Blog - Baylor Official Athletic Site

Drew to Preview "The Showcase" at Dallas Luncheon
4:24 P.M., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor head coach Scott Drew, along with "Voice of the Baylor Bears" John Morris and the best color analyst in the business Pat Nunley, will host a Men's Basketball Luncheon in Dallas to preview Baylor's upcoming game against Gonzaga, which is part of "The Showcase" at American Airlines Center.

The luncheon will be held Wed., Dec. 8, at 11:30 a.m. at the American Airlines Center (The Old #7 Club-Lower Level; North Entrance-Lot F). Individual tickets are $25 (applicable state and local sales tax included on meal) and premium tables of four are $200 (premium seating and sign included). No walk-ups will be taken and only 150 seats are available.

Fans must purchase tickets/register online here or by calling toll free at 1-866-281-9444. The Baylor Bookstore will also be selling Baylor merchandise at the luncheon.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Baylor's NBA-esque Frontline Lift Bears to Another 'W'
12:19 P.M., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Perry Jones III tallied his second career double-double Monday night vs. Prairie View A&M.

Thanks to a season-high 90-point outburst, the 11th-ranked Baylor Bears put on their best offensive performance of the season, cruising to a 90-45 victory Monday night over Prairie View A&M. Senior G LaceDarius Dunn collected his second consecutive 20-point game, scoring 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting (3-of-8 3FG) in 23 minutes. But the best all-around performance came from freshman F Perry Jones III, who posted his second career double-double with 16 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. PJ3 continues to show his versatility and - along with frontcourt mates Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones - caught the attention of PVAMU head coach Byron Rimm II, who had this to say about the Bears in his postgame press conference:

"I've been to a couple of NBA practices this year and I haven't even seen an NBA team that big. It was one of those games where our guys were shell-shocked and I know this is one of those games we played. The reason why we played that bad is because (Baylor) stretched that defense. Baylor played that zone. Our guys couldn't get in the gaps, and if we did get in the gaps we couldn't see over those guys with our guys that are 5-7 or 5-8. We tried to fight hard but we lost the scoring battle, that's what happens when you play the 10th ranked team in the country. They have a great basketball team. Coach (Scott) Drew is doing a great job. I think some great things are going to come with the Baylor program."

Through five games, Jones III is averaging 13.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks. Not bad for a freshman...

Acy, who was averaging a double-double entering the Prairie View A&M game, was held to 13 points, five rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes of work. However, he had one of patented ferocious dunks in transition in the first half; fast forward to the :20 mark for Acy's slam.

Not to be overlooked is the solid 17 bench minutes from sophomore G Nolan Dennis, who poured in a career-high 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including a pair of treys. Dennis looked comfortable, confident and could play a big role off the bench Thursday vs. Arizona State. Why, you ask? Dennis scored seven points in 23 minutes in Baylor's 64-61 win in Tempe last season.

A few notes for the road...

MORE RECORD-BREAKING RANKINGS
Baylor is ranked No. 11 in the latest Associated Press and No. 10 in this week's ESPN/USA TODAY coaches' Top 25 polls. Both are the highest regular-season rankings in program history; Baylor's No. 10 ranking in the coaches' poll ties the highest in school history (Bears were ranked No. 10 in the final coaches' poll of the 2009-10 season).

DUNN CLIMBING CAREER SCORING CHARTS
LaceDarius Dunn is 20 points closer to becoming the Baylor and Big 12 career scoring leader. Dunn, who has 1,783 career points, is 37 points shy of tying former teammate Curtis Jerrells for third on Baylor's career list. The Monroe, La., native is 78 points shy of moving into the top 10 on the Big 12's career list.

HAPPY TRAILS
Since trailing La Salle by two points in the early stages of the second half on Nov. 16, Baylor has not trailed in the last 138 minutes.

WHAT A RUN
Since ending the 2008-09 regular season with a 17-13 record, Baylor is 40-10 in its last 50 games. Dating back to the 2007-08 season, Baylor was 27-23 in its last 50 games prior to its current streak.

OH SO CLOSE
For the ninth time in the Scott Drew era, Baylor held an opponent under 50 points, limiting Prairie View A&M to 45 points Monday night. However, that's not the Drew Era low for points by an opponent; that goes to Southern, which scored 43 points against the Bears on Nov. 22, 2008.

THE TURNOVER GAME
Let's just say this...Baylor entered the Prairie View A&M game ranked towards the bottom nationally in turnovers per game after committing 23, 22, 26 and 19 in its first four games respectively. Baylor coughed up a Scott Drew era-low five turnovers vs. PVAMU - also the fewest turnovers committed since Jan. 16, 2002, vs. Kansas State (also five TOs).

