BAYLOR (17-4, 5-2) at No. 4/5 KANSAS (22-1, 7-1)
Feb. 9, 2008 • Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kan.) • 7:00 p.m. CST

PDF of complete Game Notes & Stats

RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / KVCE 1160AM Dallas / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: Jayhawk TV (to air in select Texas markets on FSN Southwest)
INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS:

THE GAME
Baylor travels to Lawrence, Kan., to face No. 4/5 Kansas Saturday, Feb. 9, at Allen Fieldhouse. The game, scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CST, will be telecast regionally by Jayhawk TV and air in select Texas markets (including Waco/Temple) on FSN Southwest. Baylor is 17-4 and has matched its best start ever in Big 12 play with a 5-2 record. The Bears are coming off an 80-74 win over Texas Tech Wednesday in Waco. Kansas is 22-1 and atop the Big 12 with a 7-1 record. The Jayhawks have won two straight, most recently a 90-71 home win over Missouri last Monday. Baylor is 4-1 in true road games this season; Kansas is riding a 20-game home winning streak. The Bears are 0-7 all-time at Allen Fieldhouse.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
• The Bears are 3-43 in the last 7 seasons vs. ranked teams & 1-2 this season.
• Baylor is 0-7 all-time vs. Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.
• BU is 4-1 in true road games this season (snapped 2-37 record before this season).
• BU is 21-29 (.420) over the last 8 seasons vs. Big 12 North schools. The Bears are just 14-55 (.203) vs. South schools over the same span.
• BU is 7-2 in away games this season (4-1 true road, 3-1 neutral).
• Baylor's 17-4 record is its best 21-game start since the `47-48 Bears began 18-4 en route to a 24-8 record, SWC championship & the national title game (runners up).
• BU's 5-2 record matches its best ever in Big 12 play (opened 5-2 in 1997-98).
• BU's 17 wins surpasses last season's win total & marks the most wins in Drew Era; also most wins since winning 19 in 2000-01 (last postseason berth; NIT).
• In conference play, BU leads the Big 12 in scoring (80.6 ppg), free throw shooting (77.8%), blocks (6.1 bpg) & steals (8.3 spg).
• 5 Baylor players average double-figures in scoring.
• Baylor's 74.0 free throw % leads the Big 12 (44th nationally).
• BU is 15-0 this season when totaling a higher FG% than its opponents and 2-4 when not. In the Drew Era, BU is 47-7 when outshooting its opponents and 6-66 when not.
• Baylor is 6-1 this season when trailing at the half.
• Baylor is 5-0 in its last 5 overtime games (since 2003).
• Baylor has used the same starting lineup in all 21 games this season.
• 10 current BU players average between 10.0 minutes & 30.7 minutes.
• Baylor's 12 pre-conference wins mark the most in school history.
• Mamadou Diene has shot 15-for-16 (93.8%) from FT line the last 7 games (4-11 in first 7 games).
• LaceDarius Dunn's 42.1 3-point % (3rd in Big 12) is top all-time for a BU freshman.
• Mamadou Diene leads the Big 12 with a 2.7 blocks average in conference games.
• Aaron Bruce ranks 7th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,285 career points).
• Mamadou Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks in league games (66).
• Baylor won the 2007 Paradise Jam, its first non-hosted tourney title since 1971.
MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
• Curtis Jerrells is 3 points shy of becoming the 20th Baylor player to reach the 1,000-point club (997).
• Aaron Bruce is 2 assists shy of moving into 6th place (306, Vinnie Johnson No. 6 with 308) on Baylor's career assists list.

SURPASSED LAST SEASON'S WIN TOTAL
The Bears' 17 wins in 2007-08 are the most in the Drew Era (surpassing last season's 15) and mark the most at Baylor since the 2000-01 squad finished 19-12 (last BU team to participate in postseason; first round of NIT).

