Scott Drew, head coach of the Baylor Bears men’s basketball team since 2003, has won over 400 games at Baylor and led the program to a national championship in the 2020-2021 season, when the Bears went 28-2 and 13-1 in the Big 12 Conference.
Ahead of the neutral-site matchup in Dallas against No. 16 Arkansas, Drew spoke highly of the Razorbacks and new head coach John Calipari.
“He’s a Hall of Fame coach for a reason, and he’s always going to have talented players,” Drew said. “This year, their perimeter and guard speed, along with their front-line athleticism, make them a great team to get stops, get out in transition, and make it a long night for the opponent. So, first and foremost, we have to make sure we aren’t letting them live in transition.”
Baylor, starting its season with two games against ranked opponents, is coming off a 101-63 loss to No. 6 Gonzaga. Drew emphasized that facing tough competition early in the season helps the Bears prepare for the challenges ahead.
“At the end of the day, that’s why we play these games,” Drew said. “So that we can see what we need to do to beat the best teams in conference.”
Drew highlighted several key areas where Baylor must focus to give themselves the best chance against Arkansas.
“They’ve scrimmaged a few opponents, and they’ve played a game,” Drew said. “You get a feel for what they’re doing, and at the end of the day, we’ve got to take care of the basketball, get good shots, and offensive rebound. If you don’t do those things, you don’t even set up your defense. And if you don’t set up your defense, they’re really, really good. When you set up your defense, it gives you a chance to at least get stops. With their speed and athleticism, if you don’t take care of the basketball, there’s no defense for a one-on-all fast break.”
No. 16 Arkansas and No. 8 Baylor will face off at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Nov. 9, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. CST.
Discover more from Inside Arkansas
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.