UNDER 70
Baylor has won its last 28 games when holding opponents under 70 points, including its first five opponents of the 2010-11 season.

BLOCK PARTY
A year after witnessing teammate Ekpe Udoh obliterate both Baylor and Big 12 single-season blocked shots records, Quincy Acy needs one more block to move into 10th place on Baylor's career list. Acy currently has 69 blocked shots to his credit.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Sunday Afternoon Point Guard
3:24 P.M., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Thanksgiving is over. We only have a few more days left in the month of November and Christmas is in the air. After spending Thanksgiving on the road the last two years, it definitely felt different watching the holiday smorgasbord that is college basketball on the ESPN platforms from home. Prior to this season, Baylor had spent its Thanksgiving break at the 76 Classic in Anaheim in 2008 and the Old Spice Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in 2009. No 'Mouse' this year as the Bears will be spending Christmas on the island of O'ahu for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.

Way back in June, we gave everyone a sneak peek into Baylor's future regular-season tournament plans, beginning with the Diamond Head Classic this year and the Charleston Classic in 2011.

Baylor is in the midst of a seven-game homestand at the Ferrell Center with the fifth game against the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Monday night. In fact, Baylor will play its first eight games in the state of Texas before going to Hawaii next month.

Since the Bears' last game Nov. 22, a 72-60 win over Lipscomb, here's a look at three former Baylor players...Tweety Carter, arguably one of Baylor Nation's favorite players of all-time, is averaging 14.8 points and 3.8 assists in four games for the Tulsa 66ers. And, in case you were wondering, Carter is not wearing his college number (No. 45); instead, you'll find Carter wearing a No. 9 66ers jersey.

EUROLOEAGUE'S PARTIZAN BELGRADE SIGNS JERRELLS
Former Baylor basketball standout Curtis Jerrells has signed with Partizan Belgrade of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague after the club terminated the contract of PG Oliver Lafayette. Jerrells averaged 20.7 points and 5.7 assists last season for the NBA D-League's Austin Toros and was promoted to the San Antonio Spurs' playoff roster. He was traded to the New Orleans Hornets during training camp, but was waived just six days later. CJ is expected to make his debut for Partizan on Wed., Dec. 1, in the team's first Euroleague road game against Khimki Moscow Region.

LOMERS SIGNS WITH D-LEAGUE'S IDAHO STAMPEDE
Waived on the final roster cutdown by the Tulsa 66ers, former Baylor center Josh Lomers was signed by the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede on Friday when they released former Bradley standout Chris Roberts. The 7-foot Boerne, Texas, native had two points and three rebounds in a 108-100 loss to the Texas Legends that night and then shot 3-of-4 from the field and had seven points and three boards in Saturday's 117-114 loss to the Legends. Lomers was the 45th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft by the Tulsa 66ers.

Here's an abbreviated WHAT'S NOT IN THE GAME NOTES for Baylor's next home game Monday vs. the Prairie View A&M Panthers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference:

No. 12/13 Baylor (4-0) will aim to extend its home winning streak to 10 games Monday when the Bears continue their seven-game homestand against the Prairie View A&M Panthers at the Ferrell Center. Since finishing the 2008-09 regular season with a 17-13 record, the Bears are 39-10 in their last 49 games. Playing its last game in November this season, Baylor is 29-6 in the 11th month under Scott Drew and looking for its first undefeated November in the Drew era.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Prairie View A&M, which is the second-oldest public university in the state of Texas, has held nine different names since opening its doors in 1876. Prairie View A&M, which is part of the Texas A&M University System, changed its name from Prairie View A&M College of Texas to Prairie View A&M University in 1973.

CHARTER MEMBER
Prairie View A&M is a charter member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). PVAMU was one of the six original schools that formed the SWAC in 1920 - now-defunct Bishop (1920-56), Paul Quinn (1920-29), Huston-Tillotson (1920-59), Texas College (1920-61) and Wiley (1920-68).

FAMOUS ALUMNI
Most of Prairie View A&M's famous alumni are football players, most notably Otis Taylor, who was a wide receiver for the 1969 Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs; and Ken Houston, a 12-time Pro Bowler at defensive back and member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Other famous Prairie View A&M Panthers include former Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper; actor Mr. T (Laurence Tureaud), who attended PVAMU for one year; and Zelmo Beaty, who was the third pick of the 1962 NBA Drafty by the St. Louis Hawks. Beaty was named to the inaugural NBA All-Rookie Team in 1963 and later led the Utah Stars to the 1971 ABA title.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

He's Baaaaack
11:28 A.M., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

LaceDarius Dunn hit seven 3s in his season debut Monday vs. Lipscomb.

