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Goodbye Hawai`i...Hello 2011
11:25 P.M., MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Recapping Hawai`i, in Pictures: Postcards from Hawai`i: 1 | Postcards from Hawai`i: 2

Four time zones.

Approximately 7,600 miles roundtrip.

16 total hours on three separate flights.

Three games on ESPN family of networks in four days.

Christmas in Hawai`i.

When Baylor arrived in paradise, the Bears were 7-1 and ranked No. 15 in both the AP and ESPN/USA TODAY Top 25 polls. And when the Bears returned to Texas, they were 8-3 and would soon fall out of the AP Top 25 (Baylor slipped eight spots to No. 23 in the coaches' poll).

While Baylor's trip to the island of Oahu didn't work as planned, the Bears have a few days off to decompress before returning to the hardwood in 2011 to host Texas Southern and Morgan State in their final tune-ups before opening conference play.

There's still plenty of basketball left to be played: 19 regular-season games plus the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship...followed by the postseason. To keep it in perspective:

Baylor is 8-3 through 11 games in 2010-11...Last season, Butler started the 2009-10 campaign 8-4 before the Bulldogs reeled off 25 consecutive wins en route to a date with Duke in the 2010 NCAA Division I national championship game in Indianapolis.

With the 2010 portion of Baylor's schedule in the books (Baylor finished the 2010 calendar year with a 26-10 record), senior G LaceDarius Dunn's quest for history is becoming closer to reality...

Dunn, who was named to the Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 23.0 points in three games, currently ranks second all-time in Baylor history (and tied for eighth in Big 12 history) with 1,913 career points. The Monroe, La., native needs 277 points to become Baylor's all-time leading scorer. If he keeps with his current 21.8 points-per-game average, Dunn should surpass Terry Teagle (2,189) for the all-time Baylor record Feb. 12 at Texas.

Dunn needs 344 points to eclipse Texas Tech's Andre Emmett (2,256) as the Big 12 career scoring king. If he keeps with his current scoring average, Dunn should surpass Emmett's record Feb. 23 at Missouri.

Dunn should also become the Big 12's all-time 3-point leader by season's end. He ranks fourth all-time in Big 12 history with 328 career treys; he trails Missouri's Clarence Gilbert (332) by four for third place and Kansas' Jeff Boschee (338) by 10 for second. Texas' A.J. Abrams currently holds the Big 12 record with 389 career triples.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 5
10:06 P.M. (CST)/6:06 P.M. (HST), FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 5 Photo Gallery

Aloha! How quickly the time flies...Nearly five days ago, Baylor arrived in the nation's 50th state. And now, the Bears are preparing for an ESPN2 game on Christmas night before flying home to Texas. While the guys have been strictly business up to this point, the Bears were given a day to enjoy the sites that Hawai`i has to offer Friday. And, I took it upon myself to enjoy the island of Oahu, as well.

Before the guys woke up, my wife and I ventured to Diamond Head crater - namesake of the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Formed over 100,000 years ago by violent steam explosions, the crater was used as defense fortification for the island of Oahu during World War II. Surprisingly, no ammunition was ever fired from Diamond Head. After arriving at Diamond Head around 7 a.m. HST this morning...and $25 round-trip cab fare, 0.8 miles and 580 feet later...we reached the top of Diamond Head (picture below is view from Diamond Head overlooking Honolulu and Waikiki). The 90-minute, 1.6-mile roundtrip trek was well worth the journey...

Later this morning, the Baylor men's basketball team visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The incredibly moving monument gave the players - as well as coaches, staff and family members - an opportunity to learn about the devastation of the USS Arizona, the history of Pearl Harbor and World War II.

After their trip to Pearl Harbor, the Bears headed to practice at the University of Hawai`i before returning to the hotel and enjoying some down time on the beach. All in all, it was a great day for the Bears.

Don't forget...15th-ranked Baylor will face Florida State in the third-place game of the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Christmas night at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Merry Christmas, Baylor Nation, and Mele Kalikimaka!

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 4
12:55 A.M. (CST), FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010
8:55 P.M. (HST), THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Aloha!

10 games into the 2010-11 season and the 15th-ranked Baylor Bears have not fared well against schools from the state of Washington on neutral courts. Last Saturday, it was Gonzaga, which handed Baylor its first loss of the season. Tonight, it was Washington State, a team with which Baylor is familiar...

In 2007, then-No. 6 Washington State escaped the Ferrell Center with a 67-64 win over an upset-minded Bears squad. That season, Baylor won 21 games and earned its first NCAA tournament berth in 20 seasons. The following season, then-No. 24 Baylor handed Wazzu a 58-52 loss in Pullman, Wash., to conclude the opening Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series with a 1-1 mark.

And tonight in Hawai`i with a spot in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic championship game on the line, the Bears were seemingly overwhelmed by Washington State's hot shooting...for the first 26 minutes of the game. With Baylor trailing 59-41 with 12:36 remaining in the second half, the Bears reeled off 17 unanswered points and used a 23-2 run to take a 64-61 lead with 6:36 left to play. And here's how that happened...

A five-minute stretch without a FG by Washington State (0-3 FG, 4 turnovers);
Baylor missed its first 17 3FG before draining four straight;
Senior G LaceDarius Dunn hit three of those four treys (after starting 0-for-11) to finish with a season-high 29 points, moving into ninth place on the Big 12 career scoring list.

However...Washington State used a pair of 3-pointers late in the game to pull off the upset victory over No. 15 Baylor, 77-71, in the first semifinal contest. Baylor will play Florida State in the 3rd-place game of the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Christmas Night at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2.

Each of Baylor's last 11 losses (dating back to 2009 NIT championship game) have been seven points or less (and 12 of its last 13).

Wednesday was gameday, so we have no photos for Day 4, but we will have photos from our hike to the observation deck of Diamond Head and the team's visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona.

Mahalo!

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 3
2:16 A.M. (CST), THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010
10:16 P.M. (HST), WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Aloha! Baylor's second full day in the Aloha State was a victorious one as the 15th-ranked Bears easily handled San Diego, 83-50, in the opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Not only that, but Baylor fans easily outnumbered - possibly even doubled - that of Mississippi State, Washington State and San Diego during the first session of the DHC.

Approximately 24 NBA scouts were in attendance for Wednesday's first-round game and they are expected to be at Baylor's other two games in Hawai`i.