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 53-73 at the school and a career record of 73-84 (six seasons). Drew's 53 wins rank eighth on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in seventh place on the list is Harry Miller with 56 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 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Head Coach: Bill Self (Oklahoma State, 1985); 334-135, 15 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: KU leads 12-1
Last meeting: KU 82-56, Jan. 24, 2007 in Waco
Streak: KU won 6 straight
Series at Lawrence: KU leads 7-0
Drew vs. KU: 0-4
KU NOTES: Kansas is ranked fourth nationally in the Associated Press Poll and fifth in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches' poll... The Jayhawks returned four starters from last season's Big 12 Championship team that finished 33-5... KU has won or shared the league title in each of the last three seasons... Kansas is a perfect 16-0 at home this season and has won 20 straight at Allen Fieldhouse dating back to last season... Kansas is led by sophomore F Darrell Arthur, who averages 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds... Arthur was a prep teammate of Baylor junior F Kevin Rogers at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, where the two teamed up to win the 2005 Texas 4A state championship... Three other Jayhawks average 12 points or more: Brandon Rush (12.6), Darnell Jackson (12.5) and Mario Chalmers (12.2)... Kansas tops the Big 12 in five major categories, including: scoring (82.8 ppg), scoring margin (+22.6), field goal percentage (51.3%), blocks (6.5 bpg) and assists (19.2 apg).

BEST STARTS SINCE...
OVERALL: Baylor's 17-4 record is its best 21-game start since the 1947-48 squad opened 18-4 en route to a 24-8 record, SWC championship and a place in the national championship game (runners up) [`47-48 Bears lost 23rd game].
BIG 12: Baylor's 5-2 record in Big 12 play matched it's best start ever in the Big 12, equalling the 5-2 open of the 1997-98 Bears ('97-98 squad lost eighth game before finishing 8-8, BU's best record in 11 previous Big 12 seasons). No Baylor squad has opened Big 12 play with a 6-2 record.

BEARS CONTINUE MASSIVE REBUILDING PROCESS
The 2007-08 season is head coach Scott Drew's fifth in the unprecedented overhaul that began at Baylor in 2003. After taking over a program decimated by tragedy, player departures, depleted rosters and NCAA restrictions, Drew has slowly and methodically turned the program around by recruiting a solid foundation of talented high school players that, after earning valuable playing experience, are posting impressive results. After fighting their way to a 15-16 record last season (the first in the Drew Era without restrictions), the Bears have run off a 17-4 record this season, including a 5-2 mark in the Big 12.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY JOINS ELITE BAYLOR TRIO IN CAREER POINTS & ASSISTS
Aaron Bruce recently recorded his 300th career assist and became just the fourth Baylor player in school history to top 1,000 points (1,285) and 300 assists (306), joining Bear greats Vinnie Johnson (1,231/308), David Wesley (1,224/316) and Micheal Williams (1,854/464).

REVERSING ROAD FORTUNES
TRUE ROAD GAMES (4-1 in '07-08):
The Bears are 4-1 this season on opponents' home courts, reversing a 2-37 record in 39 true road games before this season (from 2002-03 to 2006-07).
BIG 12 ROAD GAMES (2-1 in '07-08):
Baylor is 2-1 this season on the road in Big 12 games, which snapped a 25-game losing streak prior to this season (dating to 2004).
ALL AWAY GAMES (7-2 in '07-08):
Baylor is 7-2 this season away from Waco (4-1 in true road games, 3-1 at neutral sites). The Bears were 4-41 in their previous 45 games outside of Waco before this season (from 2003 to 2007).

BEARS vs. NATIONALLY RANKED FOES
Saturday's matchup at No. 4/5 Kansas is Baylor's fourth game against a ranked opponent this season. The Bears are 1-2 vs. ranked foes this season, the win being a 116-110 victory over No. 18/16 Texas A&M Jan. 23, that snapped a 29-game losing streak vs. ranked foes (3-43 in last seven seasons vs. Top-25 teams).

BAYLOR'S BACKCOURT: "IN GUARDS WE TRUST"
Baylor's strength in 2007-08 once again lies in its talented backcourt which until recently didn't get a lot of media attention outside of the region. The Bears utilize a rotation of five guards that each average 20-plus minutes per game. The quintet is made up of four veterans; senior Aaron Bruce (10.7 ppg, 24.5 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (14.4 ppg, 30.7 mpg) and Henry Dugat (11.4 ppg, 25.8 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (8.3 ppg, 23.8 mpg); and true freshman standout LaceDarius Dunn (11.9 ppg, 20.5 mpg). The fivesome accounts for 70 percent of the team's scoring (average 56.1 points) and shoots 38.6 percent on 3-pointers.

