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Baylor Basketball

Catching Up With Tweety Carter

August 30, 2018
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I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Baylor basketball legend Demond "Tweety" Carter.  About 10 minutes into the conversation, I was already regretting that I was not recording it.  His passion for Baylor and his enthusiasm when he speaks about the past and future is hard to convey through the written word.  

Carter is currently in Waco and plans to be at the Sicem365 tailgate Saturday before Baylor's opening football game against Abilene Christian.  He spent the summer working out kids in the Waco area to help them become better basketball players but also build into their lives.  You can reach him at dtcballers29@gmail.com if you have kids of any age who are interested in becoming better basketball players.  

Tweety spent last year in France in one of the top professional leagues and is currently evaluating options for this upcoming season.  He averaged 10 ppg, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field; 41% from 3 and 82% from the foul line in 24 minutes.  His team employed a 10 man platoon system.  Carter was the 3rd leading scorer and 3rd in assists for a 14-3 team.  

When I asked Tweety what his favorite season of playing basketball was, he didn't hesitate to say the 2009-10 season-  his senior year at Baylor.  Tweety gets excited when he thinks about that year, "I love Baylor so much.  Everyone asked me why I went to Baylor?  I wanted to be a part of something special.  Everything about that team means so much to me.  We worked so hard that summer to prepare for that season.  It was a magical year.  Our chemistry was amazing.  I loved every hardship, every triumph, every close loss, every big win.  As I sat in that locker room after that Duke loss, I was upset but also very grateful.  I told the guys, we laid it all out there for this team, this school and these coaches.  We didn't cheat Coach Drew.  We gave our best and this is something we can be proud of the rest of our lives."  

He couldn't pin down a favorite moment.  "It was all special to me.  I know that sounds like a cop out to say that but that's the way I feel.  I have nothing but love for those guys, those coaches and Baylor fans.  Baylor is special.  Every time I come back here, I have a rush.  The people, the fans, the school, the bonds with players and coaches.  Every chance I have to give back to Baylor, I want to give back because this place gave so much to me and helping shape me."  

I quizzed him about his experiences with the current team this summer.  He was politically savvy not to favor any players but he thinks Makai Mason can be special from his interactions with him.  He said, "this team does remind me of the 2010 team I was a part of in its desire to work hard.  This is a team of hard workers!  They may not be the most talented or physically imposing team that Baylor has had but I'm excited to see what they can do.  They are going to be a tough, hard nosed team that makes the fans proud."  

I pressed him on other point guards on the roster.  On Jared Butler and his relationship with him (same high school):  "This is a young, hungry guy.  He asks so many questions!  And I love that about him.  He is competitive and humble.  You all are going to love him."  On Davion Mitchell the transfer from Auburn:  "another hard, hard worker.  He will lock you up defensively and make you want to quit.  He and Jared are going to push each other hard in practice.  The future of the point guard position is bright."  

Tweety mentioned that he keeps in touch with Lace Dunn, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers and Ekpe Udoh from his teams at Baylor.  But emphasized that it is a big family and he has a bond with all Baylor basketball players from teams in the last 15 years.  As the conversation wrapped up, I told Tweety:  "you know most Baylor fans are going to say that 2009-10 team was their favorite all time Baylor team."  A long pause on the other end.  "Man, that means a lot.  Special team and a great moment in my life.  Sic'Em Bears."  

Discussion from...

Catching Up With Tweety Carter

5,187 Views | 8 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Big12Bear
Ashley Hodge
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interviewed Tweety and then got to hang out and talk to him some at our tailgate Saturday. The 2 things that stood out the most was how much passion he had for Baylor and how much venom he had for every non Baylor team. My kind of guy!
jdrs
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One of my favorite players! Thanks for the article.
setshot
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Tweety's high school team flew into Portland for a major tournament his senior year. I had a good friend who lived in Oregon and told him I wanted a report on Carter. A little later I visited with him and asked him what he had heard.

He said that an acquaintance had taken his team up there and watched Carter average forty points a game in the tournament. When he asked him about Tweety's range, he took a sheet of paper and put a basket at one end and the midcourt circle at the other. Then he drew an arc from sideline to sideline just short of the midcourt circle at its apex. "Unlimited," he said.
fubar
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That team was THIS close (holding my thumb and forefinger almost touching) to winning it all in 2010. Tweety remains my all-time favorite Bear, and that team was easily the most fun to watch.

Thanks for the report. Loved it.
GruntTuff
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My wife and I were in Houston for that game and the St. Mary's game before the Duke game. We were better than Duke and should have won. Tweety was the glue. There was zero doubt the call against Quincy for blocking was a clear charge, would have fouled out one of their best players and we would have won.

Damn. I'll never forget that game. Duke coach got the calls because.....he's who he is. Not right.
Big12Bear
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Thank you for posting this Ashley. I wish I had seen this earlier and been able to stop by the tailgate.

Tweety is easily up there as one of my all time favorites. I was fortunate enough to be at the Paradise Jam Tourney that we won (beating Wichita State, Notre Dame and Winthrop), which was the de facto ascendancy of the program under Coach Drew.

That 2010 team had the goods to win it all and absolutely would have, if we had gotten a call or two. If I remember right, they didn't have one double digit loss the entire year which is extremely hard to do.
Ashley Hodge
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If he's in town, he said he was going to try to make the Duke tailgate fwiw
Big12Bear
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That's great. Thanks for the heads-up.
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