Nine different Bears scored Wednesday, including five in double figures. Sophomore walk-on G Jacob Neubert recorded the first points of his career, netting 4 points and 3 rebounds in 5 minutes. Junior F Anthony Jones led all scorers with 16 points, while Quincy Acy, LaceDarius Dunn and Perry Jones III added 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively.

However, the best individual performance by a Baylor Bear was not a starter...it was sophomore G Nolan Dennis. Dennis' statline: 10 points, 3 steals in 19 minutes. That's quality production off the bench for Dennis, giving Baylor another option that overwhelmed the Toreros.

Outside of that...it was a typical game day for Baylor - if you think palm trees, beaches and a view of the Pacific Ocean is your idea of typical. After the game, the Bears relaxed in their hotel rooms before going to dinner later Wednesday night.

Now, the Bears will prepare for another afternoon game as Baylor faces Washington State in Thursday's first semifinal game at 1:30 p.m. HST/5:30 p.m. CST on ESPNU. A win punches Baylor's ticket to the Diamond Head Classic championship against the winner between Butler and Florida State/Hawai`i.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Postcards from Hawai`i: More from Day 2
2:17 A.M. (CST), WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2010
10:17 P.M. (HST), TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 2 Photo Gallery

Aloha! Baylor's first full day in Hawai`i was filled with rain, practice, film, sunshine, free time and the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic tournament banquet...pretty much in that order. After the Bears caught up on their sleep following Monday's nearly nine-hour, 4,000-mile journey, Baylor headed to its home away from home, the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. No, really, the Stan Sheriff Center bares a striking resemblance to the golden dome of the Ferrell Center.

The only noticeable difference? The Stan Sheriff Center has a silver dome, while that of the Ferrell Center is - of course - gold. Even the seating capacity for both venues are comparable; the Ferrell Center seats 10,284, while the Stan Sheriff Center seats 10,300. According to Baylor freshman Perry Jones III, "(the Stan Sheriff Center) even sounds like the Ferrell Center when it rains," when referring to the crackling of the roof.

Once practice was over, the team headed back to the hotel for lunch and free time before Tuesday's tournament banquet. In between lunch and the banquet, head coach Scott Drew taped an interview for ESPN that will air later this season, while also taping his pre-game comments with John Morris.

For a nightcap, all eight Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic teams converged on the Sheraton Kaiulani Princess Hotel - a short 5-minute walk from Baylor's team hotel - to enjoy Creation - A Polynesian Story. We weren't allowed to take photos during the performance, but we will say this...WOW. It was an amazing show, capped off by a Samoan fire-knife dance. It was a great way to officially kick off the second annual Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

No. 15 Baylor opens the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic with the San Diego Toreros on Wednesday; the game will tip at 4 p.m. CST/Noon HST on ESPNU.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 2
4:05 P.M. (CST)/12:05 P.M. (HST), TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Postcards from Hawai`i: Day 2 Photo Gallery

That was the view of the sun rising over Diamond Head this morning as we walked along the shores of Waikiki Beach. Beautiful, isn't it? The first full day of Baylor's trip to the Hawaiian islands will begin with a morning film session followed by practice (1:30 p.m. HST) Tuesday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Bears will get some afternoon free time before heading to tonight's welcome banquet for the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. We'll upload more photos later today; if you haven't already, check out Luke Simons' video of Baylor's Hawaiian arrival last night.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Postcards from Hawai`i: Aloha
3:07 A.M. (CST), TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010
11:07 P.M. (HST), MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

As you can tell by the time stamp on our first Hawaiian blog post, it's been a long day for the Baylor basketball team. After a morning practice session at the Ferrell Center, the 15th-ranked Baylor Bears headed to Dallas to catch their 1:40 p.m. CST direct flight Monday to Honolulu, Hawai`i.

Nine hours and three in-flight movies later...

Instead of arriving to endless sunshine and beautiful weather, the Bears arrived in Honolulu at 6:25 p.m. HST and were greeted with overcast skies, drizzle and humidity (and lots of it). Once the players walked into the baggage claim area, Baylor's team host presented each player and staff member with a lei and an Aloha!

Now crippled by complete exhaustion, Baylor will rest up for its 1:30 p.m. HST (5:30 p.m. CST) practice Tuesday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Be sure to check FCP regularly as we'll have blog posts and plenty of photos during Baylor's trip to the island of Oah`u for the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Classic.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Aloha!

Fred Ellis, Baylor Graduate
10:47 A.M., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

While "The Showcase" against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Dallas didn't quite work out the way No. 9 Baylor had hoped, Saturday was a good day nonetheless. Junior F Fred Ellis graduated with his degree in speech communications during Baylor's Winter Commencement exercises Saturday morning in the Ferrell Center. He is scheduled to begin graduate studies in sports management in January.

Ellis, who became the first member of his family to graduate college, was the first graduate to walk across the stage so he could get to Dallas in time for Baylor's 3:30 p.m. game on ESPN2. Ellis is the 19th player (current or former) to graduate from Baylor, in the Scott Drew Era joining: Matt Sayman (2004); Robbie McKenzie (2004); Ryan Pryor (2005); Tommy Swanson (2006); Kevin Shipman (2006); Tim Bush (2007); Patrick Fields (2007); Richard Hurd (2008); Mark Shepherd (2008); Mamadou Diene (2008); Kevin Rogers (2009); Curtis Jerrells (2009); Henry Dugat (2009); David Wesley (2009); Delbert Simpson (2009); Tweety Carter (2010); Josh Lomers (2010) and Aaron Bruce (2010).

Senior All-American G LaceDarius Dunn and Baylor All-Centennial Team member Terry Black are on pace to graduate in May 2011.

Now the Bears will travel to Hawai`i for the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Baylor (7-1) will face the San Diego Toreros (2-8) on Wed., Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. CST (Noon HST) on ESPNU. Beginning Monday, FCP will have full coverage from the nation's 50th state.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Bears Participate in "The Showcase Youth Clinic" Friday
9:28 P.M., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Before taking on Gonzaga in game two of "The Showcase, Presented by Reese's" on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the ninth-ranked Baylor men's basketball team led "The Showcase Youth Clinic" at the Lakewest Family YMCA on Friday evening. The clinic, which began at 5 p.m., featured individual instruction from Baylor coaches and student-athletes.

At the beginning of the clinic, participants were introduced to members of the Baylor basketball team and then broke into groups, participating in different skill stations - dribbling, defense, rebounding, free throw shooting and bank shots. Head coach Scott Drew and his team even taught the kids how to "Sic 'em."

