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Tournament Bracket

RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: Fox Sports College [Sun. & Mon. winners bracket games]
INTERNET VIDEO: live video stream at WatchBTIhoops.com

BAYLOR (1-0) at PARADISE JAM
USVI Sports and Fitness Center (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)

vs. WICHITA STATE (1-0) • Nov. 16, 2007 • 5:00 p.m. CST/7:00 p.m. AST
vs. MONMOUTH or NOTRE DAME • Nov. 17/18, 2007 • 7:30 CST/9:30 p.m. AST
vs. TBD • Nov. 19, 2007 • TBA

THE TOURNAMENT
Baylor travels to the U.S. Virgin Islands to particpate in the eight-team 2007 Paradise Jam Nov. 16-19. The Bears will play three games over four days, beginning with an opening-round matchup against Wichita State Friday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. CST. The game will be streamed live online at www.watchbtihoops.com. Baylor is 1-0 following a 100-76 win over Jackson State last Sunday and boasts a modest five-game winning streak over non-conference foes dating back to last season. The Shockers are 1-0, having beaten Arkansas Pine-Bluff 61-56 Tuesday night. Baylor will face either Monmouth or Notre Dame in its second game (to be played either Saturday or Sunday at 7:30 p.m. CST). Baylor will play a final game Monday. [The tournament's semifinals, final and consolation games will be televised live on Fox Sports College]

BAYLOR TIP-INS
• Baylor is 5-43 in its last 48 games dating to `02-03 (3-6 in neutral-site games during that span).
• The Bears are 63-21 in regular-season, non-league play over the last 8 seasons.
• Baylor is 83-93 all-time in in-season tourneys and last won a title in 1996 (Dr Pepper Invitational in Waco, Texas).
• Curtis Jerrells has scored in double-digits in 15 straight games (dating to 2006-07).
• Aaron Bruce ranks 14th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,072 career points).
• Kevin Rogers is the 3rd-leading returning rebounder in Big 12 this season (7.6 rpg).
• 63% (171-273) of Tweety Carter's career points have come from 3-pointers (57).
• Junior C Mamadou Diene is out 6-8 weeks to rehab an ankle injury.
• Baylor is 19-1 in the Drew Era when scoring 80-plus points.
• Mamadou Diene is the top active career shot-blocker in the Big 12 (79).
• Scott Drew's 37 wins at Baylor ranks 10th in school history.
• Baylor is 19-6 when totaling 40+ rebounds (last 6 seasons).
• BU is 2-39 when allowing opponents to shoot 50% or higher (in 5 years under Drew).
• Over the past six seasons Baylor is 69-8 when totaling an equal or higher shooting percentage than its opponent (1-0 in 2007-08).

HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew, in his fifth season at Baylor in what many have called the most daunting rebuilding project in college basketball history, owns a four-year mark of 37-69 at the school and a career record of 57-80 (six seasons). Drew's 37 wins rank 10th all-time on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in ninth place on the list is Carroll Dawson with 42 career victories). Prior to Baylor, Drew spent 10 seasons at Valparaiso, the last as head coach after nine seasons as an assistant to his father Homer. During his decade at Valpo, the Crusaders earned six NCAA Tournament berths, including five straight from 1996-2000. An outstanding recruiter, Drew is responsible for five national Top-20 recruiting classes over the last eight years (No. 17 in 2006, No. 11 in 2005 and No. 10 in 2004 at Baylor; No. 6 in 2001 and No. 13 in 1999 at Valpo). He was named the 1998-99 National Recruiter of the Year by Court Vision.

THE WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS
Head Coach: Gregg Marshall (Randolph-Macon, 1985); 195-83 11 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: WSU leads 2-1
Last meeting: #18 WSU 76-74, Dec. 30, 1960 at Oklahoma City, Okla.
Drew vs. WSU: 0-0
Baylor vs. Missouri Valley Conf.: 5-11
WSU NOTES: Wichita State (1-0) is located in Wichita, Kan., and is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference... Head coach Gregg Marshall is in his first season after nine seasons at Winthrop... WSU returns two starters (seniors F P.J. Couisnard and G Matt Braeuer) from last season's 17-14 squad that finished sixth in the MVC... The Shockers have played in the postseason in four of the last five season's, including a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2005-06.