SEASON OF FIRSTS & BROKEN STREAKS
Baylor's remarkable turnaround season in 2007-08 has included various program `firsts' and several streaks being snapped. Complete list below:
• First Top-25 ranking since 1969 (BU ranked in Jan. 21 & Jan. 28 AP polls)
• First back-to-back weekly rankings in school history (Jan. 21 & 28)
• First win over ranked opp. since 2003 [broke 29-gm losing streak] (116-110 over #16 TAMU)
• First true road win since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (92-84 win at USC Dec. 19)
• First road win in Big 12 since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (72-70 win at NU Jan. 19)
• First 16-2 start since 1946
• First 4-0 start in Big 12 since 1998
• Most wins since 2000-01 (17)
• Most pre-conference wins in school history (12)
• First 8-team tournament title since 1968 (BU won 2007 Paradise Jam)
• First 5-overtime game in Baylor & Big 12 history (116-110 win over Texas A&M Jan. 23)
• Most Big 12 weekly honorees ever (4: Jerrells 2 POW, Rogers POW, Dunn ROW)

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES...
Baylor dropped out of the Associated Press Poll this week, after spending two weeks in the No. 25 position (school's first national ranking since 1969). The Bears are receiving votes in both the AP (47 votes; 32nd) and the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches' (15 votes; 33rd) polls. The Bears have received votes in the polls in 10 of 14 weeks this season.

BEARS MORE SUCCESSFULL vs. BIG 12 NORTH
Over the last eight seasons Baylor has had much more success against Big 12 North schools than those in the South. Baylor is 21-29 (.420) the last eight seasons vs. Northern schools and just 14-55 (.203) vs. teams in the South.

BALANCED SCORING
Baylor has shown a very balanced scoring attack this season, evidenced by five players averaging double-digits in scoring (Curtis Jerrells 14.4, Kevin Rogers 12.6, LaceDarius Dunn 11.9, Henry Dugat 11.4 and Aaron Bruce 10.7). The last time a Baylor team finished the season with five double-figure scorers was 1995-96.

COMEBACK KIDS
Baylor is 6-1 this season when trailing at halftime. Included in those six come-from-behind victories is a 20-point comeback win at South Carolina and rallies of 14 points at No. 16/18 Texas A&M, 14 points vs. Notre Dame and seven points vs. Iowa State. [in its lone loss when trailing at half this season, BU erased a 16-point second-half deficit before falling by six points to Oklahoma]

JERRELLS POWERS BEARS
Curtis Jerrells is leading the Bears in scoring (14.4 ppg, 11th in Big 12), assists (3.6 apg, eighth in Big 12) and minutes (30.7 mpg) for the third straight season. He has twice earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season: Jan. 28 after exploding for 36 points in Baylor's epic five-overtime win at Texas A&M; and Nov. 19 after leading leading Baylor to the championship of the 2007 Paradise Jam (was named tournament MVP). The junior guard has started all 69 career games since arriving at Baylor, is a preseason Cousy Award candidate and a preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league coaches, Athlon and Lindy's. In conference games, Jerrells ranks eighth in scoring (15.6 ppg), eighth in assists (3.3 apg) and seventh in steals (1.7 spg). Jerrells ranks eighth in school history in assists per game (3.61). He recently became the first alum of Del Valle High School in Austin to have his No. 0 jersey retired.

MR. ROGERS PILING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Junior forward Kevin Rogers is averaging 12.6 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds (fifth in Big 12) this season, and he is third in the league with a 10.1 rebounding average in conference games. He has recorded seven double-doubles on the season, including three in league games (second most in conference). Rogers is averaging a double-double in conference games: 13.6 points and 10.1 rebounds. He was named the Big 12 Player of the Week Dec. 24 after averaging 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds while leading Baylor to road wins at South Carolina and Southern. Rogers was named to the 2007 Big 12 All-Improved team following a sophomore season in which he doubled his scoring average (12.8 from 6.1 ppg) and nearly doubled his rebounding average from his freshman season (7.6 from 4.0 rpg).