Following the conclusion of "The Showcase Youth Clinic," Baylor players signed autographs before heading to dinner and the hotel. Dallas area natives J'mison Morgan, Perry Jones III, Nolan Dennis and Quincy Acy were quite popular during the autograph session. Coach Drew and LaceDarius Dunn were interviewed by Sic 'em Sports Productions' Luke Simons for a video featurette that will be available later on BaylorBears.com.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...Gonzaga
11:44 A.M., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every week during the 2010-2011 men's basketball season, "Full Court Press" will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opponent(s) that week. Today, 'What's Not in the Game Notes' previews "The Showcase, Presented by Reese's" against the Gonzaga Bulldogs:

14 West Coast Conference regular-season titles
12 Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances
9 West Coast Conference Players of the Year
5 NCAA Sweet 16 appearances
1 NCAA Elite 8 appearance

Gonzaga has become one of college basketball's national powers and, despite the 5-5 record to start the 2010-11 season, the Zags will bring everything they've got and then some when they face No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in Dallas. Saturday's Baylor/Gonzaga tilt will be the second half of the doubleheader at American Airlines Center known as "The Showcase, Presented by Reese's". In the first game of "The Showcase," Arkansas and No. 25 Texas A&M will renew their old Southwest Conference rivalry at 1 p.m.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Gonzaga's first intercollegiate teams were simply called the "Blue and White" since the two colors represented the school's official colors. After the start of football in 1892, Gonzaga's teams of the early 1910s were called the Fighting Irish, thought to be used on the desire for the school to become the "Notre Dame of the West." In 1922, plans for a new football stadium were underway in Spokane as the team was entering its glory years; at the end of the season, Gonzaga was invited to play in the Christmas Day "East-West Bowl" vs. West Virginia. Even though Gonzaga lost 21-13, a San Diego sportswriter was impressed with Gonzaga's "Bulldog-like" tenacity and that name has stuck ever since. The following year, a combination of Fighting Irish Bulldogs and Fighting Bulldogs were used, but those names were quickly dropped.

Due to a budget crisis, Gonzaga officially dropped its football program following the 1941 season; the stadium was torn down in 1949.

WHY THE ZAGS?
While Bulldogs has been Gonzaga's official athletic nickname, "Zags" has long been used as an alternative nickname. The popular nickname was even used on basketball jerseys in the 1960s and 70s.

SPIKE THE BULLDOG
Human mascots replaced live dogs in 1980 when a Gonzaga student named Mike Griffin wore a cape and called himself "Captain Zag." He would remain the Gonzaga mascot until 1982 and a few more students would don the uniform before the Bulldog mascot returned in 1985. Lee Mauney, a student from Hatchie Bottom, Miss., introduced Gonzaga to the first human Bulldog mascot in 1985.

THE KENNEL CLUB
The McCarthy Athletic Center, nicknamed "The Kennel," was recently ranked as the fourth-toughest arena in the country in a survey of opposing team by Sports Illustrated. Started by a group of students and Gonzaga baseball players in 1984, The Kennel Club has evolved into a 700+ member, student-run organization.

THE EMPTY CHAIR
The last chair at the end of the Gonzaga bench is left empty to honor the late Fr. Tony Lehmann, S.J., the alumni chaplain at Gonzaga for 20 years who paseed away during the 2001-02 basketball season.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Utah Jazz legend John Stockton, NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals; he is the only Gonzaga player to score 1,000 points and dish 500 assists
Bing Crosby, the "Crooner" had his own band on campus; Gonzaga has the largest public collection of Crosby memorabilia in the world
Lenn Sakata, the last Baltimore Oriole starting SS before Cal Ripkin Jr. started his consecutive games streak
New York Mets OF Jason Bay, 2004 NL Rookie of the Year and 2009 AL All-Star
Washington Wizards F Adam Morrison

THIRD GENERATION ZAG
Redshirt freshman G David Stockton is a third-generation student-athlete at Gonzaga. You make recognize the last name...His father John Stockton, who played 19 years for the Utah Jazz and entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. His great-grandfather, Houston Stockson, was a triple-threat halfback at Gonzaga from 1922-24, leading the Zags to an undefeated season in 1924 and earning honorable mention All-America honors.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Baylor to Lead "The Showcase Youth Clinic" Friday in Dallas
5:15 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Head Coach Scott Drew and his ninth-ranked Baylor Bears squad will lead "The Showcase Youth Clinic" at the Lakewest Family YMCA. The 90-minute clinic for area youth will include individual instruction from Baylor coaches and players as well as insights on the game and life from Drew. The clinic will begin at 5 p.m. with all participants receiving tickets to "The Showcase" doubleheader Saturday.

FAN FEST
The festivities begin Friday as the local community will welcome college hoops fans to Dallas at the Tip-Off Pep Rally at Gilley's Dallas at 7 p.m. All four head coaches - Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon, Arkansas' John Pelphrey, Gonzaga's Mark Few and Baylor's Scott Drew - will be on hand. Tickets, which include complementary food and drinks, can be purchased for $50 each at the door.

HALF-OFF TICKETS
Tickets for "The Showcase, Presented by Reese's," priced from $200 courtside to $20 in the upper level, are on sale for 50% off on Thursday and Friday at the American Airlines Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Baylor Signee on Naismith Award Watch List
12:09 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor hoops signee Quincy Miller was one of 10 high school senior boys named to the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year watch list Thursday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Miller, who signed with Baylor in November, joins Baylor freshman Perry Jones III, who was named to the college Naismith Award watch list last month.

The Naismith High School Player of the Year award was first presented in 1987 to Dennis Scott of Flint Hill Prep (Oakton, Va.), who later starred at Georgia Tech and with the NBA's Orlando Magic. Other notable winners include Jason Kidd (1992), Kobe Bryant (1996), LeBron James (2003) and Derrick Favors (2009).

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Not Dunn Yet and No Signs of Slowing Down
11:18 A.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

It took the ninth-ranked Bears part of the first half to shake off their post-finals rust, but Baylor soon kicked it into high gear, dispatching Bethune-Cookman, 83-39, Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. Yes, Baylor held Bethune-Cookman to 39 points. Wednesday marked the first time Baylor held an opponent under 40 points since...

