 | | Coach Drew sat down for an online chat Oct. 13. |
Chat With Head Coach Scott Drew
Coach Drew joined us for an online chat on Oct. 13. Welcome to BaylorBears.com and OCSN.com online chat, where Baylor head men's basketball coach Scott Drew joined us on Monday, Oct. 13. Drew is in his first season as head coach of the Baylor men's basketball program in 2003-2004. Drew comes to Baylor after 10 seasons coaching at Valparaiso, the final as head coach. Drew led the Crusaders to a 20-11 record and into the NIT in 2002-2003. Valpo earned the Mid-Continent Conference regular season championship with a 12-2 league record last season. The previous nine seasons, Drew served as an assistant at Valpo under his father Homer Drew. During Drew's decade at Valparaiso, the Crusaders earned six NCAA Tournament berths, including the magical 1997-1998 squad that shocked the nation by advancing to the Sweet 16. Valpo made five straight NCAA appearances from 1996-2000. Drew was part of the coaching staff that led Valpo to nine straight Mid-Continent Conference championships, including dual regular season and tournament titles in 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 2001-2002. The Crusaders were regular season champions in 2000-2001 and 2002-2003, and won the conference tournament in 2000. An outstanding recruiter, Drew was responsible for three national Top-20 recruiting classes the last five years. Drew was named the 1998-99 National Recruiter of the Year by Court Vision and helped produce what Hoop Scoop magazine named the nation's sixth best recruiting class in 2001, the 13th best in 1999 and the 19th best in 2003 (including four Top-100 national recruits). |
 |
|
| Josh (Waco): How is this year's team going to compare with last year's? What kind of expectations do you raise to this year's team? |
 |  | Scott Drew: Matt, We are excited about the season and the players have been working extremely hard. At the same time this year's team has lost 65% of the points.... 59% of the rebs 58% of the assists. So I know expectations will not be as high. |
|
|
| Matt (Waco): Coach Drew, We're looking forward to the upcoming seasons. In the past, Baylor has played soft non-conference teams. In the future, do you see Baylor playing some powerhouse non-conference teams, such as Duke, Kentucky, etc...? |
| | Scott Drew: In the future we plan to definitely play schools like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina....etc. We want to play the best! Scheduling does take place though several years in advance. So some of these schools might not be available to play until the 06 or 07 seasons......and also we need to make sure these teams agree to play us!!! As you know just because we want to play doesn't mean they will want to play. Thanks. |
|
|
| Phil Lewis - Carrollton: Can you give us a status report on the number of players lost and returning from the scandal. Do you have enough to conduct practice. How will you fill out the roster if necessary. |
| | Scott Drew: Currently we have 8 players on scholarship: Matt S. R. T. Terrance Ellis Tommy Carl Harvey Corey We will fill out the rest of the team with about 5 walk-ons!!! Thanks. |
|
|
| houston: What are you looking for in walk-ons? |
| | Scott Drew: We are looking for any 7 footers!!! (obviousily the taller the better, but any player who can help our team athletically, and at the same time fit in with our team socially and represent Baylor in a positive manner. Thanks. |
|
|
| Steve (Waco): What kind of response are you receiving from the Texas recruits? I assume these have been exposed more to the negative media reports than any other group of recruits. |
| | Scott Drew: The response in Texas has been very good. However that is mainly with the underclassmen recruits...(Soph, Juniors etc) Because 90% of the top seniors have already commited to schools. As you know most recruiting is done in summer.....and by the time we got here it was very late in the process. Thanks |
|
|
| Ken (Dallas): I like your energy. Thanks for coming to BU and bringing a positive image for our program. Will you have the same types of teams, in time, at BU that you had at Valpo (competitive with everyone)? Thoughts on your first 50 days in office? |
| | Scott Drew: Thanks for the positive thoughts....You keep emailing questions!!!! HA HA....The goal will be to have a team that can compete for Big Twelve titles and a National Championship....I Hope that happens sooner rather than later...but as you know it might take some time. (Rome wasn't built in a day...although we would all like it to be!!!) Thanks. |
|
|
| Lewisville, TX: How does Coach Tang's presence on your staff communicate to the Baylor family and the rest of the world the university's commitment to following conference rules and to the value of a college degree? |
