by The GM on January 21 at 10:55PM
For those of us that are familiar with basketball in the state of Indiana, the last name Drew isn't an uncommon one. Homer Drew has been one of the most underrated and most talented coaches in college basketball history with 571 wins since 1976. Some of you might recognize Bryce Drew from his playing days at Valparaiso and this shot (go to the 2:15 mark and watch).
The rest of the country, or at least the state of Texas and the Big 12 Conference, are getting to know Scott Drew. Drew is the head coach for the Baylor Bears and he has lead them into the top 25 polls for the first time since 1969.
Drew is the man that took over after Baylor fired their coach and athletic director following the Patrick Dennehy murder and cover up. To say the cupboard was bare is being nice.
The groundwork was set in the 2003-2004 season. Drew took over a team with only half of his scholarships being used and a handful of walk-ons. The team was predicted to go winless. The Bears went 8-21 that season.
In 2004-2005, Drew only had one scholarship player returning and the team fought their way to a 9-19 record. True, not very impressive, but Drew was still laying out the schematics for his vision. Then, the NCAA came knocking and handed Baylor the worst punishment in the school's history and one of the biggest punishments ever. Baylor was not allowed to play a single non-conference game during the 2005-06 season, because of violations from the previous staff. The team didn't play a single game until January of 2006. They finished with a 4-13 record. But, Scott Drew still had a vision of what this team was going to become....successful.
While Baylor was struggling through the clean out, Drew compiled top 20 recruiting classes in three of his first four years as coach. He scored his biggest recruit this past season when LaceDarius Dunn committed to the Bears and Coach Drew.
This season, Baylor is quietly putting in their work. They are currently 15-2 and 3-0 in the Big 12 Conference, tied for first place with Kansas. Their two losses were at Washington State (67-64) and to Arkansas (85-78). Not bad for a school that was considered dead in the water a few short years ago.
So how is he doing it? In one word...Balance. The team has five players scoring in double digits and another averaging nine points per game. One of those players is the previously mentioned Dunn, who is second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.3 points in 20 minutes of play.
The journey can seem long when you first start out, but you have to stay the course and follow your plan. Scott Drew has done just that.
The rest of the country, or at least the state of Texas and the Big 12 Conference, are getting to know Scott Drew. Drew is the head coach for the Baylor Bears and he has lead them into the top 25 polls for the first time since 1969.
Drew is the man that took over after Baylor fired their coach and athletic director following the Patrick Dennehy murder and cover up. To say the cupboard was bare is being nice.
The groundwork was set in the 2003-2004 season. Drew took over a team with only half of his scholarships being used and a handful of walk-ons. The team was predicted to go winless. The Bears went 8-21 that season.
In 2004-2005, Drew only had one scholarship player returning and the team fought their way to a 9-19 record. True, not very impressive, but Drew was still laying out the schematics for his vision. Then, the NCAA came knocking and handed Baylor the worst punishment in the school's history and one of the biggest punishments ever. Baylor was not allowed to play a single non-conference game during the 2005-06 season, because of violations from the previous staff. The team didn't play a single game until January of 2006. They finished with a 4-13 record. But, Scott Drew still had a vision of what this team was going to become....successful.
While Baylor was struggling through the clean out, Drew compiled top 20 recruiting classes in three of his first four years as coach. He scored his biggest recruit this past season when LaceDarius Dunn committed to the Bears and Coach Drew.
This season, Baylor is quietly putting in their work. They are currently 15-2 and 3-0 in the Big 12 Conference, tied for first place with Kansas. Their two losses were at Washington State (67-64) and to Arkansas (85-78). Not bad for a school that was considered dead in the water a few short years ago.
So how is he doing it? In one word...Balance. The team has five players scoring in double digits and another averaging nine points per game. One of those players is the previously mentioned Dunn, who is second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.3 points in 20 minutes of play.
The journey can seem long when you first start out, but you have to stay the course and follow your plan. Scott Drew has done just that.
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Comments
That's true. I guess since I'm used to the Drew family and the way they work, I took for granted that he is doing things the right way.
It's a shame that we have to specify who is still doing the right thing these days, but you are very correct with your statement.
Jack Cobra
said
There is not a classier family in all of college basketball
So how is he doing it?
By doing it the right way. He's bringing in kids who WANT to be in Waco for four years. He's not only coaching these kids, but he's teaching them and mentoring them....he's doing the same things his Father did at Valpo when Valpo was an unknown. He's not taking shortcuts and he's not trying to fool anyone. You will not hear about Baylor basketball players skipping classes or being in off the court altercations. You will see photos of Baylor players out in the community working to not only make the community better, but themselves.
His team will work harder and prepare better than most teams in the nation because they won't take anything for granted. When he goes into a recruits home the recruit knows that he's getting the truth.
Drew made his rep by recruiting at VU and he has quite a rolodex of references if anyone were to question him.
He's playing by the rules and doing things the right way. That's how he's doing it.