Dec. 11, 1958, when the Bears defeated No. 20 Oklahoma State, 43-37. In fact, since the start of the 1947-48 season, Wednesday's game was just the 22nd time Baylor held an opponent under 40 points in a game (Baylor is 18-4 in those games).

Despite a slow start scoring-wise, LaceDarius Dunn quickly caught fire, posting his seventh consecutive 20-point game, going for a game-high 24 points. Sophomore guard A.J. Walton dished out a career-high 10 assists, while J'mison Morgan scored in double figures (11 points) for the second time this season. After being held scoreless in 14 first-half minutes, Perry Jones III scored 15 second-half points to finish with 15 and nine boards. "The Cookie Monster," Quincy Acy recorded his fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Baylor is 7-0 all-time when Acy posts a double-double.

TRIPLE STREAKS
LaceDarius Dunn has made a 3-point field goal in 21 consecutive games - tied for the fourth-longest such streak in school history. Dunn is eight games shy of tying the school record of 29 set by Tevis Stukes during the 1999-2000 season. Dunn also owns the second-longest streak in school history (28 games set during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons).

DECEMBERS TO REMEMBER
Baylor has now won 21 consecutive games in the month of December, including 16 straight contests at home. The Bears haven't lost in the month of December since 2006 at Syracuse.

DREW'S CREW SETS FERRELL CENTER WIN STREAK RECORD...AGAIN
For the second consecutive season, Scott Drew's team set the Ferrell Center record for consecutive home victories. Wednesday's 83-39 triumph was Baylor's 12th straight win at the Golden Dome, besting last year's mark of 11 consecutive victories at home.

DUNN'S LAST SEVEN GAMES
For the seventh consecutive game, LaceDarius Dunn reached the 20-point plateau, pouring in a season-high-tying 24 points in Baylor's 83-39 rout of Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. In four games this season, Dunn is averaging 23.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 30.3 minutes. Dunn is shooting 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the floor, 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from 3-point land and 85.7 percent (18-of-21) from the charity stripe. Dunn (20 3FG) has accounted for HALF of Baylor's total 3-point production (40 3FG).

Date	Opponent	Pts	FG	3FG	FT	Reb	Ast
12/15	Bethune-Cookman	24	6-11	4-8	8-8	4	2
12/2	Arizona State	24	6-14	6-12	6-8	4	2
11/29	Prairie View A&M	20	7-13	3-8	3-4	4	4
11/22	Lipscomb	24	8-13	7-11	1-1	5	4
3/28	vs. Duke	22	8-18	2-8	4-5	6	1
3/26	vs. Saint Mary's	23	8-14	4-7	3-4	2	3
3/20	vs. Old Dominion	26	9-16	4-11	4-5	6	2

24 POINTS CLOSER TO BECOMING THE SCORING KING
During the first half of Wednesday night's game vs. Bethune-Cookman, Dunn past former teammate Curtis Jerrells (1,820) for third on Baylor's all-time scoring list. Dunn (1,831) needs 24 points to move into second place on the school's all-time list (Micheal Williams- 1,854). Dunn moved up six spots to 11th on the Big 12 career scoring list and needs 30 to move into the top 10.

WIN OF HISTORICAL - AND RANKED - SIGNIFICANCE
Baylor improved to 32-12 all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25 (23-8 when ranked in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches Top 25). However, Wednesday's win was Baylor's first victory when ranked in the AP Top 10 and third when ranked in the coaches Top 10.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Special Ticket Promo for "The Showcase" Through Thursday
6:34 P.M., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Haven't bought your tickets yet for Saturday's non-conference battle between No. 9 Baylor and Gonzaga at American Airlines Center in Dallas? There's still plenty of time, including a special ticket promotion that will expire Thursday at 8 p.m. CST. Fans can purchase tickets for half-price for Saturday's "The Showcase" doubleheader through Travelzoo.com. Travelzoo subscribers get an exclusive 50% off tickets for four seating levels, including 100-level seats:

Upper Level: $19 (regularly priced $38)
Platinum Level: $27 (regularly priced $53)
Lower Level Baseline: $39 (regularly priced $78)
Lower Level Center: $64 (regularly priced $128)

There are only 300 tickets available for Platinum Level seating. Visit Travelzoo.com for more details.

Baylor has sold out its allotment of tickets, but fans can still purchase tickets online through Ticketmaster (at full price). Fans can also purchase parking for the games here.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Countdown to Hawai`i: What's Not in the Notes, Wazzu
12:20 P.M., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE(EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

With Countdown to Hawai`i now in the single digits, "Full Court Press" will preview the other seven schools participating in the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Wednesday's "What's Not in the Game Notes" previews the Washington State Cougars.

Baylor fans should be familiar with the Washington State Cougars; in 2007, Baylor and then-No. 6 Washington State met for the first of two Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series meetings. Washington State used a late push to hold off the Baylor Bears, 67-64, in Waco. A year later in Pullman, No. 24 Baylor slowed down the tempo and made the Cougars struggle for every basket in a 58-52 road win.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS...RECOGNIZED 90 YEARS LATER
On March 1, 2007, Washington State was awarded a banner for its 1917 NCAA national basketball championship ( banner) prior to a home game against UCLA. The 1917 team went 25-1 and captured its first Pacific Coach Conference championship. The first "National Championship" tournament was played in 1939 and was conducted by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and sanctioned by the NCAA, which took over the tournament in 1940. In 1941, Washington State fell to Wisconsin, 39-34, in the national championship game.

NOTABLE ALUMNI
Did you know that Edward R. Murrow, Keith Jackson (Whoa Nelly!), Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Drew Bledsoe, Craig Ehlo, Ryan Leaf, John Olerud and Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien graduated from Washington State?

BUTCH T. COUGAR
In 1927, Washington Gover Roland Hartley presented a cougar cub to the students of Washington State. This first cougar mascot was named Butch in honor of Wazzu football star Herbert "Butch" Meeker of Spokane. Today, "Butch T. Cougar" is a costumed mascot.

WHO CREATED THE COUGAR HEAD LOGO?
Washington State's cougar head logo was created by Randall Johnson in 1936 and is still in use today.

FOUR FATHES OF COUGAR BASKETBALL
George Raveling, Jack Friel, Jud Heathcote and Marv Harshman comprise the "Four Fathers of Cougar Basketball." Wazzu published a four-part series in Jan. 2006.

