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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 14-16;
4-12 in Big 12 (Tied/10th)
Postseason: None. Last appearance in NCAA Tournament was in 1988.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Roberts 16.6
Rebs: Roberts 8.2
Assists: Lucas 4.0
FG: Guinn 63.2%
3pt: Guinn 46.2%
FT: Lucas 79.4%
01-02 Stats:
Baylor | Big 12
KEY LOSSES
Greg Davis | 7.1 ppg
W. Greenleaf | 12.6 ppg
Chad Eisley | 5.3 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Ellis Kidd Jr. | Soph
G | John Lucas | Soph
F | T. Thomas | Junior
F | L. Roberts | Soph
C | R.T. Guinn | Junior
Player to Watch
Lawrence Roberts
Soph Forward
Stress fracture will keep Big 12's biggest surprise of '01-02 out until December.
DATE TO REMEMBER
For the former Southwest Conference schools in the Big 12, there's still nothing like a game with Texas. In the second game of the league schedule, the Longhorns come to the
Ferrell Center.
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BAYLOR BEARS
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Lawrence Roberts was one of the Big 12's biggest surprises. A year ago, Roberts, a 6-8 forward, was one of the top freshmen
in the Big 12 after averaging 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He was the biggest reason for optimism on a Baylor team that won just four
conference games and finished the season 14-16. And now, the Bears are going to have start the season without him. Roberts is expected to miss at least the first five weeks of the season because of a stress fracture in his shin. It's an injury that will leave Roberts out of action until mid-December. While Roberts is trying to stay in shape, he'll still have
to get back into basketball shape in December. The Bears, however, should be in better shape this year as coach Dave Bliss worked hard to upgrade Baylor's athleticism. Terrance Thomas, a junior college transfer, gives Baylor the kind of athletic slasher it lacked in the past. In the backcourt, John Lucas returns after starting 27 games
last season and scoring 13.2 points per game.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Baylor should be both deeper and more athletic this season, giving the Bears some offense to go with their defense. The
backcourt in particular should be an area of strength. Lucas will be pushed by junior college transfer Robert Hart. Ellis Kidd Jr. is expected to start at shooting guard.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
With five players lost, six new players and potentially three new starters to begin the season, Bliss has to make sure this team figures out how to play with each other. It's a task that might have to happen twice -- once at the beginning of the season and once when Roberts, the team's only proven frontcourt scorer, returns to the lineup.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Baylor will be better this season and Dave Bliss will lead the Bears to one or two unexpected victories -- such as last season's win over Missouri -- but there are probably too many talented teams in the Big 12 for Baylor to make a huge push toward the NCAA tournament. A middle of the pack conference finish and a trip to the NIT, however, is reasonable.
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