BEARS IN IN-SEASON TOURNAMENTS
Baylor has accumulated an 83-93 all-time record in 75 all-time in-season tournaments. The Bears' last in-season competition was last season, when BU went 1-1 in the West Region of the NIT Season Tipoff in Spokane, Wash. Baylor's last tournament title was the 1996 Dr Pepper Invitational in Waco, Texas, a tournament hosted by the school.

BEARS CONTINUE MASSIVE REBUILDING PROCESS
The 2007-08 season is head coach Scott Drew's fifth at Baylor as he continues the unprecedented overhaul he began in 2003. After taking over a program decimated by tragedy, player departures, depleted rosters and NCAA restrictions, Drew has recruited a solid foundation of high school players that have earned valuable playing experience and showed steady progress. Last season's youthful Bears posted 15 wins-the highest win total at Baylor in six seasons-including three wins in the final six games and the program's first Big 12 Championship victory since 2001.

BAYLOR vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES
The Bears are 63-21 in regular-season, non-league play over the past eight seasons. The Bears have won five straight non-conference games.

BEARS RETURN HIGH PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Baylor in 2007-08 returned all five starters, nine of 12 roster players and nearly all of its statistical production. The Bears return 90.6 percent of last season's points, 86.9 percent of rebounds and 94.5 percent of assists.

MOST EXPERIENCED BEAR SQUAD IN YEARS
For the first time in years, Baylor has taken the court in 2007-08 with a predominantly upperclassman, experienced team. After several seasons of young, inexperienced teams, the Bears return nine lettermen, including seven lettermen with multiple letters. The roster includes two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. Veteran guard Aaron Bruce is the just the fourth four-year senior to play at Baylor in the last eight seasons. Baylor's '07-08 returnees entered the season with a combined 246 career starts under their collective belts, the highest such number at the school in over a decade.

BAYLOR'S BACKCOURT: "IN GUARDS WE TRUST"
Baylor's strength in 2007-08 once again lies in its talented backcourt. The four returning guards each averaged 25-plus minutes and combined to score an average of 46.7 points per game (61 percent of team's scoring) in 2006-07. The quartet of returnees, made up of senior Aaron Bruce (11.3 ppg, 29.7 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (15.0 ppg, 32.9 mpg) and Henry Dugat (11.7 ppg, 27.5 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (8.7 ppg, 25.5 mpg), are joined by heralded freshman LaceDaruis Dunn of Monroe, La., the nation's No. 24 recruit last season according to Scout.com.

`05-06 "FRESHMAN FOUR" BACK AS VETERAN JUNIORS
Baylor is once again powered by a quartet of juniors which as rookies in 2005-06 was nicknamed the "Freshman Four": Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells and Kevin Rogers. The foursome have consistently accounted for more than half the team's scoring, rebounding and assists production.

ROAD WOES
Baylor owns a 5-43 record in its last 48 games away from home (dating back to the 2002-03 season). The Bears are 3-6 in neutral-site games during that 48-game stretch.

JERRELLS LOOKING TO CONTINUE HOT HAND
Junior guard Curtis Jerrells has started all 49 career games and has led the team in scoring, assists and minutes in each of his first two seasons at Baylor. Jerrells, a preseason Cousy Award candidate, was projected a preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league coaches, Athlon and Lindy's. Jerrells carries over streaks of 14-game double-digit scoring and 12-game 3-point field goal from last season.

BRUCE BACK TO LEAD BEARS IN SENIOR SEASON
Guard Aaron Bruce is in his fourth and final season at Baylor in 2007-08. The senior was a preseason All-Rolls Royce fourth team selection by Dick Vitale and was named the Big 12's "Best Leader" by the Sporting News preseason publication. Bruce, Baylor's veteran-most player with 75 career games played, ranks 14th on the school's career scoring list with 1,072 career points. Bruce's 40.1 career 3-point percentage ranks third in school history and his 82.1 career free throw percentage ranks fifth all-time. For the first time in his collegiate career, Bruce spent the offseason in Waco rather than playing for Australian national teams.

