Nov. 3, 2009
GAME CENTER: EXHIBITION
MEDIA INFORMATION
Date: Thurs., Nov. 5, 2009
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. CST
Location: Waco, Texas
Arena: Ferrell Center (10,284)
Television: None
Radio: Baylor ISP Sports Network ESPN/KRZI 1660 AM (Waco)/Sirius (Ch. 161) | Complete List of Radio Affiliates
Talent: John Morris (pxp), Pat Nunley (color)
Series (Regular Season): Baylor leads 5-2
Last Meeting: 1938-39
Series Streak: Baylor, 3 wins
Exhibition Record under Drew: 3-1
Live Stats:
Audio Web Stream:
Video Web Stream: None
In-Game Blog: None
GAME NIGHT STORY LINES
• Baylor will host defending Lone Star Conference champion Central Oklahoma in an exhibition game Thursday at the Ferrell Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.
• Baylor leads the all-time series 5-2, but the schools have not played during the regular season since the 1938-39 season.
• Baylor is 3-1 in exhibition play under seventh-year head coach Scott Drew.
• Thursday's contest marks the fourth consecutive season that Baylor has played an exhibition game against a Lone Star Conference school.
• Last season, the Bears defeated preseason LSC South Division favorite Tarleton State 76-44. Baylor lost to Tarleton State in its 2007-08 exhibition game after defeating Texas A&M-Commerce in its 2006-07 exhibition.
• Baylor will play 24 regular season games on television in 2009-10, including nine on the ESPN family of networks. Last season, the Bears played a school-record 34 televised game as well as 18 on the ESPN family of networks.
• Seventh-year Baylor head coach Scott Drew enters the 2009-10 season with 81 wins to his credit at the helm of the Bears men's basketball program. Drew currently ranks sixth all-time at Baylor and trails former head coach Gene Iba (98) by 17 for fifth place.
• Junior forward/center Ekpe Udoh, who transferred from Michigan in June 2008, will suit up for the Bears in 2009-10 after sitting out the 2008-09 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. When Udoh steps onto the floor for Baylor's exhibition game Thursday, it will be his first game in 601 days.
• Baylor was picked 10th - garnering 33 votes - in the 2009-10 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll in October. Baylor was picked ahead of Nebraska (11th) and Colorado (12th). Last season, Baylor was picked tied for third - the Bears' highest preseason prediction in Big 12 history.
• Baylor's 45 wins in the last two seasons (21 in 2007-08, 24 in 2008-09) under head coach Scott Drew are more than the Bears' combined win total in his first four seasons (36).
• Entering the 2009-10 season, Baylor has nine underclassmen, which ranks third in the Big 12 (11, Nebraska; 10, Kansas; 9, Baylor and Oklahoma) and 20th among NCAA Division I schools. The Bears possess only four upperclassmen, fewest in the Big 12 and ranks ninth nationally.
• Baylor opens the 2009-10 regular season Friday, Nov. 13 against the Norfolk State Spartans at the Ferrell Center for a 7 p.m. CST tip.
SERIES HISTORY
• Baylor leads the all-time series 5-2, but the schools have not played during the regular season since the 1938-39 season.
• Baylor has won the last three meetings, including a 56-54 neutral-site victory Dec. 31, 1936, in Oklahoma City.
• Baylor's lone losses in the series occured during the 1935-36 season.
• The Bears have never played UCO in Edmond, Okla. (Six series meetings in Waco).
EXHIBITION HISTORY UNDER DREW
• Baylor is 3-1 in exhibition play under seventh-year head coach Scott Drew.
• Thursday's contest marks the fourth consecutive season that Baylor has played an exhibition game against a Lone Star Conference school.
• Last season, the Bears defeated preseason LSC South Division favorite Tarleton State 76-44. Baylor lost to Tarleton State in its 2007-08 exhibition game after defeating Texas A&M-Commerce in its 2006-07 exhibition.
• In Drew's first season, Baylor defeated a pair of traveling exhibition teams (Raiders Select and World HoopStars).
BEARS OPEN REGULAR SEASON WITH THREE GAMES IN FOUR-DAY STRETCH
• Beginning with Baylor's season opener Nov. 13 vs. Norfolk State, the Bears will play three home games over a rigorous four-day stretch. For the second season in a row, Baylor will host Hartford (Sun., Nov. 15) at the Ferrell Center, followed by Southern on Mon., Nov. 16. The Southern game was originally scheduled for Dec. 22, but was moved last month.
• Baylor's first four games fall in a 10-day window for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Bears opened the regular season with four wins in a 10-day stretch before participating at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
'THE NIGHTMARE' TO MAKE BAYLOR DEBUT VS. UCO
• Junior forward/center Ekpe Udoh, who transferred from Michigan in June 2008, will suit up for the Bears in 2009-10 after sitting out the 2008-09 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. When Udoh steps onto the floor for Baylor's exhibition game Thursday, it will be his first game in 601 days.
• Udoh will wear No. 13 this season because his middle name is 'Friday' and he was dubbed 'The Nightmare' by teammate Quincy Acy (whose nickname is 'The Cookie Monster').
• As a sophomore at Michigan in 2007-08, Udoh broke Chris Webber's sophomore blocked shots record (92). Udoh finished his career at Michigan fourth all-time with 159 blocked shots.
BAYLOR PICKED 10TH IN BIG 12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL
• A season after surpassing its highest preseason prediction in Big 12 history (tied for third with Kansas in 2008-09), Baylor was picked 10th, garnering 33 votes. Baylor was picked ahead of Nebraska (11th) and Colorado (12th).
• Baylor, which finished ninth last season with a 5-11 league record, was tabbed No. 7 in 2006-07 and No. 9 in 2007-08.
UP NEXT [SEASON OPENER VS. NORFOLK STATE]
• Baylor opens the 2009-10 season when it welcomes the Norfolk State Spartans to the Ferrell Center Friday, Nov. 13, for a 7 p.m. tip.
• Norfolk State, which advanced to the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament finals for the first time in school history, is led by MEAC Preseason Player of the Year Michael DeLoach. DeLoach led the MEAC in scoring last season with 21.5 points per game, ranking 15th nationally.
• Norfolk State is the first of two MEAC opponents on Baylor's 2009-10 schedule. In January, the Bears will host reigning MEAC champion Morgan State (also the Bears), which is led by back-to-back MEAC Coach of the Year Todd Bozeman.