Senior All-American G LaceDarius Dunn made his triumphant return to the court Monday night, scoring a game-high 24 points - including seven treys - to lead No. 12 Baylor to a 72-60 win over preseason Atlantic Sun Conference favorite Lipscomb. Dunn, who had nine points at the break, scored Baylor's first 12 second-half points thanks to four consecutive 3-pointers in an 108-second span. The fourth triple - Dunn's seventh of the night - was the back-breaker, putting the Bears up 17 (47-30).

For Lace, it was his fifth career game with seven or more 3FG - the most by any Baylor player in program history. Dunn scored 20+ points for the 34th time in his career and is 24 points closer to Terry Teagle's school record of 2,189 career points (Dunn has 1,763 career points). Dunn now has 306 career 3FG (a school record) and needs 84 triples to become the Big 12's all-time leader.

And while Dunn was scoring at will, junior PF Quincy Acy was cleaning up the glass, posting his third double-double in four games this season with 18 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

Acy and Dunn combined for 42 of Baylor's 72 points Monday night.

Freshman sensation Perry Jones III, who was named Big 12 Co-Rookie of the Week Monday, was held to six points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes. Acy, PJ3 and Anthony Jones combined for 28 of Baylor's 45 rebounds (Lipscomb totalled 33 boards).

A.J. Walton directly benefited from Dunn's return to the lineup, dishing out a career-high-tying eight assists (to only four turnovers). Dunn definitely helped with Baylor's early-season turnover woes as the Bears only turned the ball over 19 times (first game under 20 TOs this season).

A few notes for the road...

INSTANT OFFENSE
LaceDarius Dunn hit seven 3s in Monday's 72-60 win over Lipscomb. Dunn drained as many 3FG as Baylor made as a team combined against La Salle (3) and Jackson State (4).

HAPPY TRAILS
Since trailing La Salle by two points in the early stages of the second half on Nov. 16, Baylor has not trailed in the last 98 minutes.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MAN
Quincy Acy has three double-doubles in Baylor's first four games. Prior to this season, Acy had three double-doubles in 70 career games.

UNDER 70
Baylor has won its last 27 games when holding opponents under 70 points, including its first four opponents of the 2010-11 season.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...Lipscomb
1:48 P.M., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every week during the 2010-2011 men's basketball season, "Full Court Press" will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opponent(s) that week. Today, 'What's Not in the Game Notes' previews Monday's non-conference home game vs. Lipscomb:

No. 12/13 Baylor continues its seven-game homestand Monday when the Bears host the Lipscomb Bisons at 7 p.m. CST at the Ferrell Center. Lipscomb will be a tough non-conference test for the Bears as the Bisons played No. 8 North Carolina to an 80-66 contest Nov. 12 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Bisons are led by 2010 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Adnan Hodzic, who scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 104-101 OT win over Austin Peay last week.

Hodzic is the only active player in the nation with multiple 30-point, 15-rebound games during his career. An honorale mention All-American selection by the AP last season, Hodzic ranked second nationally with 22.7 points per game. Along with Hodzic, sneior G Josh Slater is averaging 20.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists through Lipscomb's first three games.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Lipscomb University was established in 1891 by David Lipscomb and James A. Harding as the Nashville Bible School. Nearly 30 years later, the school was renamed David Lipscomb College after Lipscomb passed away. In 1988, Lipscomb became known as David Lipscomb University, but, in 2005, the "David" was legally dropped, and the institution was renamed simply Lipscomb University.

BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD
"The Battle of the Boulevard" is the annual rivalry series between Lipscomb and Belmont. Both schools are separated by less than three miles on Belmont Boulevard in Nashville, Tenn. Since Dec. 11, 1953, the two schools have faced off more than 125 times - first as NAIA powerhouses, now as Atlantic Sun Conference rivals.

'S' OR NO 'S'?
What's the plural of 'bison'? It's bison, but the nickname of Lipscomb University is the Bisons.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S TOP TWO ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS
The top two all-time leading scorers in college basketball history (NCAA or NAIA) belong to the Lipscomb Bisons. John Pierce is college basketball's all-time leading scorer with 4,230 career points and current Lipscomb AD Philip Hutcheson, who concluded his career as the nation's all-time leading scorer, ranks second all-time with 4,106 career points. The NCAA record for career points is held by LSU's "Pistol" Pete Maravich, who totaled 3,667 points.