MR. ROGERS COMING OFF BREAKOUT SEASON
Junior forward Kevin Rogers led the Bears with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the season-opening victory over Jackson State. During his breakout sophomore season in 2006-07, Rogers doubled his scoring average and finished among the Big 12's top five in rebounding and field goal percentage. His production increased against Big 12 competition, as he averaged 13.1 points and 9.0 rebounds (third in Big 12) and recorded five double-doubles. On the season, the southpaw averaged 12.8 points (18th in Big 12), 7.8 rebounds (fifth in Big 12), shot 52.5 percent (fourth in Big 12) and averaged 0.9 blocks. As a frosh in 2005-06, Rogers averaged 6.1 points and 4.0 rebounds off the bench.

DUGAT BACK IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Junior guard Henry Dugat scored 16 points in Baylor's opener and was in the starting lineup, after spending the latter half of the 2006-07 season in a sixth-man role. Dugat started the first 18 games of his sophomore season and finished third on the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game and shot a team-high 40.6 percent on 3-pointers. Over the final eight games Dugat averaged 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and shot 48.9 percent from the 3-point line. As a freshman in 2005-06, Dugat averaged 7.2 ppg and 24.3 mpg off the bench.

FROSH DUNN BAYLOR'S TOP SIGNEE IN RECENT HISTORY
Freshman G LaceDarius Dunn of Monroe, La., began his collegiate career with a 17-point performance in the win over Jackson State. Dunn is the highest-rated Baylor signee in recent memory (rated the nation's No. 24 recruit by Scout.com). He was named the "Best Perimeter Scorer" among incoming Big 12 newcomers by Rivals.com. He is a three-time all-state player and two-time class MVP in Louisiana who led Excelsior Christian School (Monroe, La.) to 118-9 record and one state championship over his final three prep seasons. Dunn was rated the nation's No. 6 shooting guard prospect by Scout.com and the nation's No. 8 wing guard by Hoopmasters.com.

MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
• Aaron Bruce is 22 points shy of moving into 13th place & 32 shy of 12th place (1,072, Roddrick Miller No. 13 with 1,094 & William Chatmon No. 12 with 1,104) on Baylor's career scoring list.
• Henry Dugat is 12 points shy of reaching the 500 career points plateau (488).

`THE MAYOR' OUT 6-8 WEEKS REHABBING ANKLE
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, underwent a procedure Nov. 25, to repair a chronic stress fracture in his ankle and was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Diene has started all 43 games played in his two-year career and has recorded 22 multi-block games.. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 26 games last season as a sophomore and missed a total of five games due to injury. Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks with 79. Diene led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman, averaging 2.21 in 2005-06 and his 1.88 career figure is second all-time at Baylor behind only current Milwaukee Buck Brian Skinner's 3.36 average (1994-98). Referred to as "The Mayor" due to his huge popularity across campus, Diene has gained more than 50 pounds since his arrival in the United States in Jan. 2005 weighing 197 pounds.

LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 100 - JACKSON STATE 76
Kevin Rogers scored a team-high 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Baylor defeated Jackson State 100-76 at the Ferrell Center in its season-opener. Rogers shot 7-for-10 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He grabbed 11 rebounds, including four offensive, to record his sixth-career double-double. Six transition points from Rogers and a 3-pointer from freshman LaceDarius Dunn keyed a 23-8 run over 5:54 in the first half to give Baylor a 53-29 edge. The Bears connected on seven treys and 18-of-20 free throws to build a 61-37 halftime lead. Dunn scored 17 points in his first collegiate action. He connected on three 3-pointers and had six rebounds. Baylor shot 31-of-51 (60.8 percent) from the field. Baylor placed three players in double-figure scoring in the first period as the Bears shot 69.2 percent (18-26). The 61 points is the most points in a single half since the Bears tallied 64 points in the second half against North Carolina A&T during the 1999-2000 season.

'06-07 HIGHLIGHTS
- Most wins (15) by Baylor squad since 2000-01.
- First Big 12 Championship win (97-83 over MU) since '00-01 [Only second 11th-seed to win game in Big 12 Championship in 11 years of tournament].
- Curtis Jerrells school's second-ever Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team selection (first since 2000-01).
- Most points (2,333) by BU team since 1992-93 squad scored 2,350.
- Aaron Bruce & Curtis Jerrells All-Big 12 honorable mention selections.
- 46.0 field goal percentage highest by BU squad since the 1991-92 team shot 47.0%.
- Big 12 Championship record 63% field goal shooting in first-round win over Missouri.
- Kevin Rogers selected to Big 12 All-Improved team.

