I owe Scott Drew an apology.

[pnkranger]

That dude has turned into a pretty darn good coach. There was a time where I thought he was getting it done with smoke and mirrors ... but not anymore. He has become a well-rounded coach. Impressive what he's been able to accomplish over the last few years.

 

[Section31]

He's definitely gotten better, but he's also doing it with pretty highly recruited talent.

 

[opsooner]

He might have the best talent in the league. I think he probably does.

He does an OK job with it but I doubt that you owe him an apology. I don't think there are a lot of ADs out there at big time basketball schools who have him on their radar.

 

[AdaSooner]

He might have the best talent in the league. I think he probably does.

He does an OK job with it but I doubt that you owe him an apology. I don't think there are a lot of ADs out there at big time basketball schools who have him on their radar.

Not really. If you go by how the recruits were ranked coming out of high school, that honor goes to KU and Texas. Drew, though, recruits more top 100and top 50 players to Baylor than any other school in the Big 12, except those two.

I, too, have been highly critical of his coaching in years past. But, he's doing a good job this season. The way his team manhandled WVU today was very impressive.

 

[usedtobe1]

I, too, have been highly critical of his coaching in years past. But, he's doing a good job this season. The way his team manhandled WVU today was very impressive.

They blew out WVU on the road no less. Very impressive. That zone defense is lethal with their length. Baylor came on strong late last year, too, and represented well in the conference tournament and in the NCAA's.

Drew deserves some credit for that success.

 

[coolm]

this is NOT an "I told you so" ... just a comment.

I remember a few years back when he went to all zone D going into the Big-12 tourney and his team played so much better - even though they just weren't that good at it. They interviewed him and he essentially said he was following the KISS principle.

The following season they played zone much more but still played man. Years later they play primarily that zone and he has much better players not to mention a lot more success.

Point is we've seen him grow as a coach. He's still not great, but he's much better than a few years ago and Baylor has been rewarded by their loyalty to him. To me he's a poster boy for staying the course with a coach and giving him time to really make the program his own.

 

[bocabull]

In the past 5 seasons Drew has coached Baylor to 2 elite 8s, a sweet 16 and an NIT championship. He's a great coach. To suggest otherwise is silly.

 

[skyvue]

In the past 5 seasons Drew has coached Baylor to 2 elite 8s, a sweet 16 and an NIT championship. He's a great coach. To suggest otherwise is silly.

If you think postseason results are the only way to judge a coach. His regular-season results have been less convincing.

 

[WaymanFan]

Last year, Brent Musberger said that Scott Drew has "learned while on the job." That's another way of stating that the guy came in as a neophyte and has developed into a pretty good coach. I think that's a fair statement. While he still has those occasional brain-dead lapses, the guy wins in March. I always hold coaches who win in March in high esteem.

 

[opsooner]

Not really. If you go by how the recruits were ranked coming out of high school, that honor goes to KU and Texas. Drew, though, recruits more top 100and top 50 players to Baylor than any other school in the Big 12, except those two.

I, too, have been highly critical of his coaching in years past. But, he's doing a good job this season. The way his team manhandled WVU today was very impressive.

Yes, I'm not judging the talent based on scouting projections. I'm judging based on what I see on the floor. I agree that he has a good eye for recognizing talent and has been successful with it.

Your point about getting top 50 and 100 players is a good one. That means he is keeping very good players for 4 years vs one-and-done superstars who are not able to push teams to the finish line in just their freshman year.

 

[WTSooner]

He might have the best talent in the league. I think he probably does.

Not if you go by recruiting rankings. Not this year.

See this was covered above. But I disagree there too. I don't see better players on Baylor's team, than I see on other Big 12 teams. He just has them playing well as a unit. Same thing Kelvin used to do at OU.

 

[152219]

If you think postseason results are the only way to judge a coach. His regular-season results have been less convincing.

Which would you rather have.

A season in which your team finishes 2nd or 3rd in the league and loses in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney or a team that finishes 4th or 5th and plays in the second weekend of the tourney?

 

[skyvue]

Which would you rather have.

A season in which your team finishes 2nd or 3rd in the league and loses in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney or a team that finishes 4th or 5th and plays in the second weekend of the tourney?

I enjoy the whole season. I know many people don't, especially, but I do. I enjoy every win. If my my team squeaked into the tourney and did well, I'd be thrilled, obviously, but after a while, I'd be wondering why we were so often squeaking our way into the tourney, why we weren't better during the regular season.

