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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A milestone in the history of Baylor University |
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athletics was realized on April 5, 2021, when the men's basketball |
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team earned its first NCAA Division I national championship; and |
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WHEREAS, The title game victory closed out an unforgettable |
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year that began with a 17-game winning streak; the Bears went on to |
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secure their inaugural Big 12 Conference regular-season crown after |
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posting a 13-1 league record, and the team realized another first |
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when it entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed; and |
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WHEREAS, Playing in the tournament's South Region, Baylor |
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notched commanding March Madness victories over Hartford, |
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Wisconsin, and Villanova before besting Arkansas to punch its |
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ticket to the Final Four for the first time since 1950; matching up |
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against the University of Houston in the semifinals, the Bears |
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showcased their precision shooting and stifling defense to prevail |
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78-59 and secure a berth in the championship contest; and |
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WHEREAS, Taking the floor at Lucas Oil Stadium in |
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Indianapolis for the marquee title game, Baylor faced the |
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undefeated and top-ranked squad from Gonzaga University; the Bears |
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were undaunted and took charge from the opening tip-off; jumping |
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out to a 9-0 lead and a 47-37 halftime advantage, they continued to |
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dominate down the stretch, never allowing Gonzaga to come closer |
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than nine points; emerging victorious by the final score of 86-70, |
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the Bears hoisted the championship trophy and closed out a |
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storybook year with an overall record of 28 wins and only two |
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losses; and |
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WHEREAS, Baylor was led by Jared Butler, the Final Four Most |
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Outstanding Player, who scored 22 points in the finale; notable |
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honors were also claimed by Davion Mitchell, who was named both the |
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Naismith and National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive |
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Player of the Year; the Bears also received valuable contributions |
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throughout the season from the other members of the roster: Flo |
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Thamba, L. J. Cryer, Jordan Turner, Adam Flagler, Mark Vital, |
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Jackson Moffatt, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Matthew Mayer, MaCio |
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Teague, Zach Loveday, Mark Paterson, and Dain Dainja; these |
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determined athletes were ably guided by head coach Scott Drew, who |
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won the Associated Press and Big 12 Coach of the Year awards and is |
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the youngest active coach in college basketball to win a national |
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championship; vital support was also provided by associate head |
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coach Jerome Tang, assistant coaches Alvin Brooks III and John |
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Jakus, and the other members of the Baylor staff; and |
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WHEREAS, Playing with exemplary skill, determination, and |
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teamwork, the Baylor Bears realized their season-long goal of |
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becoming national champions, and their achievement will forever be |
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a proud memory for the university's loyal fans throughout Texas and |
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beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Baylor University men's |
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basketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Division I national |
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championship and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Bears as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |