Friday, February 8, 2008
Russell Robinson has heard about what Baylor’s guards have been doing to opposing teams this season.
“You can see I’m in the gym early today,” Robinson, said after getting in a few extra shots before Thursday’s practice. “We’re going to have a tough weekend.”
Those are words that might not have come out of the mouth of a Kansas player during the last few years. But this Baylor squad is different. At 17-4 and 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference, fifth-year head coach coach Scott Drew has Baylor tied for third in the Big 12.
Darnell Jackson, junior forward, sinks a shot in the second half of last night's game against USC at Allen Fieldhouse. Jackson scored 11 points in the Jayhawks' 76-62 win over the Trojans.
Waco, Texas wasn’t always a paradise for Drew. He arrived in 2003 after one of the ugliest scandals in NCAA history. Carlton Dotson, a former Baylor basketball player, killed teammate Patrick Dennehy and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The situation turned uglier when then-coach Dave Bliss resigned under allegations that he tried to cover up the situation and portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
A myriad of NCAA sanctions came down on the program, and Drew – the new coach – was left to pick up the pieces.
Drew slowly turned the program around, and the main reason for Baylor’s success this season has been the play of its quintet of guards.
“Baylor is probably as deep at the guard position as anybody in the country, one through five,” Self said.
Baylor’s backcourt starts with senior Aaron Bruce. The Australian was Drew’s second signee when he arrived at Baylor. Bruce, junior Curtis Jerrells, junior Henry Dugat, sophomore Tweety Carter, and freshman LaceDarius Dunn have a combined average of 56.7 points per game.
“You can line them up and play anybody,” Self said.
Bruce is the veteran of the group, but Jerrells – according to Russell Robinson – is the most talented. Jerrells, a honorable-mention All-Big 12 last season, is leading Baylor with 14.4 points per game.
Dugat can score as well, Carter’s a former McDonald’s All-American, and Dunn is a threat from the outside.
“They got a little bit of everything,” Robinson said.
Baylor could provide just the right test for a Kansas team trying to raise its defensive play. Kansas has only produced nine steals during its last three games. The overall defensive pressure has decreased as well.
Self said he expected his team’s steal to decrease when Big 12 play began, but he says he’s still concerned with his team’s defense.
“We’re getting beat way to much on the bounce, because we’re lunging and reaching too much,” Self said. “We’re not forcing turnovers. It’s a bad combination.”
Robinson has heard Self’s complaints.
“Coach calls it fishing and missing,” Robinson said. “We’re doing a little bit of gambling, a little out of synch, our help defense hasn’t been great.”
Kansas guards Robinson, junior Mario Chalmers, junior Brandon Rush, and sophomore Sherron Collins will be expected to contain Baylor’s backcourt. Kansas backcourt – a group that many have called the best in the country – will be challenged by one of the few backcourts that can claim to be Kansas’ equal.
Self’s still confident.
“We still have the best defensive guards around,” Self said. They just haven’t played to that level. You don’t go from being a great defender to a bad defender in a week.”
—Edited by Russell Davies
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