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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Baylor University men's basketball team brought |
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further acclaim to the university and to the State of Texas with its |
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inspired play during the 2009 postseason, making a dramatic run |
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through the National Invitational Tournament to play for the title; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, To set the stage for its NIT success, the Bears |
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performed exceptionally well in the Big 12 championship tournament |
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in Oklahoma City in mid-March; they reeled off three successive |
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wins, including a 71-64 upset of Kansas, the conference's |
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top-seeded team, to earn a spot in the title game; there, they fell |
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to Missouri to finish as the Big 12 runner-up; and |
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WHEREAS, Granted a spot in the National Invitational |
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Tournament for the first time since 2001, Baylor resumed its clutch |
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play, topping Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Auburn, and San Diego |
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State; on April 2, Baylor made its first NIT finals appearance in |
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school history, and though the team lost a hard-fought title game to |
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Penn State, its overall performance in the tournament demonstrated |
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that Baylor could hold its own against tough competitors from |
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throughout the nation; and |
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WHEREAS, Indispensable to the Baylor attack were its skilled |
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senior players--Curtis Jerrells, Henry Dugat, Delbert Simpson, |
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Mamadou Diene, and Kevin Rogers--who have helped bring about a |
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resurgence in the basketball program, winning 64 games during their |
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years at the university; in addition, the Bears received |
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outstanding contributions from the other members of the roster: |
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Kendall Wright, Duran Diaz, Fred Ellis, Quincy Acy, LaceDarius |
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Dunn, Anthony Jones, Tweety Carter, Josh Lomers, and Ekpe Udoh; and |
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WHEREAS, These talented athletes were guided by head coach |
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Scott Drew and assistant coaches Matthew Driscoll, Mark Morefield, |
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and Jerome Tang; additional support was provided by director of |
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basketball operations Stephen Brough, coordinator of basketball |
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operations Paul Mills, and director of player development Dwon |
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Clifton; and |
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WHEREAS, With its thrilling postseason victories, the Baylor |
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basketball squad was a source of great excitement and pride for its |
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loyal fans, and its triumphs will serve to inspire future Bears |
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teams in seasons to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Baylor University men's |
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basketball team on its memorable 2008-2009 season and extend best |
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wishes to the players, coaches, and staff for continued success; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |