COLLEGES BRACKET BREAKDOWN--The Oakland Press
OAKLAND
Overview - One of the strangest, most wide-open regional fields ever put together. Not that we'd be bold enough to put money on it, but Oral Roberts over Memphis has the potential to be the first No. 16 win over a No. 1 seed ever.
JUSTIN BREEN COLUMN: Baylor’s Drew sees promise at the end of a trying season--The Post-Tribune
March 13, 2006
Before this season, Scott Drew knew he had no chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
Facts are facts, and Drew’s Baylor squad was not going to be one of the select 65 heading to the Big Dance.
But when Drew went to bed Thursday night, following his team’s 65-61 loss to Colorado in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament in Dallas, he still went to bed comfortably.
“I was pleased with what we accomplished this year,” Drew said Friday.
It was an interesting statement considering Baylor won four games and lost 13, including nine by at least 15 points.
But considering what Drew and the Bears went through in 2005-06, it kind of makes sense.
Baylor did not play non-conference games this season, due to the NCAA’s “half-death penalty,” the result of former coach Dave Bliss’ infractions. Bliss arranged to pay tuition and expenses for two Bears, including Patrick Dennehy, after offering two scholarships too many following the 2002-03 season. Dennehy was murdered by his former roommate, Carlton Dotson, but Bliss tried to paint Dennehy as a drug dealer to explain how he paid for school expenses.
While the rest of the Division I teams were finished with a third of their seasons, the Bears waited around until their first game on Jan. 11 against Texas Tech. They lost 79-61.
The Bears started 0-6 before a 72-70 victory over Kansas State. They also defeated Missouri and Iowa State before gaining revenge on the Red Raiders in a rematch, prevailing 77-66 on March 1.
“There’s days where you’re thinking 'man is there light at the end of the tunnel?’ ” Drew said. “The great thing is there’s so much work to do here, you rarely have time to have those moments.”
Baylor should be much more competitive next season. The Bears’ top four scorers — including star freshman Curtis Jerrells (13.5 ppg) and standout sophomore Aaron Bruce (13.1 ppg) — are scheduled to return. And Baylor will be able to play a full season with a full allotment of 13 scholarships. This season, they had 10.
The last remnant of probation — Baylor coaches can recruit a total of 110 days, 20 fewer than the standard D-I rate — will extinguish after this summer.
“Then we’re done with all that,” Drew said.
Sorry Valparaiso fans, but Drew said he’s really not interested in returning as the Crusaders’ coach.
For now, he said he has no shot at becoming the next Indiana coach, either.
Drew remains totally focused on the Bears, and bringing them out of hibernation.
Drew said most people didn’t think Baylor would win any games this season, but the Bears finished by going 4-1 at home.
“We started off behind everybody else and we weren’t even in position to get wins,” Drew said. “But we protected our home court.”
Much like Matt Painter at Purdue, I’m extremely curious to see how well Drew will do with a full chance at success.
They didn’t have an inkling of hope of making the NCAAs this season, but don’t be surprised if they’re dancing very, very soon.
Contact Justin Breen at 648-3122 or jbreen@post-trib.com
Bracket Briefing--The NWI Times
Mid-Con blues
The Mid-Continent Conference went 1-21 vs. the NCAA field this season, with tourney qualifier Oral Roberts nabbing the lone win: 62-54 over Monmouth in the Great Alaska Shootout. The Titans were 1-5 vs. NCAA qualifiers, while VU went 0-3, losing to Duke, Iowa and Marquette.
Golden Eagles Going "Dancing" Against Memphis in Dallas--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles
No comments:
Post a Comment