We'll continue our Countdown to Hawai`i Thursday as we preview the Hawai`i Rainbow Warriors. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Countdown to Hawai`i: What's Not in the Notes, Utah
4:39 P.M., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

With Countdown to Hawai`i now in the single digits, "Full Court Press" will preview the other seven schools participating in the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Tuesday's "What's Not in the Game Notes" previews the Mountain West's Utah Utes.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
So, what's a "Ute"? A Ute is a member of the Indian tribe believed to have originally settled Utah. Two of the more common definition of Ute are top of the mountains and people of the mountains. Other references have Ute definited as land of the sun. The Utes refer to themselves as "Noochew," meaning "the People." There are four Ute tribes: The Northern and White Mesa Tribes are based in Utah, while the Southern and Ute Mountain Tribes are in Colorado. The Northern Utes are most closely affilied with the University of Utah and have a tribal membership of approximately 3,000.

BEEHIVE BOOT
The Beehive Boot, the authentic pioneer boot, has been awarded annually since 1971 to the Utah school with the best record against in-state foes; the schools that compete for the boot are Utah, BYU and Utah State. In its 39-year history, the Beehive Boot has been awarded to Utah 11 times.

THE BLOCK U
Located 5,300 feet above sea level, the Block U was built in the foothills bordering the Utah campus over 100 years ago. Lights on the 100-foot-tall landmark are illuminated primarily for athletic events; the lights flash after a Utah victory.

NOTABLE ALUMNI
Besides former (Jamal Anderson, Mike Anderson, Keith Van Horn) and current (Andre Miller, Andrew Bogut, Alex Smith) professional athletes, Utah's list of notable alumni also includes: Nolan Bushnell, the co-founder of Atari and inventor of "Pong"; Ed Catmull, co-founder/president of Pixar; The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People author Stephen Covey; Lee Grosscup, who popularized the "shovel pass"; former San Francisco 49ers head coach George Seifert; and Marriott International founder J. Willard Marriott.

NFL AND NBA TOP DRAFT PICKS
Utah made NCAA history in 2004-05 when it became the first school to produce a No. 1 NFL and NBA draft pick in the same year. That year, the San Francisco 49ers drafted QB Alex Smith with the first overall pick, while the Milwaukee Bucks drafted C Andrew Bogut with the top pick in the NBA Draft.

WEDNESDAY'S TOYS FOR TOTS
In conjunction with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, fans can bring one new toy to Wednesday's Baylor men's basketball game against Bethune-Cookman and receive a free ticket to the game. To redeem the toy for one free ticket, bring the new toy to the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office located at the Ferrell Center anytime during the day on Wednesday. Only one toy can be redeemed for one ticket; fans cannot redeem multiple toys. Members of the United States Marine Corps will be set up in the Ferrell Center when the doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST. For more information on the Toys For Tots program, visit www.toysfortots.org.

TUESDAY'S ODDS AND ENDS
Baylor is one of the nation's top contenders, according to ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla. Fraschilla analyzes the good and the bad of the nation's top 16 teams on ESPN.com's College Basketball Blog Tuesday... Baylor backcourt mates Stargell Love and LaceDarius Dunn made Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Eisenberg's list of college basketball's outlandish names; Stargell was named after Pittsburgh Pirates star Willie Stargell, while last March's feature in The Washington Post explains the story behind "LaceDarius"... Former Baylor PG Tweety Carter is one of seven players averaging double-figure scoring numbers for the Tulsa 66ers through eight games... 2010 NBA lottery pick Ekpe Udoh made his NBA debut Dec. 10 vs. the Miami Heat, scoring two points in three minutes off the bench... Redshirt junior F Fred Ellis will graduate Saturday morning from Baylor with his degree in speech communications.

We'll continue our Countdown to Hawai`i Wednesday as we preview the Washington State Cougars. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Countdown to Hawai`i: What's Not in the Notes, Butler
3:15 P.M., MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

With Countdown to Hawai`i now in the single digits, "Full Court Press" will preview the other seven schools participating in the 2010 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Monday's "What's Not in the Game Notes" previews 2010 NCAA Division I national runner-up Butler.

The nation's only team to go undefeated in January, February and March of 2010, the Butler Bulldogs were literally one shot away from winning the 2010 national championship. Last season, the Bulldogs finished 33-5 overall and 18-0 in the Horizon League, finishing the season as the only unbeaten conference champion in Division I. Now, Butler has won at least 26 games in four consecutive seasons and have found national success under fourth-year head coach Brad Stevens.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Butler University opened in 1855 as North Western Christian University in Indianapolis, Ind. Prior to 1919, Butler's athletic teams were known as the "Christians." During the 1919 football season, Butler fans began to grow weary of the nickname, members of the Butler Collegian came up with the Bulldog nickname.

THE ORIGINATION OF THE ORANGE BASKETBALL? THAT WOULD BE BUTLER
Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle is the man who originated the orange colored basketball. Until the late 1950s, basketballs were dark brown, but Hinkle wanted a ball that could be better seen by players and fans. He worked with The Spalding Company to come up with a new ball, which was tested at the 1958 NCAA Finals in Louisville. The NCAA was impressed and the new orange ball was adopted.

YES, THOSE HOOSIERS
In 1954, Butler Fieldhouse (renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1966) hosted the historic Indiana basketball state championship game when Milan High School (enrollment 161) defeated Muncie Central High School (1,600+) to win the state title. The state final depicted in the 1986 movie Hoosiers, loosely based on the "Milan Miracle" story, was shot in hinkle.

CONSECUTIVE FREE THROWS
Butler's Darnell Archey established an NCAA Division I record by hitting 85 consecutive free throws over three seasons. His streak began Feb. 15, 2001, and ended Jan. 18, 2003. Archey later won the 2003 collegiate Three-Point championship in New Orleans. Butler's A.J. Graves had a streak of 63 consecutive free throws made during the 2006-07 season. That streak ranks the third-longest single-season streak and fourth-longest all-time streak in NCAA Division I history. Graves began the 2006-07 season by hitting 91 of his first 92 free throw attempts.

NOTABLE ALUMNI
Butler has produced four current or former Division I head basketball coaches: Baylor's Scott Drew; former Butler and Nebraska head coach and current Butler AD Barry Collier; former Iowa and Butler head coach Todd Lickliter and current Ohio State head coach Thad Matta. Other notable alumni include author Kurt Vonnegut (honorary degree), 1954 Milan High School hero Bobby Plump and play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Butler won the 1924 AAU national championship in Kansas City, Mo. The Bulldogs were the recipients of the 1929 John J. McDevitt Trophy, which wa presented to the collegiate national champion by the Veteran Athletes of Philadelphia.

