Oct. 19, 2009

Head Coach Scott Drew

Opening Statement:
"I'm very excited with the season starting this past weekend with practices. It's a new experience for our coaching staff from the standpoint that we haven't has this large of a new group in a long time. We have eight players that will put on a Baylor uniform on for the first time in a game. It's taking a lot longer to explain what we're looking for and different types of concepts offensively. Defensively we also will adjust how we play a little bit because every year you are going to adjust to the strengths of your team. One thing defensively and rebounding wise we have a chance to be better our size, length and athleticism. Hopefully we can do a little bit better."

On the Edition of Newcomer Ekpe Udoh:
"If we could have done anything to have him play last year, I think he would have really been one of those missing pieces from the standpoint that he's a great player defensively and rebounding. Offensively he has really improved and last year at times he was dominant and he has continued that in the summer. Now, Ekpe's someone we expect a lot from this year. Anytime you come from the Big Ten and as a sophomore you are on the first-team all-defensive team, it says that you can really play on the defensive end."

On the Inside Game:
"With Josh (Lomers) being a senior now and Ekpe (Udoh) coming in, Quincy (Acy) and Anthony (Jones) with another year under their belt, Dragan (Sekelja) who has a lot of size and especially when we have advantages and mismatches, we want to take advantage of that. The great thing is - you take Quincy (Acy), for instance - he came in weighing 203 now, he weighs 225 and just as people get bigger and stronger, especially in the non-conference schedule, we should be able to take advantage of that. (The Big 12) is a big physical league, so we should be able to match up better in that department."

On Point Guard Position:
"Start with Tweety (Carter). And the great thing is whenever you have a senior point guard that makes the coach sleep a little bit better at night. Tweety has had a good summer and we expect him to take another step forward. In the past, he's shared the ball a lot because we've had Aaron (Bruce), Henry (Dugat) and CJ (Curtis Jerrells). And we look for Tweety to do a little bit more this year from the standpoint that you have the ball in his hands more. A.J. Walton is very capable to play the point guard position. (He was) Mr. Basketball his junior year in Arkansas. He's been in the state championship game. (He) won it his junior year, runner-up his senior year. He's somebody who has the understanding and knows what it takes. And then from there Nolan Dennis can play the point as well. You have some other people that can fill in. We'll miss the guys that we lost but at the same time (this is an) opportunity for some new guys to step in.

On Adjusting to New Players:
"Three and a half years to leave as the winningest class (Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells and Kevin Rogers) in Baylor basketball. Definitely they are going to be missed and we really appreciate what they did for our program. And we look forward to following their careers and always having them as part of our Baylor basketball family. I think that's part of the reason (the Big 12 coaches) have us projected so low from the standpoint that we lost over 50 percent of our scoring, rebounding and assists. They (Big 12 coaches) know that's a lot and those players really meant a lot to our program. At the same time I think they set the foundation and raised the expectations for what the Baylor basketball players expect on the court from themselves. So it's an opportunity now for other people to step in and assume some of those roles. Again, every year your team is going to adjust and change and your style of play is going to adjust a little bit to your personnel and we probably won't have the speed getting up and down the court as you might have with a Henry (Dugat) and a CJ (Curtis Jerrells) and Kevin (Rogers) at times. At the same time we are going to push the ball; we will play fast but we will have a little bit more inside scoring. You always want to be picked higher but at the same time preseason polls don't mean anything."

On the Big 12 Preseason Rankings:
"Obviously you always want to be picked higher. I think at the same time we all know that preseason polls don't mean anything; it's how you finish up. It will be great motivation throughout the year for us to try to prove people wrong. At the same time, we know we lost a lot so we have a lot to overcome.

On the Upperclassmen:
"When we first got here seven seasons ago, you had a lot of new players, but you didn't really have those upperclassmen that had some experience. Now we don't have a lot of upperclassmen, but Tweety (Carter) has been in the program for four years now; Lace (LaceDarius Dunn) has been in there for three years; Fred (Ellis) has been here for three years. You have Ekpe (Udoh) who's been here for two years and Josh (Lomers) has been here for four years. Anthony (Jones) has been here for two years. So you do have some upperclassmen that have played and had experience and now have been able to translate that to the new players which we didn't have as much of that when we first got here because the upperclassmen didn't know how we coached and the style and what we wanted."

On Playing Zone Defense:
"Normally when you have a smaller team, it's tougher to play zone; with a bigger team, it's easier to play zone. So the zone is something we used in the first couple of years and got away from it, but I definitely see that being something we go to. How much? If man's better, we'll stick with man. If zone's better, we'll stick with zone, but we have both options.