MORE COLLEGE RECORDS
Not only does Lipscomb own the top two all-time scorers in college basketball history, the Bisons also lay claim to the all-time record holders for 3-point field goals made, assists and steals. Andy McQueen holds the college basketball record with 515 career 3-point field goals made (Baylor's LaceDarius Dunn has 299 to his credit); Virginia's Curtis Staples owns the NCAA record at 413 3FGM.

Jerry Meyer, who split his college time at Lipscomb and Minnesota-Duluth, has a college-record 1,314 career assists; Duke's Bobby Hurley owns the NCAA record with 1,076 career assists.

Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock (NCAA-record 281 steals) has nothing on Lipscomb's Marcus Bodie, who holds the college basketball record with 440 career steals.

NAIA POWERHOUSE
From 1988-2001, Lipscomb won more basketball games than any other college or university in the nation, posting an amazing 356 wins and only 56 losses. Prior to the impressive streak, Lipscomb won the 1986 NAIA national championship. The Bisons averaged more than 32 wins per year and, in 1990, set a national record by winning 41 games. Lipscomb finished in the NAIA Top 20 for 13 straight seasons, including seven top-five finishes in the last 10 years in the NAIA.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Gold Uniforms and a 3-0 Start
11:49 A.M., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Baylor showcased its new gold alternate uniforms during Tuesday's win on ESPN.

Baylor has now started each of the last four seasons with a 3-0 record after sweeping this week's non-conference contests against La Salle and Jackson State. In three games, the 17th-ranked Bears are shooting 52.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from 3-point range and 71.3 percent from the free throw line. However, the glaring statistic is 71; that's the number of turnovers the Bears have committed in their first three games. Baylor has turned the ball over 20+ times in three consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 7, 1999.

Turnovers aside, Baylor is 38-10 in its last 48 games dating back to its 2009 postseason run and 76-34 since the start of the 2007-08 season. Another highlight of Baylor's 3-0 start? The Bears sweet new gold alternate uniforms (More here, here, here and here).

RECAPPING THURSDAY'S WIN
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Highlights | Postgame Presser

Freshman sensation Perry Jones III scored a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds to help No. 17 Baylor hold off Jackson State, 63-49. Baylor held Jackson State to two first-half rebounds and 15 total rebounds - the fewest by a Baylor opponent during the Big 12 era. A.J. Walton was Baylor's only other double-digit scorer, adding a career-high-tying 14 points and five assists.

Behind double-doubles from Quincy Acy and Perry Jones III, Baylor used an early second-half run to pull away from La Salle, 74-64, during Tuesday's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon on ESPN. Acy looked good in Baylor's new alternate unis, going for a career-high 25 points, 11 rebounds and his fifth career double-double. PJ3 added his career-first double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

THE COOKIE MONSTER
After spending the 2009-10 season as Baylor's "sixth man," Junior PF Quincy Acy has taken advantage of his new starting role. Through three games, Acy is averaging a team-best 17.7 points and 9.7 rebounds, while shooting a team-best 64.5 percent from the field. Baylor's single-season and career leader in field goal percentage, nearly 56 percent of Acy's career FGM (228) have been dunks (127).

MORE ELLIS
Junior F Fred Ellis, who has started Baylor's first three games at the 2 guard position, is averaging 10.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 26.3 minutes. Ellis has 31 total points through the first three games; the Sacramento, Calif., native scored 40 total points in each of his first two seasons at Baylor.

With the first three games out of the way...

No. 17 Baylor will now focus on its toughest non-conference test to date, the Lipscomb Bisons, which outlasted Austin Peay, 104-101, in overtime Thursday night. Monday's game will also mark the return of senior All-American guard LaceDarius Dunn.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...La Salle
1:19 P.M., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

For the second time in three seasons, the Ferrell Center will be the site of a Tuesday mid-afternoon game on ESPN as part of the Worldwide Leader's "College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon." This year, No. 17/17 Baylor will host the La Salle Explorers out of the Atlantic 10 Conference on Tuesday for a 1:05 p.m. CST tip on ESPN. Both schools won their respective season openers - Baylor cruised to an 87-52 win over Grambling State, while La Salle needed a second-half rally to take down Columbia, 82-71.

WHAT'S IN A NAME (OOPS!)
La Salle University's nickname - the Explorers - was announced by The Collegian in March 132 as the winning entry to a student contest. However, in the fall of 1931, a Baltimore, Md., sportswriter covering the La Salle/St. John's (Md.) football game erroneously alluded to La Salle as being named for the French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. La Salle University was named after St. John Baptist de La Salle.

TRAVEL BLOG
La Salle Assistant AD for Communications Kevin Bonner has a pretty good "Travel Blog" that he posts on GoExplorers.com. You should check it out (especially since I got a shout out last night).

THE PHILADELPHIA BIG 5
La Salle is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5, which is comprised of the La Salle Explorers (Atlantic 10), Penn Quakers (Ivy League), Saint Joseph's Hawks (Atlantic 10), Temple Owls (Atlantic 10) and Villanova Wildcats (Big East). The annual round-robin series is one of the greatest traditions in Philadelphia sports and college basketball. However, there are actually six Division I schools in the greater Philadelphia area (Drexel is the sixth).

DOCTORS OF BASKETBALL (ACTUALLY IN LA SALLE'S GAME NOTES)
La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini is one of three Division I head basketball coaches to own doctorates, joining Lehigh's Brett Reed (Ph.D., instructional technology) and Baylor head coach Scott Drew's dad, Valparaiso's Homer Drew (Ph.D., educational administration). Giannini earned his doctorate in kineioslogy with a specialization in sports psychology from Illinois in 1992.

HEAD COACH AND AUTHOR (ACTUALLY IN LA SALLE'S GAME NOTES)
Not only does La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini hold a doctorate, he is also an accomplished author, too. Giannini's book, Court Sense, grew from a series of conversations he had with Human Kinetics Vice President Ted Miller about the poor performance of U.S. national teams in international competition and the general decline of fundamentals and team play. Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey wrote the forward.

OLYMPIC TRADITION
17 former La Salle Explorers have competed in the Olympic Games, including four gold medalists and two bronze medalists.

NIT AND NCAA CHAMPIONS
La Salle is one of only 17 schools to win both the postseason NIT (1952) and NCAA (1954) Tournaments.

FAMOUS ALUMNI
La Salle is definitely a basketball school. Some of the most famous Explorers include: Portland Trail Blazers President Larry Miller, current ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler, college basketball analyst Bill Raftery (ONIONS!), Joe Bryant (father of NBA star Kobe Bryant), Lionel Simmons (the third-leading scorer in NCAA history) and Jim Phelan (830 wins as Mount St. Mary's head coach). Another prominent alumnus is Tom Curley, President and CEO of the Associated Press and former President/Publisher and Co-Creater of USA TODAY.

There's still plenty of time to purchase season tickets for the 2010-11 basketball season.
To purchase single-game or season tickets, fans have three options: visit the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), call (254) 710-1000 or order online at BaylorBears.com.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Two Players Down, No. 16 Baylor Coasts to Victory in Opener
12:13 P.M., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Quincy Acy posted his fourth career double-double Friday night vs. Grambling State.

RECAPPING FRIDAY NIGHT'S WIN
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

A 17-2 run to start the game and - POOF! - it was a runaway. Despite 23 turnovers and shooting 55.3 percent from the FT line, No. 16 Baylor scored early - and often - to open the 2010-11 season with an emphatic 87-52 win Friday night over Grambling State at the Ferrell Center. Before the game even started, Baylor led 2-0 thanks to two Fred Ellis free throws after Grambling was assessed a technical foul for dunking in warm-ups. Prior to the 9:20 p.m. CST tip, the 7,242 Baylor fans in attendance saw the unfurling of the 2010 Elite Eight banner which will hang alongside Baylor's 2008 NCAA and 2009 NIT banners.

Baylor was also without the services of its starting backcourt - sophomore G A.J. Walton and senior G LaceDarius Dunn - but freshman G Stargell Love and junior F/G Fred Ellis ably stepped up. Love dished out a game-high six assists and grabbed seven rebounds, while Ellis scored a career-high 14 points in just 17 minutes. Off the bench, sophomore G Nolan Dennis tied his career high with nine points and grabbed a career-high four rebounds.

And, for Baylor's menacing front line of Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones and Perry Jones III, the production was as advertised...Acy recorded his fourth career double-double, scoring a game-high 20 points and adding a career-high-tying 12 boards in 32 minutes. PJ3 chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds and orchestrated the offense several times down the floor. Not to be forgotten, Ant Jones poured in a career-high 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.

SUCCESSFUL DEBUTS
PJ3, BoBo Morgan and Love all made successful Baylor debuts Friday night. Morgan established a new career high with 12 points, besting his previous mark of eight points while at UCLA.