BIG 12 RANKINGS NOTE
For the first time in Big 12 history, six men's basketball teams are in the AP Top 25 - No. 3 Kansas, No. 6 Kansas State, No. 9 BAYLOR, No. 13 Missouri, No. 22 Texas and No. 25 Texas A&M.

BAYLOR IN THE TOP 25 POLLS
After a week off from competition, Baylor moved up to No. 9 in the latest AP Top 25 poll - the highest AP ranking in school history. The Bears remained at No. 9 in the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches poll for the second straight week.

Week	PRE	N15	N22	N29	D6	D13
Associated Press	16	17	12	11	10	9
ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches	14	17	13	10	9	9

We'll continue our Countdown to Hawai`i Tuesday as we preview the Utah Utes. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Baylor's Last 51? How About Dunn's Last 6 Games
12:47 A.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

On Wednesday, head coach Scott Drew was at American Airlines Center in Dallas promoting next week's non-conference matchup between ninth-ranked Baylor and perennial national power Gonzaga in The Showcase Presented by Reese's (Purchase tickets here). During his luncheon at AAC, Drew touched on Baylor's school-record 15 regular-season games on ESPN platforms during the 2010-11 season, its highest ranking in school history, College GameDay's inaugural trip to Waco and Baylor's success over its last 51 games.

Another prominent stat to keep careful watch over: senior G LaceDarius Dunn's quest to become Baylor's and the Big 12's all-time leading scorer. Dunn currently ranks fourth in Baylor history and 17th in Big 12 history with 1,807 career points. Dunn needs 14 points to surpass Curtis Jerrells for third all-time at Baylor and 55 points to pass John Lucas III for 10th place on the Big 12's career list. Dunn is just 383 points shy from becoming Baylor's all-time leading scorer (Terry Teagle - 2,189).

Dunn has scored 20+ points in each of his last six games and ranks fifth all-time at Baylor with 36 career 20-point games. If Dunn's last six games (overall and at home) are any indication, he could hold both career scoring titles by the end of the regular season...

Dating back to the 2010 NCAA Tournament, here's Dunn's stat line from his last six games (Baylor 5-1 in those contests):
23.2 PPG (139), 52.3 FG% (46-88), 45.6 3FG% (26-57), 77.8 FT% (21-27)

And if you count Dunn's last six games at home (Baylor 6-0 in those contests):
25.2 PPG (151), 54.7 FG% (47-86), 53.8% (28-52), 85.3 FT% (29-34)

Dunn's also racing to become the Big 12's all-time 3-point king. The 6-4 senior guard has 315 career triples and is 75 shy of surpassing Texas' A.J. Abrams (389) as the league's all-time 3FG leader.

UPDATE ON BEARS IN THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS
Former Baylor standouts Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers are enjoying success in their rookie seasons in the NBA Development League. Carter is averaging 11.1 points and 3.6 assists in seven games for the Tulsa 66ers (3-4), while Lomers has chipped in 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in five games for the Idaho Stampede (1-7)...Curtis Jerrells and his Partizan Belgrade mates will face Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight in Euroleague regular season action. CJ scored 13 points in his Partizan debut last week vs. BC Khimky Moscow...Darryl Middleton is averaging 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 11 games for Spain's Sant Josep Girona in LEB Gold. Middleston has enjoyed a nearly 20-year career playing basketball professionally in Europe, including two Spanish titles with FC Barcelona and four Greek titles with Panathinaikos...Ekpe Udoh, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, has been sidelined with a torn tendon in his left wrist and wasn't expected to make his NBA debut until mid-January. Now, Udoh is ahead of schedule and could see action in 2010.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Tickets Still Available for "The Showcase" in Dallas
9:15 P.M., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Four basketball programs will descend on American Airlines Center in Dallas on Dec. 18 to face off in a doubleheader for The Showcase Presented by Reese's. Former Southwest Conference rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M will square off at 1 p.m., followed by a top-25 matchup between perennial power Gonzaga and your Baylor Bears at 3:30 p.m. Both games will be televised live nationally on ESPN2; Ron Franklin (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) will serve as the TV talent for both games.

Baylor has sold out its allotment of tickets, but there are plenty of tickets available for the Bears' final game in Texas before heading to Hawai`i for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Fans can purchase tickets online through Ticketmaster. Fans can also purchase parking for the games here.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Historical Look at Baylor's Progression in AP Top 25
2:59 P.M., MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Last season, Baylor was ranked in the final AP Top 25 poll for the first time in school history (19th in the final AP Poll and 10th in final coaches' poll). In October, Baylor debuted at No. 16 in the preseason AP Top 25, marking the Bears' first-ever preseason poll appearance.

And now, the Bears are ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history...Baylor is ranked No. 10 in the latest AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the latest ESPN/USA TODAY coaches' poll. Baylor's current coaches' poll ranking (No. 9) is the highest in school history.

With Baylor (6-0) continuing to climb in the both the AP and coaches' Top 25 polls in 2010, here's a look back at Baylor's progression in the AP Top 25:

BAYLOR'S HISTORY IN THE AP TOP 25
Pre-Scott Drew Era

Week	AP Ranking
Jan. 25, 1949	18
Jan. 14, 1969	19
Feb. 11, 1969	19

2007-08

Week	AP Ranking
Jan. 21, 2008	25
Jan. 28, 2008	25

2008-09

Week	AP Ranking
Dec. 1, 2008	24
Dec. 8, 2008	22
Dec. 15, 2008	21
Dec. 22, 2008	21
Dec. 29, 2008	19
Jan. 5, 2009	23
Jan. 12, 2009	21

2009-10

Week	AP Ranking
Jan. 11, 2010	22
Jan. 18, 2010	25
Jan. 25, 2010	24
Feb. 1, 2010	20
Feb. 8, 2010	24
Feb. 15, 2010	22
Feb. 22, 2010	24
March 1, 2010	21
March 8, 2010	21
March 15, 2010 [FINAL]	19

2010-11

Week	AP Ranking
Oct. 28, 2010 [PRESEASON]	16
Nov. 15, 2010	17
Nov. 22, 2010	12
Nov. 29, 2010	11
Dec. 6, 2010	10

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Julius Denton Named to Indiana 2011 Silver Anniversary Team
9:27 A.M., MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Former Baylor F Julius Denton is one of 18 men named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's 2011 Silver Anniversary Team, based on outstanding accomplishments as a senior high school basketball player 25 years ago. Denton, a second-team all-state selection by Indianapolis News and third-team by the AP and UPI, averaged 16.7 points per game as a senior at Shelbyville High School. A four-year letterwinner at Shelbyville, Denton was an all-conference performer in 1986 and was named MVP of the 1986 North-South All-Star game.