DEPARTED PLAYERS
Baylor lost just three lettermen from its 2006-07 roster: three-year forwards Tim Bush (6.3 ppg) and Patrick Fields (3.0 ppg) and one-year forward Jari Vanttaja (0.9 ppg).

NEXT UP...
Baylor will play three games at the Paradise Jam before returning to Waco and a Nov. 24 matchup against Centenary. The Bears and Gents will tipoff at 7 p.m. CST at the Ferrell Center.

THE 2007 PARADISE JAM FIELD

THE MONMOUTH HAWKS
Head Coach: Dave Calloway (Monmouth, 1989); 142-142 11 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: never met
Last meeting: none
Drew vs. MU: 0-0
Baylor vs. Northeast Conf.: 2-0
MU NOTES: Monmouth (0-2) is located in West Long Branch, N.J., and is a member of the Northeast Conference... The Hawks return two players from last season's 12-18 squad that finished eighth in the NEC, including conference Rookie of the Year G Jhamar Youngblood.

THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Head Coach: Mike Brey (George Washington, 1982); 242-130 13 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: ND leads 1-0
Last meeting: #3 ND 98-57, Nov. 30, 1977 at South Bend, Ind.
Drew vs. ND: 0-1
Baylor vs. Big East Conf.: 2-8
ND NOTES: Notre Dame (1-0) is located in South Bend, Ind., and is a member of the Big East Conference... The Fighting Irish finished 24-8 and played in the NCAA Tournament last season... Notre Dame returns three starters and eight lettermen from its 2006-07 squad... As head coach at Valparaiso in 2002-03, Scott Drew's Crusaders lost to Notre Dame 55-53.

THE CHARLOTTE 49ERS
Head Coach: Bobby Lutz (Charlotte, 1980); 351-203 20 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: never met
Last meeting: none
Drew vs. UNCC: 0-0
Baylor vs. Atlantic 10 Conf.: 3-10
UNCC NOTES: Charlotte (2-0) is located in Charlotte, N.C., and is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference... The 49ers return two starters from last season's 14-16 team that finished ninth in the A-10, including senior G Leemire Goldwire, who averaged 14.5 ppg in `06-07.

THE ILLINOIS-CHICAGO FLAMES
Head Coach: Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State, 1970); 178-156 13 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: Baylor leads 1-0
Last meeting: BU 80-63, Dec. 13, 1986 at Champaign, Ill.
Drew vs. UIC: 0-0
Baylor vs. Horizon League: 2-0
UIC NOTES: Illinois-Chicago (2-0) is located in Chicago, Ill., and is a member of the Horizon League... The Flames finished 14-18 last season and fourth in the Horizon League... Junior C Scott Vandermeer set a school record with 111 blocks last season.

THE GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Head Coach: Paul Hewitt (St. John Fisher, 1985); 194-123 12 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: Tech leads 3-1
Last meeting: BU 108-80, Dec. 27, 1973 at Norfolk, Va.
Drew vs. Tech: 0-0
Baylor vs. Atlantic Coast Conf.: 5-8
TECH NOTES: Georgia Tech (1-1) is located in Atlanta, Ga., and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... The Yellow Jackets finished 20-12 and played in the NCAA Tournament last season... Tech lost two would-be sophomores, Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young, to the NBA Draft's first round... Tech returns three starters from its `06-07 squad, including senior G Anthony Morrow, who was averaging 27.0 points per game entering the Paradise Jam.

THE WINTHROP EAGLES
Head Coach: Randy Peele (Virginia Wesleyan, 1980); 47-69 5 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: never met
Last meeting: none
Drew vs. WU: 0-0
Baylor vs. Big South Conf.: 1-0
WU NOTES: Winthrop (1-0) is located in Rock Hill, S.C., and is a member of the Big South Conference... The Eagles return two starters from last season's 29-5 squad that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament (beat Notre Dame in first round)... Winthrop has won 20 or more games for three straight seasons... Senior G Michael Jenkins is a preseason first-team All-Big South honoree... 2006-07 head coach Greg Marshall left to take the head job at fellow-Paradise Jam partipating school Wichita State.