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ESPN Summer Shootaround: Baylor
4:41 P.M., FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Screen cap from ESPN's Summer Buzz on Baylor in July on ESPN.com

If the Big 12 is to remain among the nation's elite, LaceDarius Dunn and Baylor have to continue their upward trajectory. That is according to ESPN.com which published its Big 12 Summer Shootaround Friday and, for the most part, the Baylor Bears received high marks from college basketball analysts Andy Katz, Doug Gottlieb, Eamonn Brennan and Fran Fraschilla. Here's a glimpse at what the analysts had to say about Baylor:

A look around the league:
"The Bears took a major step forward in coach Scott Drew's seventh season -- capped by the program's first Elite Eight appearance in modern history -- thanks to an athletic and offensively potent group. That group was led by guards LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter, as well as forward Ekpe Udoh. Udoh and Carter are gone now, but Dunn is back for what could be a big senior season. If the Bears can get uber-recruit Perry Jones to play up to his vast potential, the program could take another major step -- this time to the Final Four in Houston."

Fraschilla on the Bears, which he picks to finish fourth:
"Replacing senior point guard Tweety Carter may be just as hard as replacing NBA lottery selection Ekpe Udoh. Fortunately, Baylor continues to attract quality recruits in Waco. Perry Jones, a 6-11 freshman, is one solid season away from being a top-five selection in next June's NBA Draft. And, of course, LaceDarius Dunn -- who scores like he breathes -- is back for what should be a prolific senior season."

Brennan on the league's 10 key players:
On Dunn: "Much like (Kansas State's Jacob) Pullen, Dunn went from relative obscurity in 2008-09 to stardom in 2009-10. Much like Pullen, Dunn's team will need him to do even more, as the graduation of Tweety Carter leaves a big gap in the Baylor backcourt."

On Jones: "The Bears will also need their star freshman to live up to his hype. Jones is arguably the most tantalizing NBA prospect in the 2010 class, but he has the lottery-sized shoes of athletic forward Ekpe Udoh to fill. If he can approximate some of Udoh's production alongside Quincy Acy, Baylor could be even bettern than last season's Elite Eight team."

John Stovall on Perry Jones:
"Based on talent alone, he should be one of the best impact freshmen in the country. There is very little that Jones can't do on the court, and he is probably the most talented incoming freshmen in the Big 12. The loss of Ekpe Udoh leaves a hole in the interior..."

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

Baylor Joins Ranks of Elite with College GameDay
11:33 A.M., FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Circle the weekend of March 5, 2011, on your calendars now. Baylor, the city of Waco and 'Baylor Nation' will be on display as BU is set to host College GameDay Driven by State Farm in the Ferrell Center. Only eight universities are selected to host CGD every year. That's exciting news for the Bears which are fresh off a 28-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance in 2010.

Baylor is one of two Big 12 host sites (Kansas) in 2011 and becomes just the sixth conference school to host College GameDay for basketball (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma and Texas).

Including Baylor and the rest of the 2011 host sites, only 36 schools (out of 347 NCAA Division I institutions) have hosted College GameDay Driven by State Farm since ESPN launched the basketball spin-off in 2005. Here's the complete list of CGD basketball host sites:

Boston College, BAYLOR (2011), California, Clemson, Connecticut (Men's and Women's), Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Marquette, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Southern Illinois, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Villanova, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

College GameDay's studio crew is anchored by Rece Davis, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps, Bob Knight and Jay Bilas. If you remember, Davis, who was the color analyst with Ron Franklin for last season's near-upset at Kansas in Lawrence, said Baylor was a 'Final Four' team. Well, the Bears were four minutes shy from making Hubert's prediction a reality. During last season's NCAA Tournament, Bilas was the color commentator with Dick Enberg for each of Baylor's tourney wins in New Orleans.

We'll know more about the talent for Baylor's March 5th game vs. Texas once the season draws closer, but if previous years are any indication, Dan Shulman (pxp), Dick Vitale (color) and Erin Andrews (sideline reporter) will be making their Waco debuts in 2011.

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

Ekpe Udoh to Receive Baylor-Sized Send-Off
8:48 A.M., THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

"The Nightmare" returns to Central Texas for Baylor football's season opener Sept. 4

Baylor All-American and Golden State Warriors rookie Ekpe Udoh, the first NBA lottery pick in program history, will be honored with a community send-off on Sat., Sept. 4. "The Nightmare" will be available from 4:30-5:30 p.m. prior to the kickoff of Baylor's 6 p.m. season opener against Sam Houston State in Snickers Touchdown Alley located outside Floyd Casey Stadium. Udoh also will be available during halftime of the game.