VETERAN LEADER BRUCE CONTINUES CLIMB UP RECORD LISTS
Senior Aaron Bruce is averaging 10.7 points per game, shooting 42.2 percent on 3-pointers and continuing his climb up the school's all-time records lists - most notably the career scoring chart. Bruce, Baylor's veteran-most player with 95 career games played, currently stands seventh all-time with 1,285 career points (complete list of his ranking on seven different Baylor career charts below). He recently became the fourth player in Baylor history to top 1,000 points and 300 assists (along with Vinnie Johnson, David Wesley and Micheal Williams). The guard was selected a preseason All-Rolls Royce (All-American) fourth-team selection by ESPN.com's Dick Vitale and was named the Big 12's "Best Leader" by the Sporting News preseason publication prior to his final season in Waco.
BRUCE ON BAYLOR'S CAREER RECORD LISTS
• 3-point FGs: No. 3 - 212
• 3-point FG %: No. 3 - 40.3%
• Free Throw %: No. 5 - 81.7%
• Games Started: No. 5 - 95
• Minutes Played: No. 6 - 2,879
• Points scored: No. 7 - 1,285
• Assists: No. 7 - 306

TRUE FRESHMAN DUNN PUTTING TOGETHER BREAKOUT SEASON OFF BENCH
True freshman LaceDarius Dunn has made an immediate impact on a Baylor squad stocked with talented guards. The highly recruited rookie from Monroe, La., is third on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg) and second in rebounds (4.1 rpg), despite playing just 20.5 minutes per game off the bench and playing through a knee injury. His 42.1 3-point percentage ranks third in the Big 12 and is on pace to be the top percentage ever recorded by a Baylor freshman (and the fourth-best overall single-season percentage in school history). Dunn has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Nov. 26 after leading BU to wins over Winthrop in the Paradise Jam championship and over Centenary) and has posted two 20-plus scoring outings (27 points in win over Brown and 24 points in upset win at South Carolina). Dunn is the highest-rated BU 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 was rated the nation's No. 6 SG prospect by Scout.com and the No. 8 wing guard by Hoopmasters.com.

"FLASH" DUGAT USING ENERGY & QUICKNESS TO SPARK BEARS
Since re-entering the starting lineup this season, junior guard Henry Dugat has used his high energy and athleticism to help Baylor to its remarkable turnaround season. In seven Big 12 Conference games, Dugat is averaging 13.1 points (15th in the Big 12), 5.4 rebounds (19th in Big 12), 1.9 steals (fourth in Big 12) and shooting 46.2 percent on 3-pointers. He has started all 21 games after finishing his sophomore season in the sixth man role. Dugat earned the nickname "Flash" from former teammate Tim Bush due to his quickness and style of play similarities to Dwyane Wade.

"THE MAYOR" BACK ON SHOT-BLOCKING SPREE WITH MENDED ANKLE
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, has averaged 17.4 minutes off the bench in 14 games played since returning from an Oct. 25 procedure to repair a chronic stress fracture in his ankle (missed season's first seven games - had started all 43 games played in his freshman and sophomore seasons). Diene's 66 career blocks in Big 12 play is the most by an active player and he leads the Big 12 in blocks in conference games this season with a 2.7 average. Diene has recorded 106 career blocks and his 1.86 career blocks per game total is second all-time at Baylor behind only current Phoenix Suns Brian Skinner's 3.36 average (1994-98). Named the Big 12's "Best Shot Blocker" by the Sporting News preseason publication, he led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman (2.3 bpg) and was third (1.6 bpg) in an injury-plagued sophomore season. Diene is referred to as "The Mayor" due to his huge popularity across campus.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
One significant statistical indicator to Baylor's success in winning games is field goal percentage, offensively and defensively. This season, Baylor is a perfect 15-0 when totaling a higher shooting percentage than it opponents, and conversely is 2-4 when its opponents shoot a higher percentage. Further, in five seasons under Scott Drew Baylor has accumulated a 47-7 record when outshooting opponents and a 6-66 record when being outshot by opponents.

