Many of the principal figures who will take the court in tonight's Baylor-Xavier game in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament faced off in a neutral-site setting during the 2009-10 season.
Baylor won that one 69-64 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Nov. 29, 2009.
Baylor veterans, however, said Xavier center Kenny Frease, a 7-footer, has sharpened his skills considerably since that game.
Frease averages 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Musketeers (23-12) and is coming off a 25-point, 12-rebound effort in last week's 70-58 victory over Lehigh.
"He wasn't this dominant back then," Baylor forward Anthony Jones said. "He's obviously worked on his game and has become one of the strongest players in the NCAA. If it wasn't for his performance, I'm pretty sure we'd be playing Lehigh. He'll be a load for us."
Baylor (29-7) and Xavier meet at 6:15 tonight at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Bears forward Quincy Acy, a fellow senior, said the burly Frease has added weight and improved his footwork since the teams' last meeting.
"He's picked up a lot more weight and he knows how to move it now," Acy said.
PJ3 factor
Scott Drew said he is not concerned about the lack of scoring in the NCAA Tournament by Perry Jones III, a 6-foot-11 forward who has averaged 4.5 points per game, almost nine below his season average (13.4).
Drew said double-team efforts by opposing defenses have created opportunities for guards Brady Heslip and Pierre Jackson, who have combined to score 77 of the Bears' 148 points during the tournament.
"When Perry steps on the court, everybody knows where he's at," Drew said. "He's missed some shots he doesn't normally miss ...but he's been able to put other people in position to score."
Significant road trip
The parents of Scott Drew, both of whom underwent cancer-related surgeries in September, will attend tonight's game. It marks the first Baylor game for Homer and Janet Drew to attend this season.
"My mom finished chemo, and she just finished radiation. So this is her first road trip," Drew said. "It will be good to see her."
Drew said he plans to seek the advice of his father, a former college coach at Valparaiso, before tonight's tipoff.
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Baylor won that one 69-64 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Nov. 29, 2009.
Baylor veterans, however, said Xavier center Kenny Frease, a 7-footer, has sharpened his skills considerably since that game.
Frease averages 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Musketeers (23-12) and is coming off a 25-point, 12-rebound effort in last week's 70-58 victory over Lehigh.
"He wasn't this dominant back then," Baylor forward Anthony Jones said. "He's obviously worked on his game and has become one of the strongest players in the NCAA. If it wasn't for his performance, I'm pretty sure we'd be playing Lehigh. He'll be a load for us."
Baylor (29-7) and Xavier meet at 6:15 tonight at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Bears forward Quincy Acy, a fellow senior, said the burly Frease has added weight and improved his footwork since the teams' last meeting.
"He's picked up a lot more weight and he knows how to move it now," Acy said.
PJ3 factor
Scott Drew said he is not concerned about the lack of scoring in the NCAA Tournament by Perry Jones III, a 6-foot-11 forward who has averaged 4.5 points per game, almost nine below his season average (13.4).
Drew said double-team efforts by opposing defenses have created opportunities for guards Brady Heslip and Pierre Jackson, who have combined to score 77 of the Bears' 148 points during the tournament.
"When Perry steps on the court, everybody knows where he's at," Drew said. "He's missed some shots he doesn't normally miss ...but he's been able to put other people in position to score."
Significant road trip
The parents of Scott Drew, both of whom underwent cancer-related surgeries in September, will attend tonight's game. It marks the first Baylor game for Homer and Janet Drew to attend this season.
"My mom finished chemo, and she just finished radiation. So this is her first road trip," Drew said. "It will be good to see her."
Drew said he plans to seek the advice of his father, a former college coach at Valparaiso, before tonight's tipoff.
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