FRIDAY'S STAT OF THE NIGHT
As a team, Grambling was 18-of-62 (29.0 percent) from the floor.
Acy, Ant Jones and PJ3 were a combined 18-of-32 (56.3 percent) from the floor

FRIDAY'S DIFFERENCE MAKER
The Bear Pit and the Ferrell Center crowd...The Bear Pit and the rest of the Baylor Nation faithful made it clear during Baylor's 17-2 opening-run that the Bears have a huge homecourt advantage. And even with the late start, the fans came out in full force and we hope they return for Tuesday's game.

Speaking of Tuesday...

With game one under their belts, the 16th-ranked Bears will now set their sights on Tuesday's 1 p.m. - yes, 1 p.m. - game against La Salle at the Ferrell Center. Tuesday's ESPN game is one of 21 live telecasts as part of ESPN's third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Lunardi Unveils Preseason Field of 68
1:47 P.M., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

With the start of the 2010-11 college basketball season underway, that could only mean one thing: Bracketology. On Monday, we mentioned both Gary Parrish and Jerry Palm listed Baylor as a No. 3 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Earlier today, ESPN resident Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Baylor as a No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 UNLV in the Southeast Region. In the pairing game, the Baylor/UNLV winner would face either No. 4 Memphis or the winner of the First Four matchup between Louisville and Missouri State. As it stands now, nine Baylor opponents would make Lunardi's Field of 68.

Switching gears...

ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz published his must-see games for the 2010-11 men's college basketball season. One of Katz's 10 games he hopes to see in the exempt tournaments is a Baylor/Mississippi State semifinal matchup in Hawai`i. Two other Baylor games - Dec. 18 vs. Gonzaga and March 5 vs. Texas - are also on Katz's must-see slate.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...Grambling State
1:05 P.M., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every week during the 2010-2011 men's basketball season, "Full Court Press" will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opponent(s) that week. This week, 'What's Not in the Game Notes' previews Baylor's regular-season opener against the Grambling State Tigers:

For the first time in program history, Baylor will open the regular season ranked in the preseason Top 25 when the No. 16/14 Bears host the Grambling State Tigers on Friday at the Ferrell Center. The Baylor/Grambling State non-conference tilt will tip at 8:30 p.m. CST upon the conclusion of day one of the World Vision Classic.

In last week's exhibition game, junior F/C J'mison (BoBo) Morgan made his unofficial Baylor debut, posting a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in the Bears' 68-59 win over Midwestern State. Four Bears scored in double figures - A.J. Walton (14), Morgan (13), Quincy Acy (12) and Fred Ellis (10) - and combined for 49 of Baylor's 68 points.

Baylor enters its 2010-11 season opener on the heels of three consecutive 20-win seasons, capped off by a school-record 28-win campaign in 2009-10 that culminated in a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in Houston. Friday's opener is the first of seven consecutive home games to start the 2010-11 season.

WHAT'S IN A NAME: COMMON DENOMINATOR
Grambling State is one of 12 NCAA Division I schools - and one of three in the SWAC - that use the nickname "Tigers" for its athletic programs. Auburn, Clemson, Jackson State, LSU, Memphis, Missouri, Pacific, Princeton, Savannah State, Tennessee State, Texas Southern and Towson are the others. Grambling is the first of four Tigers on Baylor's 2010-11 schedule (Jackson State, Missouri, Texas Southern).

GOIN' BOWLING
Grambling State is one of 35 Division I schools that sponsor women's bowling as a sport. Four of the 35 are located in Texas - Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas Southern.

EDDIE ROBINSON
When many people think "Grambling State," they think legendary football coach Eddie Robinson. Robinson patrolled the sidelines at Grambling State for 56 years (1941-97). During his tenure, Robinson established himself as the winningest coach in Division I FCS (then I-AA) history, with 408 wins. In 1997, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame; the Eddie Robinson Award - named in his honor - is awarded annually to college football's top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Grambling's football stadium also bears his name.

TIGER MARCHING BAND
Perhaps the second-most famous aspect of Grambling State is its Tiger Marching Band, which is touted as the number one collegiate show band in the world. The band was even featured in the major motion picture Drumline and was selected to represent the Pageantry of Bands section of the NCAA Hall of Fame. Grambling's Tiger Marching Band is known as "The Best in the Land."

HARDWOOD HISTORY
Grambling State defeated Georgetown (Ky.) College to win the NAIA national championship in 1961. The Tigers later advanced to the NAIA Final Four two more times - 1963 and 1966. Grambling's 1961 national title team was led by Charles "Charlie Red" Hardnett and future New York Knicks star Willis Reed.

