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Scott Drew helped Baylor move beyond tragedy, murder and scandal to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Bears play Purdue today at Verizon Center. — AP
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - You can take Scott Drew out of Indiana. But you can’t take the Indiana out of Scott Drew.
Having lifted Baylor from the ashes of scandal to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 20 years, Drew has become the darling of central Texas. But it’s Hoosier State blood that still courses through his veins.
“We got him eating some barbecue now,” said Bears senior forward Mark Shepherd, who is from Austin. “Besides that, not much. He’s definitely got his Indiana roots. He’s changed a little bit, but he’s still an Indiana boy.”
Drew, who went to Butler and spent the first 10 years of his coaching career at Valparaiso (nine as an assistant under his father, Homer Drew), will make an NCAA tournament head-coaching debut today at Verizon Center that is both appropriate and ironic: as the lower-seeded team against an opponent from Indiana.
“I want to let you know, [Purdue freshman and Valparaiso, Ind.-natives Scott Martin and Robbie Hummel are] going to score 30-plus, but they’re going to let us win the game,” said Drew.
All joking aside, Baylor’s ascendancy has been no less that remarkable, after the disappearance and murder of former player Patrick Dennehy by teammate Carl Dotson led to allegations of NCAA violations, self-imposed sanctions and the resignation of then-head coach Dave Bliss in 2003. Drew took over, and in his first three years the Bears were 21-53 before surging to 15 victories last season.
“I got here when things were down in the dumps, pretty much,” said Shepherd, a fifth-year walk-on. “Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, we were able to turn the program around. Here we are today.”
Despite winning 16 of their first 18 this year, Bears are still underdogs, but that position is familiar to Drew. During his tenure as assistant, the Crusaders were seeded no higher than No. 12 in six NCAA appearances, famously advancing to the 1998 Sweet 16 as a 13-seed.
Drew’s current team prefers it that way.
“Coach has always shared his experiences at the NCAAs with us,” said Bears junior forward Kevin Rogers. “But I don’t think it’s anything different than what he’s always told us. Just coming to Baylor, it has kind of been like an underdog, and I think that’s how we like being.”
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
9 agree | 11 disagree
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
11 agree | 9 disagree
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
80 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
513 agree | 248 disagree
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
276 agree | 302 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
607 agree | 366 disagree
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