In June, Golden State selected Udoh with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Udoh was the first Baylor player taken in the NBA Draft since Brian Skinner was selected 22nd overall in 1998 by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The reception is free and open to the public to give fans a chance to get autographs and take photos with Ekpe. The event is sponsored by WacoWeDoSports.com and George's Restaurant and Catering.

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

Summer Q&A with Scott Drew (Part III)
10:49 A.M., TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Scott Drew thanks The Bear Pit after a home win last season.

Part I: Looking back at the 2009-10 season (Friday)
Part II: TV exposure in 2010-11 and a summer recap (Monday)
Part III: New additions and a brief glance at the schedule (Tuesday)

With the fall 2010 semester underway and Baylor football's season opener a mere 11 days away, that can only mean one thing - Baylor Basketball is getting closer. After a school-record 28 wins, a second-place finish in the Big 12 and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2010, preseason expectations for the Baylor Bears are soaring to an all-time high along the banks of the Brazos River.

Late last week, we sat down with eighth-year head coach Scott Drew to talk about the long road that culminated in a historic 2009-10 season and what lies ahead for the Baylor basketball program. In PART THREE OF OUR THREE-PART SUMMER Q&A, Coach Drew talks about his new staff additions and breaks down part of the 2010-11 schedule.

Full Court Press Blog: Talk about your new staff additions, Sam Patterson and Jared Nuness.
Scott Drew: Sam has been with us for a long time. He's done a tremendous job the last few years with our program. Everyone who has worked with him knows the job he does and how hard he works. I don't know if there is a better video person in the nation than Sam.

Jared played for me at Valparaiso. He was an outstanding point guard; he was Gatorade Player of the Year in Minnesota as a senior. His dad played for the University of Minnesota and later served as Vice President for Jostens. Jared knows a lot about not only basketball but also the corporate side of things. He does a great job of relating to the younger guys.

FCP: When Baylor opens the 2010-11 season in November, there will be a nice new addition hanging above center court. How does that add to the home court advantage?
SD: Anytime you have facility upgrades, it helps in recruiting. It also lets players know they are appreciated. When you have the ability to add state-of-the-art technology to your home facility, it adds that much more to the game day atmosphere.

FCP: Two years ago, you added a Division I transfer by the name of Ekpe Udoh, who blossomed in his time here at Baylor. Talk about your two new transfers you've added this season - Brady Heslip and J'mison Morgan.
SD: In college basketball, it's great to acquire talented transfers. They know about college; they've already experienced it. They know what's expected of them both on the court and in the classroom. They've adjusted from being a high school player to now being a college player. Transfers like Brady Heslip and J'mison (Bobo) Morgan add much-needed experience and competitiveness to your program.

FCP: In terms of big-time non-conference scheduling, you reeled in the "big one" with Gonzaga in Dallas. How big of a marquee non-conference is this now that you get to play in an NBA arena with a return trip to the Northwest in the future.
SD: We had a great experience when we played Arkansas at the American Airlines Center in 2008 up until the last 30 seasons. But it's a great opportunity for our fans and alumni in the Metroplex to watch a Baylor game at AAC. At the same time, it's exciting for our players because some get to return home and others get a chance to play in an NBA arena for the first time. It's a win-win across the board for everyone. We are playing a perennial top-20 team in Gonzaga, a program that's a household name and is a great opponent for us on national TV.

FCP: For the third straight year, Baylor will be participating in an ESPN-sponsored tournament. This time, it's the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. What role does a tournament like this play in non-conference scheduling?
SD: In recent seasons, we've been fortunate to have a good non-conference schedule which has prepared us well for Big 12 play and give us an opportunity to advance to the postseason. We know, in order to make it to the postseason in reality, you have to perform well in non-conference. This year in regards to RPI we have a chance to have the strongest non-conference schedule we've had which we think will provide a solid test when we get into conference play.

FCP: If the team could do one thing aside from playing basketball while in Hawai`i, what would you want them to experience?
SD: Hands down, Pearl Harbor. From education standpoint, anytime you have the opportunity to view history and see where history was made, you appreciate it more. All of us that have had a chance to be at Pearl Harbor appreciate the sacrifices our armed forces have made for us that much more. I' m excited for our team to get a chance to see Pearl Harbor.