On the New Players:
"Every year with recruiting, you hope that you get deeper. From a coaching standpoint, we feel that anyone on the team can contribute and play and help the team so that's a great thing. It gives you an opportunity to go to your bench. I thought last year we got away from our bench during conference play when we started losing games. Maybe we got tired at the end of the games and then when we played more people down the stretch, I thought that definitely helped. Anytime you're deeper, it helps not only with practice but it helps overcome injuries and helps you win games.

Senior Guard Tweety Carter

On his leadership role:
"I always felt like I was a leader. Freshman year, I felt like I did things that you don't always want to do and that are what it takes to be a leader. To lose those guys - Kevin (Rogers), Henry (Dugat), Dou (Mamadou Diene) and CJ (Curtis Jerrells) - was a big part of this team, but with Ekpe (Udoh) coming in and the experience that Lace (LaceDarius Dunn), Josh (Lomers) and I have and those other guys, we are ready to take on the challenge and ready to play this game."

On having to possibly be more of a scorer this season:
"I'm going to do whatever it takes for us to win and if it means me scoring, then I will do that. But if not I have two big fellows that I can feed. With Lace (Dunn) on the wing and those freshmen coming in, they work hard and as long as you got guys that work hard and play hard for you, you never can go wrong. I'm just happy this year and hope that we can come together and stay together as a team."

On being the starting point guard:
"I take on any challenge, always have. I'm ready for it and with the help of those guys, and help of my teammates I'll be fine. I'm just going to take every game the same and not press myself. I am just going to come out and do what I do."

On last year's NIT run:
"Making the NIT was great; we wanted to win it, but that wasn't our goal coming in (into last season). Unfortunately we lost six straight. We went into the Big 12 Championship and did a great job and make it to the finals. (We) lost to a Missouri team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen. To make it to the NIT where you can still play for some kind of championship, you always want to take advantage of that, but it didn't come out. So this year we are working hard, just pushing each other more and everything else will just take care of itself."

On being picked 10th in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll:
"It's motivation. We are going to come out and play. I don't buy into numbers, never did, never will. It is something to push you forward in practice. We are just going to come out and play the game and it is going to take care of itself."

On being a senior:
"It came quickly, but every year I've focused on something that can get me prepared for the next level. Being able to be a leader for this team and be there for each player (especially the freshmen) and just lead them throughout their careers no matter what happens. Just to be there for this team and do whatever it takes for this team to win. If that is putting something aside that I am good at doing, I'll do that for this team because there's so much love and it's something that you love to play for."

Senior Center Josh Lomers

On attending the Pete Newell Big Man Camp this summer:
"It was a lot of fun. We got in there and did a lot of work. It was mostly a footwork camp, working to get your feet right underneath you. Hopefully I can bring some of that to the table this season."

On what the NIT run did for this year's team:
"I think it gives us returnees a lot of experience and a lot of practice under our belts playing in those games at the high level. We can help the freshmen be prepared for that and give them an idea of what it is going to be like when we get there."

On the zone defense being easier to play than man-to-man:
"It is a little less moving, but I don't know if that makes it any easier. With this level of competition no matter what you are playing, you are playing hard. It does work a little bit towards what I am used to. Obviously, I grew up my whole life playing mostly zone. I am a little more comfortable in it, but it's still a lot of work."

Junior Forward/Center Ekpe Udoh

On getting a chance to play this year:
"It feels good. Last year when practice started up I didn't really have anything to look forward to except for practicing. Now I really have to get ready for a game and have to play a part in this team to get us ready for November 5th."

On his game:
"(my game is) high energy. (It's) more of a finesse (player), but I know that game is physical so I can get down with help from him (Josh Lomers)."

On the development of his offensive skills:
"I love defense, so that's always going to be there for me. During the past year, (former assistant coach and current UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll) Coach Driscoll and I worked hard during practice or on game days to get me right."

Junior Guard LaceDarius Dunn

On being without the seniors from last year:
"It has been a lot different. I miss being with those guys (Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells and Kevin Rogers). It changed overnight. It went from them being the leaders and showing me the ropes to me being the leader. I think it'll be alright. I really miss them, but I'll just have to do my part like they did their parts and I'll have to try my best with the freshmen that we have."

On his skills progressing:
"I think it's coming along really well. I'm still working on the passing and the defense really hard. Without Curtis (Jerrells), it'll be a little different. This year I'm going to have to put the ball on the floor more than last year so I'm really working on my dribbling and defense."

On the weight of responsibility on him this season:
"I won't say a lot, but I have a chip on my shoulder and a responsibility just like the other guys do. Being a junior I think coach is going to expect more out of me and depend on me to carry the team and be a leader."