18 years ago, Scott Drew took the most challenging job in college basketball
No exaggeration
He overcame scandal, probation, recruiting penalties, and even murder to win Baylor’s first national title
Here’s the crazy story you probably haven’t heard:
No exaggeration
He overcame scandal, probation, recruiting penalties, and even murder to win Baylor’s first national title
Here’s the crazy story you probably haven’t heard:
1/ *insane* backstory
•In ‘03, Carlton Dotson murdered Baylor teammate Patrick Dennehy
•Dave Bliss, the head coach, was paying multiple players’ tuitions
•Bliss blamed Dennehy, who’d been killed by a teammate, for everything
Bliss was fired, and punishments poured in...
•In ‘03, Carlton Dotson murdered Baylor teammate Patrick Dennehy
•Dave Bliss, the head coach, was paying multiple players’ tuitions
•Bliss blamed Dennehy, who’d been killed by a teammate, for everything
Bliss was fired, and punishments poured in...
2/ punishments
•reduced scholarships
•reduced official recruiting visits
•1 season non-conference ban
•10 season probation
•10 year show cause penalty on Bliss for “despicable behavior”
Scott Drew walked into this situation expecting to win a title
•reduced scholarships
•reduced official recruiting visits
•1 season non-conference ban
•10 season probation
•10 year show cause penalty on Bliss for “despicable behavior”
Scott Drew walked into this situation expecting to win a title
3/ back to ball
Baylor sucked
From ‘03-‘07, the Bears won a total of 36 games, or ~7 games per year
But, with recruiting restrictions ending, Drew got his recruits and started to win some games
Baylor sucked
From ‘03-‘07, the Bears won a total of 36 games, or ~7 games per year
But, with recruiting restrictions ending, Drew got his recruits and started to win some games
4/ slowly but surely
‘08: 21-9, 4th in the Big 12
‘10: Beat in-state power Texas 3 straight times, 2nd in the Big 12, lost to Duke in Elite 8
‘12: Rise to #3 in the country, 3rd in Big 12
But then the Bears hit a wall
‘08: 21-9, 4th in the Big 12
‘10: Beat in-state power Texas 3 straight times, 2nd in the Big 12, lost to Duke in Elite 8
‘12: Rise to #3 in the country, 3rd in Big 12
But then the Bears hit a wall
5/ upsets
‘13: Miss March Madness
‘15: Lose to 14-seed Georgia State in Round of 64
‘16: Lose to 12-seed Yale in Round of 64
Then, in the ‘19-‘20 season, Baylor was back. A sure fire 1 or 2-seed. A true contender
Enter, Covid-19
‘13: Miss March Madness
‘15: Lose to 14-seed Georgia State in Round of 64
‘16: Lose to 12-seed Yale in Round of 64
Then, in the ‘19-‘20 season, Baylor was back. A sure fire 1 or 2-seed. A true contender
Enter, Covid-19
6/ what now
The best season in Baylor history (26-4, #4 in the country) is cancelled
College basketball, and the world, grind to a halt
Drew vows the Bears will be as good or better in 2021, but nobody knows if the season will happen
The best season in Baylor history (26-4, #4 in the country) is cancelled
College basketball, and the world, grind to a halt
Drew vows the Bears will be as good or better in 2021, but nobody knows if the season will happen
7/ kryptonite
Happen it does and Baylor dominates early, ranked #2 behind Gonzaga
Again, Covid-19 strikes
Drew tests positive. Baylor misses 21 days and, in their return, suffer their 1st loss to Kansas
Drew calls Covid-19 protocols Baylor’s “kryptonite”
Happen it does and Baylor dominates early, ranked #2 behind Gonzaga
Again, Covid-19 strikes
Drew tests positive. Baylor misses 21 days and, in their return, suffer their 1st loss to Kansas
Drew calls Covid-19 protocols Baylor’s “kryptonite”
8/ bounce back
Despite losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tourney, Baylor enters the NCAA tourney as a 1-seed for the first time in school history
Baylor cruises to the Final Four
But upsets abound and Gonzaga is crushing everybody. Baylor flies under the radar
Despite losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tourney, Baylor enters the NCAA tourney as a 1-seed for the first time in school history
Baylor cruises to the Final Four
But upsets abound and Gonzaga is crushing everybody. Baylor flies under the radar
9/ battle for Texas
Baylor dominates 2-seed Houston 78-59
But again Gonzaga steals the spotlight, beating UCLA on a Jalen Suggs buzzer-beater
The Zags are talked about as the best team ever
Baylor enters the natty a 5-point underdog...
Baylor dominates 2-seed Houston 78-59
But again Gonzaga steals the spotlight, beating UCLA on a Jalen Suggs buzzer-beater
The Zags are talked about as the best team ever
Baylor enters the natty a 5-point underdog...
10/ natty
Drew draws up the perfect gameplan and his squad executes to perfection
Baylor doesn’t trail the entire game
18 years after taking the toughest job in college basketball, Scott Drew led Baylor to its first men’s national title
Amazing
Drew draws up the perfect gameplan and his squad executes to perfection
Baylor doesn’t trail the entire game
18 years after taking the toughest job in college basketball, Scott Drew led Baylor to its first men’s national title
Amazing
11/ obligatory plug
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