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Carter prepared to inherit leadership role for Baylor

Nov. 13, 2009

Sarah Groman | Staff Photographer Senior guard Tweety Carter pulls up for a shot Nov. 5 against the University of Central Oklahoma. Carter is one of two starters on Baylor's roster, and the second leading returning scorer with 10.8 points per game.

By Justin Baer
Sports editor

Reserve, La., senior Tweety Carter walks into the media room at the Ferrell Center with a grin as wide as the basketball arena he has inhabited for three years. He firmly shakes all the reporters hands and exudes confidence as he takes the stand to be interrogated about the upcoming season's prospectus.

Carter responds to questions whether Baylor can survive losing 50 percent of its scoring, rebounding and assists and what he thinks of the freshmen.

"Those guys are funny," he said with a chuckle. "They work hard. They listen. As a freshman, it's hard to remember a lot of things on the college level as far as plays, but they're making it through."

Carter's familiarity behind the microphone is exhibited with his quick-wit remarks and light-hearted demeanor with teammates Ekpe Udoh and Josh Lomers. While Carter is accustomed to interviews and media brigades, it's been a while since Carter has been called upon to be the focal point of a team.

Three years ago, Carter stepped on campus as head coach Scott Drew's most heralded recruit in his coaching career. Carter's 7,457 career points are the most in high school history and yielded a McDonald's All-American spot for the 5-foot-11 guard.

"It came quick," Carter said of his senior year of college. "I always felt like I was a leader coming in. freshman year, I did some things you sometimes don't want to do, but I became a leader because of that."

After averaging 30.8 points per game his senior year in high school, Carter scored 8.6 points per game his freshman year, a morsel of what he was accustomed to.

While Carter's "mild" numbers can be attributed to his submergence into the swamp of guards that included Aaron Bruce, Curtis Jerrells and Henry Dugat, it was difficult for Carter adjusting his playing style to incorporate into the team's strategy.

A couple of different hairstyles, a new jersey number and 195 career 3-point shots made later, Carter realizes the team's success is tethered to his ability to lead the team--in whatever fashion that may be.

"I am going to do whatever it takes for us to win," Carter said. "If it's me scoring, I will always do that. If not, I have some big fellows that I can rely on. I have (LaceDarius Dunn) and those freshmen that came in."

Drew has been blessed with senior guards for the past two seasons and realizes the benefits of having a natural leader vacating the point guard position.

"Any time you have a senior point guard, that makes the coach sleep a little bit better at night," the seventh-year head coach said. "Tweety had a good summer and has done a good job. We expect him to take another step forward."

That step forward will require Carter to anchor the team to its third consecutive postseason berth. While Carter is flattered with the task, he reassured the media it's not an effort that can be tackled individually.

"With Ekpe coming and the experience me, (Dunn) and Josh have, we are ready to take on the challenge," Carter said. "We are ready to play this game.

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