FCP: Last week, Assistant Coach Mark Morefield was named one of the nation's top 10 recruiters by Rivals.com. What does that say about the job he's done considering he will be a Division I head coach in the future?
SD: It's a tremendous compliment to the job Coach Morefield has done and what our program has been able to accomplish in the last eight years. At the end of the day, one thing we really value is family and I'm only a good coach if we have good players and a good staff supporting us. Assistant coaches are only good if they have good people supporting them, as well. So, it's a team effort, but it's great recognition for Coach Morefield.

FCP: Entering the 2010-11 season, you now have THREE starters (Perry Jones, Quincy Acy and LaceDarius Dunn) being mentioned for the NBA Draft in 2011. When you came to Baylor, did you think that would ever become a reality?
SD: When we first started this program, we learned very quickly that you had to have pro-caliber players because of the teams that have won the Big 12 throughout the years have had several future pros on their teams. Players want to play with other great players and we've been able to bring in some of those great players.

Countdown to the start of practice in October is officially underway. We'll have several things in store over the next few months as we prepare for the 2010-11 season. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Summer Q&A with Scott Drew (Part II)
11:00 A.M., MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor will play as many as 16 regular-season games on the ESPN family of networks in 2010-11.

Part I: Looking back at the 2009-10 season (Friday)
Part II: TV exposure in 2010-11 and a summer recap (Monday)
Part III: New additions and a brief glance at the schedule (Tuesday)

With the fall 2010 semester underway and Baylor football's season opener a mere 12 days away, that can only mean one thing - Baylor Basketball is getting closer. After a school-record 28 wins, a second-place finish in the Big 12 and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2010, preseason expectations for the Baylor Bears are soaring to an all-time high along the banks of the Brazos River.

Late last week, we sat down with eighth-year head coach Scott Drew to talk about the long road that culminated in a historic 2009-10 season and what lies ahead for the Baylor basketball program. In PART TWO OF OUR THREE-PART SUMMER Q&A, Coach Drew talks about Baylor's increasing national TV exposure in 2010-11 and the very busy summer that was for several Baylor basketball players.

Full Court Press Blog: For the second time in three years, Baylor will be part of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon in the Ferrell Center. That's just one of Baylor's 16 ESPN games this year. Talk about the TV exposure Baylor has received over the last three-plus seasons.
Scott Drew: One thing I think is easy to see with our culture is that whatever is on TV, people know about and appreciate it - whether it's poker, X-Games or basketball. Whatever is on TV, America gravitates to it. The more Baylor basketball is on TV, the more people watch us and the more people know about us and the more people will hopefully appreciate us.

FCP: Baylor will be featured on the ESPN/Big 12 "Big Monday" platform twice in 2010-11. It'll be the fourth and five "Big Monday" appearances in school history - with four coming in the last three seasons. How excited are you to return to "Big Monday"?
SD: Whenever you have the opportunity to play in college basketball's premier TV slot on ESPN, it's a great compliment and great appreciation for the fans and players for what they've been able to accomplish.

FCP: Rivals.com listed you No. 2 on its list of Top Coaches Under 40, behind only Butler's Brad Stevens. How much does publicity like this positively affect Baylor?
SD: Any positive publicity can do nothing but help our program. We appreciate any and all positive publicity.

FCP: It was a busy summer for A.J. Walton, Cory Jefferson, Fred Ellis, LaceDarius Dunn, Quincy Acy, Perry Jones and newcomer Brady Heslip. Talk about their summer ventures and how it will help them this season.

A.J. Walton and Cory Jefferson played in Poland as part of 10-day tour with Athletes In Action:
SD: Anytime you get a chance to go abroad to spiritually and socially develop and play against international competition, it allows you to improve and grow. Hopefully they took full advantage of it like previous players have done.

Fred Ellis traveled to Kenya with the Baylor Sports Ministry Team:
SD: Fred's been a great leader this summer and has been someone our staff has greatly enjoyed working with. He's always been a model citizen and for him to represent Baylor and help spread the Gospel, I think he's come back a better man from it and has more appreciation for the advantages we're given here in this country. He'll definitely benefit from that experience.