SID VISIONARY
As you know, most sports information directors labor behind the scenes, making the well-oiled machine known as media relations run efficiently. Collie J. Nicholson became Grambling State's first SID in 1948 and after more than 30 years in the business, helped put Grambling on the map. In 1974, his efforts helped produce the now traditional Bayou Classic football game in New Orleans between Grambling State and Southern. Read more about Nicholson on page 128 of the 2010 Grambling State Football Media Guide.

FAMOUS ALUMNI
Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams (Washington Redskins QB), former MLB outfielder Tommie Agee, former NFL QB James "Shack" Harris, Paul "Tank" Younger, Pro Football Hall of Famers Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis and Charlie Joiner are just some of Grambling State's prominent alumni.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Monday Afternoon News, Notes and Brackets
4:22 P.M., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Yes, on the same day that This is Bear Country blogged about Baylor football's bowl projections, we, too, are blogging about Baylor basketball's postseason projections. And, yes, it is November and the first games of the 2010-11 season tipoff tonight. But it's apparently never too early for basketball analysts to offer their preseason prognostications...

CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish projects Baylor to be a No. 3 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, alongside Memphis, Kansas and Gonzaga.
In his preseason 'Projecting the Field,' Jerry Palm also likes the Bears as a No. 3 seed. Palm goes a few steps further, predicting Baylor will face No. 14 seed Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara...in the East Region...in Tucson, Ariz. Projected No. 1 seed in the East Region? No. 1 Duke.
SI.com's Andy Glockner says Perry Jones III will be an impact freshman in 2010-11.
According to the Associated Press' Schuyler Dixon, the 16th-ranked Baylor Bears want more in 2010-11 after run to the 2010 NCAA Elite Eight in Houston.
Baylor is No. 15 in Sporting News' Preseason Top 25.
Baylor debuted at No. 18 in ESPN.com's College Basketball Power Rankings. The Bears ranged from No. 9 (Jay Bilas) to No. 22 (Doug Gottlieb). ESPN.com blogger Diamond Leung rated Baylor No. 14 overall.

We are roughly four days away from Baylor's 2010-11 season opener against Grambling State. There's still plenty of time to purchase season tickets for the 2010-11 basketball season.
To purchase single-game or season tickets, fans have three options: visit the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), call (254) 710-1000 or order online at BaylorBears.com.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

It Was Just an Exhibition Game, But...
11:05 A.M., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Last night's game may have only been an exhibition contest, but Baylor junior F/C J'mison 'BoBo' Morgan made a very good first impressive. BoBo posted a double-double, finishing with 13 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in 23 minutes off the bench. Off the bench. Of course, let us not forget another impressive stat: Morgan was 7-of-8 from the FT line last night. That's very solid production from the big man, especially considering...

Morgan averaged 2.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 7.0 minutes- and a 38.9 percent career FT shooter - in 40 career games in two seasons at UCLA. In fact, if Thursday's game were Baylor's regular-season opener, BoBo would have established new career highs for points, rebounds, blocks and minutes played...Moreover, Morgan has never reached double digits in either points or rebounds.

However, Morgan wasn't the only impressive player on the court Thursday night for the Bears.

10 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. That was the stat line for junior F Fred Ellis, who also started for the Bears at the 2 position (Baylor went with one guard and four forwards vs. MSU). "Freddy E" played very well in what would be his career-first start for the Bears. Ellis, who is averaging 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 55 career games, would have matched his single-game career highs for points (10 vs. Providence, 11/27/08) and rebounds (six vs. Providence, 11/27/08).

Baylor sophomore PG A.J. Walton scored a game-high 14 points and made some spectacular plays, none of which more impressive than this steal-and-dunk (around the :15 mark).

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

What's Not in the Game Notes...Midwestern State
10:37 A.M., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every week during the 2010-2011 men's basketball season, "Full Court Press" will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opponent(s) that week. 'What's Not in the Game Notes' makes its FCP debut with Baylor's exhibition game against the Midwestern State Mustangs:

For the fifth consecutive season, Baylor will open its schedule with an exhibition contest against the Lone Star Conference. In 2009, it was Central Oklahoma; in 2007 and 2008, it was Tarleton State; and Texas A&M-Commerce in 2006. Both schools are coming off historic Elite Eight runs in 2010 - the Bears won a school-record 28 games en route to their first Elite Eight (Division I) appearance in the modern tournament era, while the Mustangs won a school-best 31 games on their way to their first Elite Eight (Division II) appearance in school history.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Founded in 1922 as Wichita Falls Junior College, it was renamed Hardin Junior College in 1937 when it moved to its present location. In 1946, a senior division was added and it was renamed Hardin College. In 1950, the name was changed to Midwestern University and, in 1961, it became a state-supported university. The school took its current name - Midwestern State University - in 1975.