BEARS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Baylor is ranked among the top 45 nationally in eight team categories, listed below:
BAYLOR IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Scoring: No. 19 - 80.7
• 3-Pt Field Goals: No. 20 - 8.6
• Won-Loss %: No. 26 - 81.0%
• Scoring Margin: No. 36 - +10.6
• Blocks: No. 36 - 4.9
• Turnovers: No. 37 - 13.1
• 3-Pt Field Goal %: No. 44 - 38.4%
• Free Throw %: No. 44 - 74.0%

LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 80 - TEXAS TECH 74
Baylor shot 52.3 percent en route to an 80-74 win over Texas Tech at the Ferrell Center, spoiling the debut of Tech head coach Pat Knight aired nationally on ESPNU and ESPN. Up 37-36 1 ½ minutes into the second half, the Bears turned up their defensive pressure and reeled off a 12-1 spurt that finished with a steal-and-dunk by Kevin Rogers at the 16-minute mark to push the lead to 49-37. Baylor forced six Red Raider turnovers during that span. The Red Raiders managed to cut a 14-point deficit to three at 74-71 on John Roberson's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left before Aaron Bruce and Mamadou Diene combined for six straight free throws to clinch the win. Curtis Jerrells led Baylor with 16 points, LaceDarius Dunn and Josh Lomers, with glue on his middle shooting finger to seal busted skin, added 14 points each for Baylor. The Red Raiders had a 17-8 lead 5 1/2 minutes into the game and a 21-15 lead with 11:05 left, but missed 10 of their final 11 shots of the half as Baylor took a 34-32 lead into the half. The Bears snapped a two-game losing streak that had knocked them out of the Top 25 after they were in the national rankings for the first time since 1969.

THE LAST MEETING: No. 8 KANSAS 82 - BAYLOR 56 [Jan. 24, 2007]
Another cold-shooting night doomed Baylor as the Bears fell 82-56 to No. 8 Kansas at the Ferrell Center. Kansas jumped to a 20-3 lead in the first 11 minutes and held Baylor to 30 percent shooting on the night. Baylor coach Scott Drew was courtside a little more than 24 hours after having an appendectomy Tuesday, but he stayed in his seat and let assistant Matthew Driscoll do most of the game coaching. Baylor, which has lost three straight and was coming off a 40-point defeat at Oklahoma, got off to a horrible start on its home court with 1-of-16 shooting and trailed by 22 at halftime. Kansas shot 64 percent in the first half. The Jayhawks maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second. The Bears managed to whittle the lead to under 20 when Henry Dugat stole the ball at midcourt and finished an acrobatic layup with just under nine minutes left. Kansas quickly snuffed any hint of a rally when Sherron Collins hit a 3-pointer and Darrell Arthur floated a short jumper that put the Jayhawks up 66-43.

BAYLOR'S EPIC WIN OVER TEXAS A&M IN 5OT MARATHON
No. 25 Baylor and No. 18/16 Texas A&M played an instant classic Jan. 23 in College Station, when the longtime rivals went toe-to-toe for three-and-a-half hours before Baylor prevailed 116-110 in a five-overtime marathon. The epic game (the longest in Big 12 Conference and both school's histories) set seven Big 12 Conference and six Baylor school records. The dramatic game instantly garnered media attention nationwide and helped shine the national spotlight on Baylor's colossal turnaround season.

MOST PRE-CONFERENCE WINS EVER
Baylor finished its non-conference schedule with a 12-2 record. The 12 wins mark the most during the regular-season non-conference schedule in school history. The previous high of 11 pre-conference schedule wins was recorded three times, in 1945-46 (11-1), 1996-97 (11-1) and 2000-01 (11-0).

RECORD ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Baylor's on-court success is attracting record numbers of fans to the Ferrell Center. Two of the top five attended BU games all-time have come this season, and the single-season average attendance record of 6,843 (set in 2001-02; BU averaging 6,501 this season with four home games remaining) is within reach. Top-five crowds came this season vs. Oklahoma (10,393, No. 3 all-time) and vs. Washington State (10,193, No. 5).