| | Scott Drew: I know a lot of questions have been asked concerning Coach Tang...I think as time goes on we'll have a lot of the answers....such as he is the type of person/coach that we would want at Baylor. Also we will see if he can bring in caliber athletes who fit in with what Baylor is all about. I know as far as the rules his school board supported every action their basketball team took. And being a Christian school...if they thought what they were doing was illegal, I know they would never of supported Coach Tang. Coach Tang is a 8 year youth minister and someone who does a great job with mentoring young children. I know given time a lot of people are going to be very happy with him at Baylor...As you know there is always 2 sides to every story and I wish more of his side and the school's side had been printed!!! Thanks. |
|
|
| Austin (Waco): Australia's a long way away...was it a good trip? |
| | Scott Drew: I wish I could talk about our recruiting efforts.....however the NCAA rules do not allow us to talk about commitments or recruits. Hopefully in November after recruits sign with Baylor...then we can talk about them. (Hopefully in November we have some good things to talk about.) I can tell you our staff is working as hard as possible to bring in the best the kind of athletes that good representatives of Baylor University!! Both as athletes and as people. We work to 2:00am for a reason...hopefully in November it will show. Thanks. |
|
|
| Houston: Are you looking for guards? |
| | Scott Drew: We're looking for everything!!!!!! Scott |
|
|
| BossRossBear (Houston): Has recruiting been harder/easier than you thought it would be, in light of this past summer's "difficulties?" |
| | Scott Drew: Because we were so late in the recruiting process...that has been the difficult part...(we really only had a chance to recruit 1 player ranked in the top 10 in Texas by the time we took the job...and he basically had already narrowed his list. The Juniors, Soph, etc has been going very well though....and we'll keep working until we find the right people in the senior class. Thanks. |
|
|
| Jim (Dallas): Coach, welcome to BU, we're glad you're here! Can you comment on the new recruits that have come in, namely Harvey Thomas and Carl Marshall. Please talk a little about their style and what they bring to the team. |
| | Scott Drew: Harvey and Carl have both worked very hard in the pre-season. Harvey if very athletic and should bring some exciting dunks to the Ferrell Center....Carl can knock down some 3's and has some quickness.....as you know this year with so few numbers....everyone will play a huge role!!! Thanks. |
|
|
| william delaney bellingham,ma: Will you still press and trap with your depleted team? p.s. Baylor picked the right man for the job!!!! |
| | Scott Drew: Thanks for the compliment.....as far as pressing and trapping...because of the few numbers and possible injuries and foul trouble.....I know we will have to try and come up with a style of play that gives us the best chance of winning. Normally a coach doesn't have to worry about these things...but that's what makes coaching interesting....every day is a new challenge!! Thanks. |
|
|
| Dean (DeSoto): What are your recruiting priorities for next year? Do you like 7 foot and taller centers (half court offense) or do you prefer the 6-10 big man who can run the court better (fast break offense)? |
| | Scott Drew: We will try and recruit the best players possible and then adapt our system accordingly....So if the 7-0 footer is better you take him...if the 6-10 is better you take him....As far as style...I just like to WIN...and whatever style gives us the best chance to win that is what we will do!!!! Thanks. |
|
|
| Matt (Dallas): Matt Sayman seems like he makes a good leader. Do you know if he's expressed interest in coaching? If so, we would love to see him on the BU staff in the future. |
| | Scott Drew: We like how you think!!! Matt has been super to work with and a great representative to Baylor University...we would love to keep him around...But my first goal would be to help him have the kind of year in which he, R. T. and Terrance all have a chance to play Professional basketball upon graduation! Thanks. |
|
|
| True Colors: How many players do you expect to sign during the early fall period? I'm guessing 3 or 4. TC |
| | Scott Drew: There is a chance we could sign 5 and a chance only 1....I know we don't want to sign someone unless we feel they are the type of player who can complete at the highest level and at the same time represent Baylor Univ. in a positive manner. Thanks. |
|
| | Scott Drew: I want to thank everyone for the kindness, support and being the loyal fans that you are. I know one day hopefully we can be talking about our pre-season Top 20 ranking and things like that. I look forward to making this journey with you along the way....because as we all know the journey is truly the reward! Thanks again for the support and I look forward to seeing everyone at Moonlight Madness......(for details keep checking the website) Thanks again and Sic 'em Bears!!!! Scott Drew |
|
|
|