MAVERICK THE MUSTANG
Maverick has served as the mascot of Midwestern State University athletics officially since 2006, a year after the institution officially changed to its nickname to the Mustangs after the NCAA deemed its originally nickname - "Indians" - hostile and abusive.

Midwestern State's Indian moniker survived 83 years as the school developed through the junior college ranks before becoming a full-fledged four-year institution in 1946.

THE EIGHTH-BEST ATTENDANCE IN DIVISION II
During its historic Elite Eight run in 2010 (sound familiar?), Midwestern State boasted the eighth-best attendance in all of NCAA Division II for the 2009-10 season. An average of 2,425 fans over 16 home dates helped MSU outdraw Lone Star Conference foes by a large margin; Tarleton State, 30th in NCAA Division II with a 1,516 average, ranked second among LSC schools.

MUSTANGS PICKED TO WIN LSC SOUTH...AGAIN
Midwestern State is favored to win its third consecutive Lone Star Conference South Division title. The Mustangs garned 159 total points and 12 first-place votes.

BATTLE OF TABC COLLEGE COACHES OF THE YEAR
Thursday will also feature a pair of Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) College Coaches of the Year. Baylor's Scott Drew was named TABC's Division I Men's Coach of the Year, while Midwestern State's Grant McCasland was named TABC's Small College Coach of the Year.

NOW, WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE NOTES
Baylor alums and Midwestern State coaches Grant McCasland (head coach) and Nelson Haggerty (assistant coach) return to the Ferrell Center for Thursday night's exhibition. McCasland, a walk-on guard for former head coach Harry Miller, earned three letters and 1999 Academic All-Big 12 honorable mention honors. Haggerty, a four-year starter at guard, holds the Baylor single-game (19), single-season (284) and career (699) assists records. He averaged 7.13 assists in 98 career games and led the nation with a 10.14 assists-per-game average in 1994-95.

FAMOUS ALUMNI
Some of Midwestern State's famous alumni include the late Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons, who coached the NBA's Phoenix Suns three different times; former NFL (Colts, Raiders, Bills) and current UFL running back Dominic Rhodes; and TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Tulsa Drafts Lomers in 2010 D-League Draft Third Round
9:19 P.M., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Earlier today, we mentioned former Baylor All-American Tweety Carter was assigned to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League. Well, it appears he will be reunited with Baylor teammate Josh Lomers, who was taken in the third round (45th overall pick) of Monday's NBA D-League Draft by the 66ers.

Lomers, who played for the San Antonio Spurs' summer league team in July, was one of eight players drafted by Tulsa in the 2010 NBA D-League Draft. The 7-foot, 265-pound center averaged 4.5 points while shooting 66.3 percent from the floor in 129 career games with the Bears. A three-time Academic All-Big 12 first team selection, Lomers averaged 6.6 points and 3.7 rebounds as a senior during Baylor's run to the Elite Eight in 2009-10.

Tulsa opens training camp on Sunday, Nov. 7. The 66ers tip off the 2010-11 season on the road with back-to-back games against the Bakersfield Jam (Nov. 19/20).

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).

Tweety Carter Assigned to D-League's Tulsa 66ers
8:46 A.M., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010
CHRIS YANDLE (EMAIL)
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BaylorFCP, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Former Baylor basketball All-American point guard Tweety Carter has been assigned to the Tulsa 66ers, the NBA Development League affiliate for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Carter was on Oklahoma City's training camp roster before being waived in mid-October.

Carter concluded his four-year Baylor career as the school's all-time leader in Big 12 wins (29), games played (131) and minutes played (3,973). He ranks second all-time in 3-point field goals made (274), third in assists (474), third in steals (153), seventh in 3FG percentage (.384), eighth in points (1,437) and ninth in assists per game (3.62). Carter averaged 15.0 points and a Big 12-leading 5.9 assists per game as a Sporting News fourth-team All-American in 2009-10.

Carter and the Tulsa 66ers will open the 2010-11 regular-season with back-to-back road contests against the Bakersfield Jam on Nov. 19 and 20.

For constant updates on all things Baylor basketball, don't forget to follow Full Court Press on Twitter (@BaylorFCP).