Over the past five seasons, Baylor has finished tied for second in the Big 12 once, third once, sixth twice (one of them a tie) and eighth once. With the talent they've had on hand, I'd find that very frustrating, if I were a BU fan.

 

[152219]

I enjoy the whole season. I know many people don't, especially, but I do. I enjoy every win. If my my team squeaked into the tourney and did well, I'd be thrilled, obviously, but after a while, I'd be wondering why we were so often squeaking our way into the tourney, why we weren't better during the regular season.

Over the past five seasons, Baylor has finished tied for second in the Big 12 once, third once, sixth twice (one of them a tie) and eighth once. With the talent they've had on hand, I'd find that very frustrating, if I were a BU fan.

I agree with what you said but you didn't answer the question.

Unfortunately to an extent, people don't brag about finishing second but will throw out a sweet 16 or better finish.

 

[opsooner]

Not if you go by recruiting rankings. Not this year.

See this was covered above. But I disagree there too. I don't see better players on Baylor's team, than I see on other Big 12 teams. He just has them playing well as a unit. Same thing Kelvin used to do at OU.

That could be so. My observations are based on the fact that they have inside strength plus they have a lot of guys who can shoot the ball very well plus take it to the rim. I only watch them 4-5 times per year and I will agree that they get better as the year goes on. That is a sign of good coaching.

 

[bocabull]

I enjoy the whole season. I know many people don't, especially, but I do. I enjoy every win. If my my team squeaked into the tourney and did well, I'd be thrilled, obviously, but after a while, I'd be wondering why we were so often squeaking our way into the tourney, why we weren't better during the regular season.

Over the past five seasons, Baylor has finished tied for second in the Big 12 once, third once, sixth twice (one of them a tie) and eighth once. With the talent they've had on hand, I'd find that very frustrating, if I were a BU fan.

Skyvue. I understand where your coming from generally but don't think it translates specifically.

For example last season would you rather:

A) go 12-6, finish 2nd in the Big XII and lose in the opening round of the Big XII tournament and lose in the opening round of the NCAA tournament;

B) go 9-9, finish 6th in the Big XII and make it to the Big XII tournament championship game and the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament?

Which do you remember more fondly:

A) The 25-8 Taj Gray season where we lost to Texas Tech as the #1 seed in the Big II tournament and Utah as the #3 seed in the NCAA tournament;

B) The 22-11 Najera team that beat #4 seed Arizona, #5 seed NC Charlotte and battled #1 seed Michigan State as a #13 seed in the NCAA tournament?

 

[skyvue]

Unfortunately to an extent, people don't brag about finishing second but will throw out a sweet 16 or better finish.

Many, many people only pay attention in March. The tourney is all that matters to them. That's their right, of course, but in doing so, they miss four months of excitement and fun. But I find those folks generally much less interesting when it comes to discussing college hoops. It'd be like watching college football with a "fan" who only watches the bowl games.

 

[WTSooner]

Many, many people only pay attention in March. The tourney is all that matters to them. That's their right, of course, but in doing so, they miss four months of excitement and fun. But I find those folks generally much less interesting when it comes to discussing college hoops. It'd be like watching college football with a "fan" who only watches the bowl games.

Not saying I disagree with you, but the regular season for college hoops is a lot different than the regular season for college football. Even with a four team playoff, the regular season in college football is sort of like the playoffs themselves. You know you can only afford one, maybe two losses if you are lucky, and still get to play in the playoff. In college hoops, you could probably name 3-5 of the teams today, that wil make the Elite 8 in March. The Dance IS the playoff.

I don't think you should measure the success of a team on just the regular season OR just the Dance, but it's some combination of that. And that combination, which piece gets what percentage of importance, is different for everybody.

 

[bocabull]

Exactly WT. Basketball success is determined by tournament success at every level.

Look at the NBA where Popovich intentionally sits guys and throws games on purpose all the time. It's even more dramatic in college when literally half the games are against totally inferior competition. So the part of the regular season that matters is that you qualify for the tournaments and get a seed that does not harm your chances.

 

[Section31]

Problem is, for MOST of those years Baylor had really good players...I mean REALLY good players...highly recruited.

The post season is about players and draw. While I give him credit for improving, NO ONE besides a couple of posters on a few message boards would claim him to be any more than an average coach.