LaceDarius Dunn was one of 20 college players named to the USA Select Team that practiced against Team USA in Las Vegas:
SD: Lace has a chance to become the Baylor and Big 12 all-time leading scorer as well as Baylor's winningest player. He has a lot of opportunities ahead of him this season. One thing we appreciate with Lace is that he always plays hard and he cares about winning. Being a senior, he'll make sure the team is competing hard and doing the right things to win. If that happens, it will not only help him reach his goals and dreams, but the team's goals as well.

Quincy Acy and Perry Jones were counselors at the Adidas Nations Camp in Chicago earlier this month:
SD: Quincy received a tremendous amount of attention during the NCAA Tournament and when he had his 10 dunks vs. Texas in March. When he was able to showcase his other talents and skills in Chicago that opened up scouts' eyes as far as his future at the next level. Perry oozes with potential. Every time he performs, scouts get more and more excited with what he can become.

Brady Heslip played for Canada's Development National Team in Europe this summer:
SD: Brady understands the value of playing for your home country. He was excited to represent Canada. Playing well against elite, older, veteran competition helped him gain confidence which will benefit him this year.

FCP: Few would have ever thought that anyone would break Terry Teagle's career scoring record at Baylor. This season, LaceDarius Dunn has a chance to shatter both the Baylor and Big 12 career scoring records. Did you think this was possible when he came in as a freshman from such a small private school in Louisiana?
SD: We knew Lace was tremendously talented and he could score anytime and anywhere. But to be able to break records, a few things need to go your way. First, (you need to) stay injury-free. Second, you need to have teammates around you and get you the ball and get you open. Third, you have to win games and advance to the postseason to have longer seasons so you can add more and more points to your total. We've been fortunate enough in all those areas and that's because of Lace's hard work and what he's meant to the team.

FCP: Preseason expectations have reached an all-time high. Baylor is projected to go deep in the 2011 NCAA Tournament and will most likely be ranked in the top-15 when the first polls come out in October. How much stock do you put in preseason predictions?
SD: Every coach will tell you: `it's not where you start, but where you finish.' You can never go into a season knowing a team's chemistry, injuries that will happen and the leadership that will be provided. Last year, we were picked to finish 10th in the Big 12. People didn't expect much from us, but we had great leadership, great chemistry and we avoided the injury bug. This year, if we have those three things going for us, we have the potential to have an outstanding season. But we won't know those things until we are in the heat of battle in the regular season.

FCP: Can you give us an update on Tweety Carter, Ekpe Udoh, Josh Lomers, Curtis Jerrells, Henry Dugat and Kevin Rogers?
SD: Tweety has been invited to the veteran camp by the Oklahoma City Thunder and we hope he makes their roster. Josh is expected to go overseas and we should know where he will play soon. Ekpe is rehabbing right now, but he probably won't make his NBA debut until January. Curtis will be back in training camp with the Spurs. Henry is also expected to play overseas this year, while Kevin is getting healthy and will try to get on with an NBA team soon.

FCP returns Tuesday for PART THREE OF OUR THREE-PART SUMMER Q&A with head coach Scott Drew. Tuesday's final segment will focus on new staff additions, Baylor's two NCAA transfers and a look at part of the 2010-11 schedule. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Morefield Named One of Nation's Top Recruiters
5:14 P.M., SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Mark Morefield (pictured, right) has been with Scott Drew since their days at Valparaiso.

Baylor assistant coach Mark Morefield was named one of the nation's top recruiters by Rivals.com's Jason King last week. Prior to this year, Morefield had twice been named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com in 2005 and 2006. He has contributed to the signing of six top 20 national recruiting classes over the past 10 years - two at Valparaiso (No. 6 in 2001 and No. 13 in 1999) and four at Baylor (No. 17 in 2009, No. 17 in 2006, No. 11 in 2005 and No. 10 in 2004).

Summer Q&A with Scott Drew (Part I)
2:58 P.M., FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Part I: Looking back at the 2009-10 season (Friday)
Part II: TV exposure in 2010-11 and a summer recap (Monday)
Part III: New additions and a brief glance at the schedule (Tuesday)

With the start of the fall 2010 semester around the corner and Baylor football's season opener a mere 15 days away, that can only mean one thing - Baylor Basketball is not too far away. After a school-record 28 wins, a second-place finish in the Big 12 and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2010, preseason expectations for the Baylor Bears are soaring to an all-time high along the banks of the Brazos River.

