baylor has something many teams in the Big 12 do not - a solid four-guard nucleus that can dictate the pace of the game at any moment.
Baylor returns its starting five from last season's NCAA Tournament game with Purdue - Jerrells, Dugat, Carter, Kevin Rogers and Mamadou Diene.
Jerrells was a unanimous first team All-Big 12 selection, becoming only the second BU player to be named to the All-Big 12 first team (Terry Black, 2001). He later earned fourth team All-American honors by Yahoo.com. Like the departed Bruce, Jerrells will most likely leave his named scattered throughout the Baylor career record book. Jerrells enters the season as the school's 12th all-time scorer and is on pace to become the first player in school history to lead the team in scoring all four seasons. In addition to his scoring ability, Jerrells ranks eighth in career assists per game (3.69) and sixth in all-time 3-
pointers made (141).
"CJ has had a phenomenal career so far and continues to progress every day," Drew said. "He really improved his assist-to-turnover ratio last year and hopefully he can take it to 3 to 1 this season. Curtis is working on the defensive end and his offensive output speaks for itself."
Dugat started all 32 games alongside Jerrells in the backcourt and finished third on the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game. He enters his senior season tied for fifth on Baylor's career 3-point shooting list with a 39.0 shooting percentage.
Fourth-year veterans Dugat and Jerrells provided experience and stability last season and enter their senior season as leaders on the veteran squad. The exceptionally quick Dugat is the most athletic and fastest player on the court for the Bears.
"Henry made his biggest strides last year on the defensive end," Drew said. "He was disruptive in the passing lines and he should become a factor on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. He is an explosive scorer and is capable of scoring in bunches."
Carter and Dunn, two of the greatest prep players in Louisiana high school history, round out Baylor's athletic quartet. Carter, the team's top on-ball defender, played all 32 games last season, starting the final eight at guard. In the final eight games as a starter, he averaged 12.4 points per game, while connecting on 19-of-41 from 3-point range (46.3 percent). Carter finished second on the team in assists (89) and 3-point shooting percentage.
"Last year, Tweety really improved his shooting percentages and finished second in assists," Drew said. "There is no reason why he can't continue to improve in all areas of his game. He is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league and a tremendous scorer."
Dunn, one of the highest-rated Baylor signees in program history, lived up to his prep billing as he was a Big 12 All-Freshman and Freshman All-American selection in 2007-08. Dunn finished second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), while leading the Big 12 from the free throw line (83.7 percent). He also shot 41.6 percent from 3-point range, which ranks as the fourth-best single-season as well as the third-best career percentage in school history.
The 6-foot-4 guard from Monroe, La., has quickly become of the Big 12's best sharp-shooters and is one of Baylor's biggest scoring threats.
"Lace is coming off an excellence freshman season that garnered him Freshman All-American honors," Drew said. "I look for him to continue improving defensively as well as his assist-to-turnover ratio as he continues to mature in all facets of the game. He can score with the best in the nation."
Not to be forgotten in the guard rotation is the addition of freshman walk-on Kendall Wright, who is on scholarship as a member of the Baylor football team. Wright was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track at Pittsburg (Texas) High School.
"Kendall has a ton of athleticism and can really score," Drew said. "He will be able to help the team in numerous ways once he joins us."
The catalyst behind Baylor's 'Big Four' has been its success rate from beyond the 3-point arc. The five-guard system combined for 228 of Baylor's 275 made 3-pointers a year ago. Departed guard Aaron Bruce accounted for 43 of the team's remaining 47 3-pointers made last season. Dunn and Carter were the only two BU players to shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range, while Dugat and Jerrells followed with 38.6 and 33.3 percent, respectively.
"Our 3-point weapon is the main focal point of our offense," Drew said. "Without it, we struggle. That is why we continue to improve in other areas, including defense and offensive production in the paint. Shooting the 3 really opens up the offense and makes us go."
THE FRONTCOURT
Returning (4) Cl. Ht. Wt. PPG RPG
Mamadou Diene Sr. 7-1 255 3.4 3.9
Josh Lomers Jr. 7-0 276 3.7 2.2
Kevin Rogers Sr. 6-9 244 12.3 8.5
Delbert Simpson Sr. 6-8 216 2.3 2.2
Lost (2) Ht. Wt. PPG RPG
Richard Hurd 6-5 205 0.5 0.5
Mark Shepherd 6-9 225 1.6 2.4
Newcomers (3) Cl. Ht. Wt.
Quincy Acy Fr. 6-7 205
Fred Ellis RFr. 6-6 210
Anthony Jones Fr. 6-10 186
Baylor's six-man frontline combines size, depth and athleticism which will help take some of the scoring pressure off the guards. Returning for their senior seasons are Kevin Rogers, Mamadou Diene and Delbert Simpson. Rogers has quickly become one of the most consistent forwards in the Big 12 Conference.
Rogers earned third team All-Big 12 honors last season after averaging 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a junior. He was also picked to the Big 12 All-Underrated team by the media. Rogers has made 62 consecutive starts dating back to the beginning of his sophomore season. He recorded 12 double-doubles last season - the third-most in the Big 12 - and ranks fourth among active Big 12 players with 17 career double-doubles.
