Nov. 14, 2002
Baylor's basketball program will tip off Year Four of the Dave Bliss era in 2002-2003, and many observers feel the successes Bliss' Bear squads have enjoyed are just scratches on the surface of what lies ahead.
Three seasons removed from inheriting a winless conference team in 1999, Bliss has elevated not only the attitudes of the Baylor players but also the expectations of Bear fans.
Excitement surrounding Bear basketball is high in Central Texas and has been demonstrated at the Ferrell Center turnstiles. Home attendance has increased more than 60 percent in the three seasons under Bliss, from 2,689 the year prior to his arrival to 6,843 in 2001-2002.
Leading the Bears into the 2002-2003 season is a nucleus of young talent that returns from last year's squad. Last season's starting lineup, which included two freshmen, one sophomore and one junior, posted some impressive achievements including a victory over No. 22 Missouri in front of a national TV audience and a record-breaking 52-point win over Texas A&M.
Baylor's freshman starters last season, John Lucas and Lawrence Roberts, made headlines with their impressive play and received multiple postseason honors. Roberts was named All-Big 12 and a freshman All-American, and both players were consensus Big 12 All-Freshmen selections.
Bliss and staff are infusing the experience of four junior college players to the existing young talent.
"Lawrence Roberts, John Lucas and Kenny Taylor had terrific freshman seasons," Bliss said of last season's true freshman trio. "But I think the addition this season of junior college players Ellis Kidd, Terrance Thomas, Robert Hart and Carlton Dotson will really help to replace the experience that we lost."
In addition to returning three starters from last season, the coaching staff is confident it has improved the team's overall athleticism from last season.
"This year's team promises to be real exciting, and if there is an area that we have strengthened ourselves it would be our athletic ability," Bliss said. "We should be much quicker. The addition of Terrance Thomas to one wing and Ellis Kidd to the other will really help our athletic ability."
The 2002-2003 schedule will again feature the grueling Big 12 slate, and a mix of regional opponents including six in-state schools. Home games against Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas highlight the schedule. Non-conference foes include Houston, SMU and TCU.
Back to lead the team is sophomore point guard John Lucas (5-11, So.), who averaged 13.2 points and dished out 120 assists last season.
"We'd like John to become a much better defensive presence out there," Bliss said. "We think his offense has been terrific for us. We look for him to refine his point guard skills and get more people involved and perhaps increase his assists."
Lucas was named a Big 12 All-Freshman after starting 27 games and leading Baylor with 33.5 minutes played per game.
Junior Robert Hart (5-10, Jr.), a transfer from Paris Junior College, is expected to compete with Lucas for starting time.
"If he doesn't start he'll see a lot of action," Bliss said of Hart, "because although he may not shoot the ball quite as well as some of our other point guards, he's a very good floor leader and somebody who can play good defense."
Hart led Paris to the NJCAA Region XIV championship game and was named to the 2002 All-Region XIV third team and all-tournament team.
Matt Sayman (6-4, Jr.) will provide veteran leadership in a reserve role at either guard position. The third-year junior has played in all 61 games since coming to Baylor, and has logged 13 starts.
"Matt Sayman is a winner," Bliss said. "He makes plays that win games."
Twice in the last two seasons Sayman converted game-winning free throws in the closing seconds of big games. As a freshman he hit two free throws with 10 seconds remaining in overtime to help defeat Colorado in the 2001 Big 12 Tournament. Last season, Sayman's two free throws with 11 seconds to go gave Baylor an 81-80 win over then-No. 22 Missouri.
Senior Andre White (6-0, Sr.), the former transfer from Hardin-Simmons has seen minutes in 24 games over the past two seasons.
Also in a backup role is freshman Will Allen (6-2, Fr.) from Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas.
Among candidates for playing time at shooting guard is Ellis Kidd Jr. (6-4, So.), a transfer from Seminole State College. The former redshirt at Oklahoma State has three years to play and is expected to add a 3-point shooting threat.
"We think Ellis can be a tremendously good offensive player," Bliss said. "He's an athlete, and should be an exciting player for us."
Prep newcomer Corey Herring (6-4, Fr.), from Winchendon Prep in Massachusetts, is a wing player who should see minutes at the two guard.
Kenny Taylor (6-3, So.) is a second-year player who will compete at off-guard. He played in 21 games as a true freshman last season, averaging 3.9 points and shooting 39.1 percent from the 3-point arc.
Baylor's most highly regarded newcomer, junior college All-American Terrance Thomas (6-6, Jr.), will compete for the starter's role at small forward.
"Terrance is an all-around type player with ball-handling abilities to run the break and the strength to post up inside," Bliss said.
Thomas is a Waco native who led Lon Morris College to the NJCAA Region XIV championship last season.
True freshman Herring is expected to see action at the small forward position, as is wing player Kidd.
Tommy Swanson (6-9, Fr.), Baylor's lone freshman in this year's recruiting class, will compete for playing time at both forward positions. Swanson is an athletic big man from North Crowley High School.
"Tommy has a slender body and we need to put some meat on him, but he's got a presence and a quickness-oriented game," Bliss said.
Steven Raquet (6-6, Fr.), who competed for Baylor's track and field program last year, will provide depth to the frontcourt. The Albuquerque, N.M., native played at La Cueva High School.
Lawrence Roberts (6-9, So.) returns following an outstanding freshman campaign to anchor the power forward position.
"We look for Lawrence to be a much more powerful and polished player this year," Bliss said.
Roberts was named to freshman All-American and All-Big 12 teams after he set a new league scoring record for freshman, averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game.
Junior college transfer Carlton Dotson (6-7, Jr.) will backup Roberts at power forward. Dotson teamed with fellow newcomer Hart at Paris Junior College last season, where he averaged 12 points and 7.1 rebounds.
"Carlton is a real steady player," Bliss said. "A good, smart player and capable rebounder."
Returning to the starting role at center is junior R.T. Guinn (6-10, Jr.). He started 14 of the last 15 games in 2001-2002 and averaged 15 points and 5.5 boards as a starter.
"We look for R.T. to be a much improved offensive player but defensively to improve his rebounding," Bliss said.
Guinn finished his sophomore season with averages of 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He shot 46.2 percent (30-of-65) on 3-pointers to rank fourth in the Big 12.
Also competing at center will be Steven Othoro (6-11, Sr.), a fifth-year player whose career has been slowed by injuries. The Kenyan native played in 10 games last season while nursing an ankle injury.
"Steven's had a tremendous spring and summer," Bliss said, "and we hope that he can get back to being the type of player that had a real influence on the team two years ago and played important parts in the upsets of Iowa State and Kansas."
Swanson could also provide minutes at center in a back up role.