Earlier this week, we sat down with eighth-year head coachScott Drewto talk about the long road that culminated in a historic 2009-10 season and what lies ahead for the Baylor basketball program. In PART ONE OF OUR THREE-PART SUMMER Q&A, Coach Drew looks back at the 2009-10 season as well as a very exciting summer for the Baylor Basketball program.

Full Court Press Blog: First off, the 2009-10 season was one of the greatest seasons in school history. Looking back, what were some of your favorite memories of that season?
Scott Drew: Pulling into the Reliant Stadium parking lot in Houston and seeing the mass of Baylor fans was pretty special. It was an amazing feeling to walk out onto the floor and see the green and gold of Baylor Nation supporting us.

FCP: And looking forward, what does the success of the 2009-10 season do for the future of this program?
SD: Last season's success puts the program in a different light nationally. Anytime you win in March (in the postseason), the exposure for your program grows that much more rapidly. I think Baylor is more of a household name when it comes to basketball that it ever has been before.

FCP: Nearly eight years after becoming Baylor head coach, has your master rebuilding plan worked out the way you had hoped?
SD: We never actually had a timetable on anything. We knew the quicker we brought in quality players that represented Baylor the right way on the floor and in the classroom we'd be successful. We've been fortunate enough to bring them in and build a solid program.

FCP: You, (former Baylor assistant and current North Florida head coach) Matthew Driscoll and I had the great pleasure in traveling to New York City for the 2010 NBA Draft and witnessing Ekpe Udoh hug NBA Commissioner David Stern. That was your first time at the NBA Draft. Describe the experience.
SD: Seeing Ekpe on stage with David Stern, seeing his name on the draft board and seeing the smile on his face were something that a college coach dreams about. Seeing your players' dreams come true is part of our job. We strive to help them attain an opportunity to reach their goals and dreams. Since it was my first time in the Green Room, I will always hold a special memory with Ekpe there.

FCP: Over the summer, Baylor had the unique opportunity to "rent" the Reliant Stadium court used for the 2010 NCAA South Regional semifinals and finals and install it in the Whetsel Practice Facility for two months. Whose idea was it to rent that court? What did you tell your team when they saw it?
SD: The Baylor Athletic Department had the foresight to think of the idea for a variety of reasons - it gave us a floor right away; it provided great memories to our players and coaches; and it reminded us of the future because the Final Four is in Houston in 2011. The players were giddy and extremely excited when they stepped onto the court of the first time in the Whetsel Practice Facility because it was not only a great floor, but it also brought back so many great memories from last season.

FCP: With the each of the past three seasons, records have been broken and program first set and the next season's expectations increase exponentially. After a school-record 28 wins, Elite Eight appearance and a No. 10 national ranking, what's next?
SD: The good thing is we still have a lot of nexts to fill - Big 12 championships, tournament championships, a Final Four, a national championship. So there are a lot of things still out there that need to be accomplished and hopefully will be accomplished in the near future.

FCP: Aaron Bruce graduated from Baylor this summer. All 16 seniors (including David Wesley) on your rosters at Baylor have graduated. That's an amazing statistic - to what do you attribute that success in the classroom?
SD: Baylor University has great academics and that starts with the professors inspiring, educating and working with each student. Our students are fortunate enough to learn in a small-class environment which cultivates a more intimate learning atmosphere. And we have an amazing academic support staff in the Simpson Center. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the players and their families.

FCP: Earlier this month, Ekpe Udoh and Evan Turner held an ESPN.com Sports Nation chat. When asked about the Bears in 2010-11, Ekpe said `Baylor will be back in Houston in 2011'. That has to be a great achievement to have someone like Ekpe promoting Baylor at the national level.
SD: We've been blessed to not only have Ekpe as an ambassador, but also many of our other former players that come back in the summer time, talk to our players, give advice on college and playing in the Big 12. During the season, the great thing is when someone is in a slump or not playing well or misses a big shot, our past players are there to pick them up with a phone call, a text or an email. That stuff is huge because that's what we're all about. We're a family.

FCP will return Monday with PART TWO OF OUR THREE-PART SUMMER Q&A as Coach Drew talks about Baylor's TV exposure for the upcoming season and the busy summer that was for several Baylor players. For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Drew to Appear on ESPNU's Katz Corner Tuesday
8:45 A.M., MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew will appear on Katz Corner with ESPN College Basketball Analyst Andy Katz Tuesday on ESPNU. Katz taped several interviews two weeks ago while coaches were out on the recruiting trail.