"Kevin was our most consistent interior player last season," Drew said. "He went to the basket strong every time, took fouls and got to the free throw line. It's a huge advantage anytime you can average 8.5 rebounds a game and be a double-double guy like Kevin. He should improve his all-around game and become a vocal leader for us this season."
Diene missed the first seven games of last season because of an ankle injury; he underwent ankle surgery following the season. Diene played in the final 25 games, including a start in the Bears' NCAA Tournament game against Purdue. In May, he was named the Big 12 Male Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first Baylor male to receive the prestigious, eight-year award. He also finished third in the Big 12 and 75th nationally with 1.64 blocks per game. He currently ranks second in career blocks and career blocks per game in school history behind current L.A. Clipper Brian Skinner.
"Mamadou was healthy this summer and rehabbed for six weeks following ankle surgery at the end of the season," Drew said. "He had a chance to strengthen and rejuvenate his ankles. We look for him to have a great senior season so long as he can stay injury-free."
Simpson, a 6-foot-8 junior college transfer last season, chipped in 2.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 25 games in a reserve role. The athletic senior power forward adds much-needed depth to the Baylor frontcourt.
"Delbert had some really good moments in his first season," Drew said. "We need him to be more consistent with those good moments. He helped us win big games at South Carolina and Missouri. He had a good summer and should take another step forward in his senior season."
Junior Texan Josh Lomers is the fourth returning big man for the Bears. The physical seven-footer shot 61.1 percent from the floor last season, while starting 24 games at center. Lomers has played in 61 of the Bears' 63 games in his first two seasons.
"Josh had a chance to become, bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic this summer," Drew said. "He should to continue to progress on the court as long as he stays healthy.
Adding to the four frontline veterans are redshirt freshman Fred Ellis and true freshmen Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy.
"Fred has gotten stronger in the weight room," Drew said. "He provides us with a player inside and out, while giving us added length on the perimeter and quickness on the interior."
Acy is expected to make an immediate impact early on at Baylor. Acy, an all-area basketball selection at Horn High School (Mesquite, Texas), averaged 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior and was named District 12-5A Defensive Player of the Year. Acy ranked No. 4 in the 2008 TexasHoops.com Texas Top 100, No. 45 in the 2008 Rivals.com 150 and No. 67 by HoopScoop.
"We've added two highly recruited players in Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy," Drew said. "They will both help us tremendously this season. Quincy could make an immediate impact on the court."
Jones was a second team 2008 EA SPORTS All-American pick and was named TABC Classic 4A All-State as a senior. He enters BU as one of Texas' most prized high school prospects after averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks last season for Houston's Yates High School.
"Anthony has great length and will be a complete mismatch player," Drew said. "He can hurt the opponent both inside and out. Like all freshmen, he will have to adjust to the physicality of the Big 12. He has a very bright future at Baylor. He can shoot the 3, handle the ball and block shots. He will help alter and contest shots and give us an added shot blocker."
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Following its historic 2007-08 season, Baylor will play a school-record seven Big 12 Conference games on ESPN's family of networks during the 2008-09 campaign.
"To have 15 of our 16 Big 12 games televised at the regional and national level is a testament to how hard our team has worked and how far this program has come," Drew said. "Now, our alumni and fans that aren't able to come to all our games have the opportunity to watch us perform on a national stage.
"We are excited to play so many games on the ESPN network, including our two `Big Monday' games with Kansas and Texas. It is going to be an exciting season."
Last season, Baylor played five games on ESPN's family of networks (ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic). The Bears posted a 2-3 record and are 7-7 all-time on the ESPN network.
For the first time in program history, Baylor will be featured twice on ESPN's "Big Monday", first at home against defending national champion Kansas on Feb. 2 and then at Texas on March 2. In addition to Baylor's seven nationally televised games, the Bears will play eight conference games on the rebranded Big 12 Network (previously branded as ESPN Plus).
Baylor will open the Big 12 Conference portion of its 2009 schedule at the Ferrell Center against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 12:30 p.m. A rematch of last season's epic five-overtime win in College Station follows on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when the Bears visit Texas A&M on ESPN 2. After a Big 12 Network showdown at home with Oklahoma State on Saturday, Jan. 17, the Bears travel to Kansas State (Jan. 21) and Oklahoma (Jan. 24) for a pair of ESPN network contests.
Texas ventures to the Ferrell Center on Tuesday, Jan. 27 for the first half of a home-and-home with the Bears that will be featured on the Big 12 Network. The Bears then face the Missouri Tigers on the Big 12 Network on Saturday, Jan. 31, before returning home to host defending national champion Kansas on ESPN on Monday, Feb. 2.
Three more ESPN dates follow at Texas Tech (Feb. 7) on ESPNU, home against Oklahoma (Feb. 11) on ESPN 2 and at Texas (March 2) on ESPN.
The Bears conclude their conference schedule with four of their last five games on the Big 12 Network. Baylor's Valentine's Day matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies is the only Big 12 Conference game for the Bears that has yet to be picked up for television.