BIG 12 HONORS
Baylor players have received four weekly Big 12 honors this season, the school's most-ever single-season weekly awards. Baylor has earned three player of the week awards and one rookie of the week award:
LaceDarius Dunn, Big 12 Rookie of the Week, Nov. 26, 2007
Dunn was honored after leading the Bears to to wins over Winthrop (in the championship game of the Paradise Jam) and Centenary. Dunn set then-career-highs for points with 17 in each game, shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor off the bench. He also shot 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and averaged 5.5 rebounds.
Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Nov. 19, 2007
Jerrells was honored after leading Baylor to wins over Wichita State and Notre Dame at the Paradise Jam tournament. He averaged 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two wins and shot 54 percent from the 3-point line and 92 percent from the free throw line.
Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Jan. 28, 2008
Jerrells earned his second honor after averaging 26.5 points as No. 25 Baylor split two games, an epic five-overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M and a 77-71 loss to Oklahoma. He scored a career-high 36 points and made a Big 12 and school-record 20 free throws in the Bears' 116-110 marathon thriller at A&M, including 11 points in the last overtime period to clinch the win in the longest game in Big 12 history.
Kevin Rogers, Big 12 Player of the Week, Dec. 24, 2007
Rogers was honored after leading the Bears to two road wins at South Carolina and Southern that snapped a 25-game losing streak in true road games. He averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and had two double-doubles. Rogers had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double at USC and scored a game-high 21 points in a win at Southern.

PARADISE JAM CHAMPS
Baylor earned the 2007 Paradise Jam championship with an impressive three-game run Nov. 16-19 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bears defeated Wichita State (64-55), Notre Dame (68-64) and Winthrop (62-54) to earn the title at the eighth annual tournament. Baylor overcame second-half deficits in both the semis (down 10 to N.D) and the final (down six to Winthrop) to earn the title. Curtis Jerrells was named the tournament MVP after leading the Bears with 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and Aaron Bruce also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. The title marked Baylor's first in-season tournament championship (excluding the Baylor-hosted Dr Pepper Invitational) since winning the 1971 Holiday Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. (last eight-team tournament title was the 1968 East Carolina Classic in Greenville, N.C.).

BAYLOR'S SUMMER TOUR TO CANCUN
Baylor spent Labor Day weekend 2007 on a basketball tour to Cancun, Mexico. The four-day trip included two exhibition games as well as sun and fun for the Bears. Baylor beat Belize Tuff E Nuff 115-47 Sept. 1, before defeating the hometown Mexican professional team Quintana Roo 91-57 Sept. 2. Both games were played in Cancun's sweltering Kuchil-Baxal Gymnasium. Baylor was led in scoring both games by junior Henry Dugat, who totaled 25 and 20 points. Aside from the games, the players and travel party enjoyed swimming, jet skiing, fishing and shopping on the Yucatan Peninsula.

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 took the court in 2007-08 with a predominantly upperclassman, experienced team. After several seasons of young, inexperienced teams, the Bears returned nine lettermen, including seven lettermen with multiple letters. The roster includes two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. Veteran Aaron Bruce is the just the fourth four-year senior to play at BU 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 BU in over a decade.

EARLY 2009 SIGNEES
Baylor signed two players in the early signing period, Anthony Jones of Houston (Texas) Yates High School and Russian Artem Valov of Three Rivers Community College. Jones, a senior at Yates, is rated 46th nationally by Rivals.com and is a consensus top-70 recruit. He is rated No. 51 by Hoopmasters.com and No. 62 by Scout.com. Jones averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds last season as a junior for a Yates squad that finished 25-8 in 2006-07. A 6-10 forward, Jones is rated No. 8 among the nation's forwards by Rivals.com and ranked as the fourth-best recruit in the state by TexasHoops.com. Valov is a junior college sophomore who was recently named a preseason NJCAA first-team All-American. He is rated the No. 12 junior college recruit nationally by Rivals.com's JucoJunction.com. The 6-9 forward helped lead Three Rivers to a 26-11 record and into the second round of the NJCAA tournament. Valov was named to the 2007 NJCAA All-Tournament team. Valov finished his freshman season with averages of 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds.

NEXT UP...
Baylor plays a second straight road game when it faces Oklahoma State Wednesday, Feb. 13 in Stillwater, Okla. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CST at Gallagher-Iba Arena.