Tuesday's show will air on ESPNU at 5 p.m. CST. Seven other Division I head coaches will also appear on Tuesday's Katz Corner, including brothers Jason Capel (Appalachian State) and Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech), Ernie Zeigler (Central Michigan), Ray McCallum (Detroit), Matt Painter (Purdue) and Brad Stevens (Butler).

Coming off a school-record 28 wins and an Elite Eight appearance in 2010, the Baylor Bears will play a Ferrell Center record-tying 18 home games in 2010-11 and will open the season Nov. 12 vs. Grambling State in the Ferrell Center.

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

1,000-Point Scorer Aaron Bruce Graduates Saturday
9:44 A.M., SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Aaron Bruce ranks 11th all-time in Baylor history with 1,330 career points.

Congratulations to 1,000-point scorer Aaron Bruce, who earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor Saturday. Bruce finished his spectacular college career with 1,330 career points which rank him 11th all-time in Baylor history. The Australian burst onto the college basketball scene in 2004-05, leading the nation's freshmen in scoring with 18.2 points per game. In 2005, he was honored as a first-team Freshman All-American and was named a third-team All-Big 12 selection.

An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2006 and 2007, he was named to Baylor's All-Centennial Team in 2006. As a senior in 2008, he helped guide the Bears to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. He holds the Baylor freshman season records for minutes per game (34.8), points (509) and points per game (18.2).

With AB graduating Saturday, head coach Scott Drew has graduated all 15 seniors on his rosters while at Baylor. If you count player-turned-pro-turned-manager David Wesley, Drew has graduated 16 former players in his tenure. In May, Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers received their undergraduate degrees. Senior LaceDarius Dunn is on pace to graduate in May 2011.

SCOTT DREW GRADUATES
2010 - Tweety Carter, Josh Lomers, Aaron Bruce
2009 - Kevin Rogers, Curtis Jerrells, Henry Dugat, David Wesley, Delbert Simpson
2008 - Richard Hurd, Mark Shepherd, Mamadou Diene
2007 - Tim Bush, Patrick Fields
2006 - Tommy Swanson, Kevis Shipman
2005 - Ryan Pryor

Talk About National TV Exposure
4:05 P.M., TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor's 2010-11 schedule is officially complete after the Big 12 released the 2011 composite schedule Tuesday. Baylor will play 10 of its 16 Big 12 Conference games on the ESPN family of networks in 2011. Last month, the Big 12 announced that Baylor will be featured twice on ESPN Big Monday. If you throw in the Bears' five non-conference ESPN games, that means half of BU's regular-season schedule will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU this upcoming season. Since the 1997-98 season, Baylor has played 51 games on national television...46 of those 51 games have come under head coach Scott Drew.

Here's a look into Baylor basketball's national TV exposure in the Big 12 era...

Seasons	ESPN ESPN Network Games	TOTAL National TV Games
PRE-SCOTT DREW
1997-2003	5	5
SCOTT DREW ERA
2003-2010	37	46
2010-2011	15	15

As of now, 18 of Baylor's 30 regular-season games will be televised. Television information for the remainder of Baylor's 2010-11 schedule will be released later this summer.

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

Drew Second on List of Top Coaches Under 40
9:20 A.M., MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Scott Drew is one of two Big 12 coaches on Rivals.com's Top 10 list.

1. Brad Stevens, Butler
2. SCOTT DREW, BAYLOR
3. Jeff Capel, Oklahoma
4. Buzz Williams, Marquette
5. Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa
6. Chris Mooney, Richmond
7. Tony Barbee, Auburn
8. Josh Pastner, Memphis
9. Kevin Willard, Seton Hall
10. Keno Davis, Providence

Baylor head coach Scott Drew is the nation's second-best coach under the age of 40, according to the top-10 list compiled by Rivals.com. Butler's Brad Stevens came in at the top. Drew was one of two Big 12 coaches on Rivals.com's list, joining Oklahoma's Jeff Capel. Here's the Buzz on Drew:

"Drew's record isn't all that impressive, but when you stop a minute and consider how far Baylor has come under his watch, it becomes impressive. Drew took over a probation-laden team - the Bears weren't allowed to play any non-conference games in 2005-06 - and he had it one win away from the Final Four this past season. That's not surprising, considering he learned his skills from his dad, Valpo coach Homer Drew, who is well-respected nationally."

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

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