Denton helped lead Shelbyville to the 1986 Indiana State Final Four, where he scored a team-high 21 points in a one-point semifinal loss to Anderson HS. He attended Kankakee (Ill.) Community College and was a first-team junior college All-American as a sophomore in 1988. Denton, who played for Baylor from 1988-90, teamed with with senior F Alvin Jones and sophomore G (current San Antonio Spurs Vice President/Assistant GM) Dennis Lindsey to lead the Bears to the 1990 NIT. Denton averaged 13.9 points as a junior in 1988-89 and 16.4 points as a senior in 1989-90, finishing with 867 career points and 191 career assists.

Denton scored a team-high 22 points in Baylor's 1990 NIT loss at Mississippi State. Denton's mark stood as the most points scored by a Baylor player in the postseason until Curtis Jerrells scored 27 vs. Purdue in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Denton, who coached Waco Christian School to the 1999-2000 Texas state championship, currently serves as the director at Boys and Girls Club in Texas.

All Silver Anniversary Team members will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's annual banquet, scheduled for March 23, 2011, at the Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis. Tickets will be made available in early 2011. For more information, call the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame at (765) 529-1891.

Sunday Afternoon Point Guard: The Last 51
3:12 P.M., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Win #35 of Baylor's current 51-game run: a trip to the 2010 NCAA Elite Eight in Houston.

While the undefeated - and 10th-ranked - Baylor Bears enjoy their time off from competition to focus on final exams, we'd like to take this time to wax philosophic on Baylor's last 51 games. Why the last 51? Well, 51 games ago, Baylor began its most successful run in program history...You know, the one that unofficially began with this loss, but officially began with this win.

It also featured wins over Kansas, Texas (four. in. a. row.), Georgetown (first postseason win since 1950), Auburn (to earn first-ever trip to NIT final four), San Diego State (to earn first-ever trip to NIT championship game) and Saint Mary's to name a few.

It also saw the end of losing streaks to the likes of Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Here's a breakdown of The Last 51...

41-10. Baylor is 41-10 in its last 51 games (15-7 vs. Big 12 teams); that's an .804 winning percentage. To put it in perspective, Baylor was 28-23 in its previous 51 games (14-19 vs. Big 12 teams).
Baylor is 22-1 at home, 8-4 on the road and 11-5 at neutral sites.
Baylor is 33-1 when holding opponents under 70 points (8-9 when opponents score 70+), 12-0 when holding opponents under 60 and 7-0 when holding opponents under 50.
Baylor is 13-0 when scoring 80+ points.
Baylor has won 27 games by 10+ points.
Baylor's averaging scoring margin in its 41 wins is 15.9 points.
Baylor's averaging scoring margin in its 10 losses is 6.5 points.
Senior G LaceDarius Dunn has scored 934 of his 1,807 career points during Baylor's current run.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Men's Hoops Bake Sale to Assist Orphanage
11:41 A.M., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Every year, the wives of the Baylor men's basketball coaching staff choose a charitable cause to support. This year, thanks to the efforts of administrative assistant Karen Craig, they will hold a bake sale next week in support of Restoration Gateway, an orphanage started by Baylor alumni Tim and Janice McCall in Uganda this past June. The orphanage, which sits on a 500-acre plot of land that overlooks the Nile River in Uganda, provides housing for more than 50 children.

The bake sale, hosted by the Baylor men's basketball coaches' wives, will be held Sat., Dec. 11, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Academy for Creative Learning (9021 Chapel Rd.). The goal for the bake sale is to raise at least $1,000, and the money raise will be used to buy clothing, seed for garden plots and school materials for the children living in the orphanage.

Even though the orphanage opened in June, it will not be completed for about three more years. When construction is finished, there will be 35 homes on site that can house eight orphans each. Other buildings on site will include a pastor's retreat, a children's spiritual formation center, a tabernacle and conference center, a school, a Bible training center, an agriculture and fishery demonstration project and a resort.

To read the complete story, check out Friday's edition of the Baylor Lariat: article by Sara Tirrito.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Lace Dunn-believable Against the Sun Devils (Yet Again)
11:16 A.M., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

ESPN's Stephen Bardo interviews LaceDarius Dunn after his game-high 24 points vs. Arizona State.

LaceDarius Dunn's 24-point performance Thursday night was very reminiscent of his 27-point outburst against No. 14 Arizona State in 2008...

What happens when two teams that predominantly play zone defense meet? This: 17 combined 3FG and another show-stopping performance by senior All-American G LaceDarius Dunn. Dunn, making his 2010-11 TV debut, didn't disappoint, scoring a season-high-tying 24 points - thanks to six 3FG - to give No. 11/10 Baylor a solid 68-54 win over Arizona State in the final game of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series for both teams. Dunn now has 1,807 career points and needs 14 points to move into sole possession of third place on Baylor's all-time list (Curtis Jerrells, 1820). Dunn has also made a 3FG in 20 consecutive games, giving him the fifth-longest streak in school history.

ESPN2 play-by-play man Bob Wischusen and color analyst Stephen Bardo were very complimentary of Dunn, as was Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek...Bardo, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and member of the Illinois "Flyin Illini" Final Four team in 1989, had this to say this morning on Twitter: "LaceDarius Dunn can score in a phonebooth!"

And here's what Coach Sendek said about Dunn in his postgame press conference:

"(Baylor's) guards are very good players and LaceDarius Dunn is one of the top 2-guards in the country...He's a terrific player. He is one of the best in college basketball right now. He doesn't need a lot of time and space and he's very accurate."

As a team, Baylor shot 47 percent from 3-point range and had three players in double figures, none of which were named Quincy Acy. With Arizona State neutralizing Acy (5 points, 7 rebounds in 30 minutes), the Bears still won by double digits.

Freshman F/C Perry Jones III had a relatively quiet night, if you call 12 points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists quiet. A.J. Walton scored 13 points and added five rebounds, four steals and three assists in 35 minutes. Baylor's starting lineup - Walton, Dunn, Jones III, Acy and Anthony Jones - combined for 58 of the Bears' 68 total points. Fred Ellis and J'mison Morgan provided the other 10 points off the bench.

FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINES

Dunn slightly hurt in Baylor victory (Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Bears remain perfect (Chris Derrett, Baylor Lariat)
Dunn gives Baylor cushion, then bruises forearm (Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press)
Dunn leads Baylor to 68-54 win (Kip Reiserer, FOXSportsSouthwest.com)
Baylor drops ASU for second straight year (Tyler Lockman, The State Press)

A LOOK BACK AT BAYLOR IN THE BIG 12/PAC-10 HARDWOOD SERIES
Baylor finished the four-year Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series with a 3-1 record.
2007 - No. 6 Washington State 67, Baylor 64 (Recap | Notes | Box Score)
2008 - No. 24 Baylor 58, Washington State 52 (Recap | Notes | Box Score)
2009 - Baylor 64, Arizona State 61 (Recap | Notes | Box Score)
2010 - No. 11 Baylor 68, Arizona State 54 (Recap | Notes | Box Score)

SOME NOTES OF NOTE FOR THE ROAD...
Baylor extended its home winning streak to 11 games, tying the Ferrell Center record set last season (Baylor's next home game is Dec. 15 vs. Bethune-Cookman)...Baylor is 41-10 in its last 51 games dating back to its 2009 postseason run...Baylor is off to its second 6-0 start in the Scott Drew era - its first 6-0 start came in 2008-09 after the Bears defeated No. 14 Arizona State in Anaheim...Baylor is 38-3 in the Drew era when holding opponents under 60 points...Baylor has won 29 straight games when holding opponents below 70 points, including every game this season...Baylor has had one 20-point scorer in each of its first six games in 2010-11...As we tweeted last night, 11 NBA scouts (representing nine NBA teams) were in attendance Thursday night.

POWER RANKINGS
Baylor, which is ranked No. 11 in the AP and No. 10 in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches' polls, ranks 12th in ESPN's latest Power Rankings (Highest: No. 7 by Doug Gottlieb; Lowest: No. 21 by Andy Katz) and 14th in FOXSports.com's Power Rankings. Baylor is also No. 9 in Luke Winn's Power Rankings on SI.com and comes in at No. 10 overall in the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...Arizona State
12:05 P.M., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every week during the 2010-2011 men's basketball season, "Full Court Press" will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opponent(s) that week. Today, 'What's Not in the Game Notes' previews Baylor's Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series finale against the Arizona State Sun Devils:

For the first time, Arizona State will trek to Waco to face No. 11/10 Baylor. For the final time, it will be part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series as the two schools square off Thursday at the Ferrell Center on ESPN2. Baylor, which is 2-1 in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series, is looking for its second 6-0 start under head coach Scott Drew (2008-09; that season, win No. 6 came against ... Arizona State). Baylor will also try to extend its home winning streak to a Ferrell Center record-tying 11 games.

Baylor is 40-10 in its last 50 games dating back to its 2009 postseason run. Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek's tenure in the desert mirrors that of the Drew era in Waco; ASU was 8-22 in Sendek's first season (2006-07), but is 71-36 in the past four years. Drew is 78-34 in his last four seasons after starting 36-69).

WEDNESDAY MULTIMEDIA LINKS
Watch | | | Game Notes | Gameday Central

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Arizona State, the largest public research university in the U.S., was founded in 1885 as Tempe Normal School for the Arizona Territory. It was later renamed Arizona State College in 1945 and achieved university status in 1958. ASU's 2010 enrollment is 70,440 (four campus in Phoenix Metro area); that's greater than the population (2000 census numbers) of such Texas cities as College Station (67,890), Bryan (65,660), Round Rock (61,136), Galveston (57,247) and Temple (54,514).

WHAT'S IN A (NICK)NAME
Arizona State's 'Sun Devils' nickname is third in the school's history. When the second Tempe Normal football team opened play in 1889, the student body chose "Owls." And when Tempe Normal became Arizona State Teachers College, "Owls" morphed into "Bulldogs." However, the origin of the "Sun Devils" nickname had been shrodded in mystery for many years. The nickname is said to have been originally suggested by New Milford, Conn., sportswriter Ryan Drost, who wrote, "Let's call them Sun Devils." The mascot was adopted in 1946.

SPARKY THE SUN DEVIL
Sparky is the official Arizona State mascot. Two years after the "Sun Devil" became the official nickname of Arizona State, Disney illustrator and alumnus Bert Anthony designed Sparky, an imp (mythological being similar to a demon) with a pitch fork. Anthony was also the creator of the now defunct Stanford Indian symbol.

THE HERB SENDEK COACHING TREE
Doug Tammaro, our SID counterpart at Arizona State, notes that ASU head coach Herb Sendek, who has 18 years of head coaching experience, has eight former assistant coaches who are now head coaches themselves - the most of any Division I head coach. Sendek's "Coaching Tree" includes: Jim Christian (TCU), Charlie Coles (Miami [Ohio]), John Groce (Ohio), Larry Hunter (Western Carolina), Ron Hunter (IUPUI), Thad Matta (Ohio State), Sean Miller (Arizona) and Mark Phelps (Drake).

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Sun Devil teams have won 135 national titles, including 22 NCAA championships. Arizona State has won national championships in men's archery (15), women's archery (21), mixed archery (20), men's badminton (13), women's badminton (17) and mixed badminton (10) - all of which are not recognized by the NCAA.

TERRITORIAL CUP
The Territorial Cup is a trophy that is awarded annually to the winner of the Arizona-Arizona State football game and also serves as the symbol of the long-standing rivalry between the schools (known as the State Farm Territorial Cup Series). The NCAA has certified it as the oldest award given for a rivalry game.

FAMOUS ALUMNI
Not only does Arizona State's list of famous alumni include professoinal athletes, it also includes many well-known non-athletes, too: retired NFL CB Eric Allen, MLB home run king Barry Bonds, Oklahoma City Thunder G James Harden, Miami Heat G Eddie House, Baseball Hall of Famer/"Mr. October" Reggie Jackson, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, famed ABC broadcaster Al Michaels, professional golfer Phil Mickelson, Isaiah Mustafa ("The Old Spice Guy"), actor Nick Nolte, Boston Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (2008 AL MVP), former NFL QB Jake Plummer, ESPN analyst and former NBA head coach Byron Scott, comedian David Spade and former NFL LB Pat Tillman.

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