Marquette's Next Target

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

While Shaka Smart has come and gone...... (depending on which MUScoop trolls you talk to) there's one thing everyone can agree on.  A hire hasn't been made.  Ben Howland has publicly stated he basically wants the job, but even MU hasn't made a move yet.  Just this past weekend Steve Masiello was available for a coaching position and South Florida made a move - in less than a week.  Howland could have been signed already.  So, the burning question is why is Marquette waiting? 

Jeff Goodman wrote today that there is a secret target that is still playing in NCAA tourney right now.  The obvious will point to Tony Bennett, but he's already turned down the position.  He recruits extremely well at Virginia, and there's no reason for him to move to a lesser conference.  Why move when you already have proven you can win the ACC title? 

MU has a coaching profile that they have used to make hires before.  Buzz and Crean were younger coaches and up and coming.  If you apply that profile to who's in the tournament then you essentially have the following left: there is Archie Miller, Cuonzo Martin, Scott Drew, and Frank Hoiberg

Miller = Signed Extension through 2018.
Martin = Was already on the chopping block and isn't a strong coach/recruiter
Hoiberg = Iowa raised - No need to move as he coaches at his alma mater already
Scott Drew = Ding Ding Ding

Why Scott? 

He's not a sexy hire by any means, but once you get passed the frosting and take a look at the cake, you flat out see why he's the best available hire.

Context -  When Scott Drew took over Baylor 2003, Baylor was the laughing stock of the Big 12.  He jumped from Valparaiso after 1 season to a school that was a basketball laughing stock.  Well, in his first 4 seasons, Baylor didn't do much, but then again ..... it takes years to build a program from scratch.  After that, he's had much success in the post season, missing the post season on 1 time.  Essentially, you could say that when he built his program to a level of respect and developed his recruiting pipelines - he's been quite successful.

Post Season Analysis:  Further analysis shows that he's been to 2 Elite Eights (maybe a 3rd this year) 2 NIT championship games (1 NIT title)  He's only been knocked out of the NCAA in the first round, once.  When it comes to tourney time, Drew is spot on.  He may be one of the tourney's best young coaches with an 8-3 NCAA tourney record.  Add in the NIT wins and it balloons to: 17-4 overall post season record @ Baylor. 

Head coaching record: 

                              Overall   Conf.      Conf. Place   Post Season
2003–04   Baylor   8–21     3–13   11th   
2004–05   Baylor   9–19     1–15   12th   
2005–06   Baylor   4–23     4–12   12th   
2006–07   Baylor   15–16  4–12   11th   
2007–08   Baylor   21–11   9–7           T–4th           NCAA First Round
2008–09   Baylor   24–15   5–11   9th           NIT Runner-up
2009–10   Baylor   28–8      11–5   T–2nd   NCAA Elite Eight
2010–11   Baylor   18–13     7–9   T–7th          
2011–12   Baylor   30–8      12–6   T–3rd           NCAA Elite Eight
2012–13   Baylor   23–14     9–9   T–4th           NIT Champions
2013–14   Baylor   26–11     9–9   T-6th           NCAA  Sweet 16* (so far)
Baylor:   206–159 (.564)   74–108 (.407)   
Total:   226–170 (.571)   

Recruiting Class Rankings:
2009  #30
2010  Class not ranked but had a 3 star recruit and a  5 star recruit
2011  #17
2012  # 4
2013  #25

As you can see, Scott Drew has had much success in the recruiting arena.  In fact, he's better than Buzz Williams and Shaka. Neither have never recruited 5 star talent before as Drew has.  Even in the post season, Drew is better than Buzz and Shaka Smart.

Intangibles - Scott Drew has several of his starters that were Baptized after coming to Baylor.  With the past scandals associated with Buzz's recruits, the administration would appreciate a coach who emphasizes character much more.  Drew just does that, as a devout Christian.

Otherwise, he fits the profile of what MU is looking for.  Scott, would be a solid fit at MU. 

Buyout - 2 million
Current Salary 1.7 million 

[tower912]

Squirmy.   

[Groin_pull]

No thank you. Drew is covered in dirt.

[bobnoxious]

Hey deane,

Baylor has such a stench on it im surprised you can't smell them bunkered down at farleigh dickinson or wherever the hell you wound up with your seatbelt.   Is this a way to throw the scent off of webber? God i hope not

[nyg]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7801565/ncaa-puts-baylor-bears-probation-accepts-self-imposed-penalties-text-messages

Just one of many articles.  Nah.....

[mug644]

My hunch is that if MU was uncomfortable with the recruiting direction that Buzz wanted to go (i.e., more JUCOs), the 'squirminess' (reputed) around Drew would turn off MU.

[texaswarrior74]

Covered before but have a few friends who are HS coaches here in Dallas...they are shocked that the NCAA hasn't announced an investigation....program is dirty...many local coaches don't even like the Baylor staff visiting with their players...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Dirty, DIRTY, DIRTY

[Freeport Warrior]

Cuonzo is the S16 coach they are talking about (Jon Harris is the connection)

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7801565/ncaa-puts-baylor-bears-probation-accepts-self-imposed-penalties-text-messages

Just one of many articles.  Nah.....

This past summer, the NCAA changed the rule on phone calls and text messages. What Baylor did is legal now.  You can make unlimited calls and texts to juniors and seniors as of 2013.  In terms of dirt, there isn't any.  

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1208/cbb-hottest-summer-storylines/content.7.html

[nyg]

This past summer, the NCAA changed the rule on phone calls and text messages. What Baylor did is legal now.  You can make unlimited calls and texts to juniors and seniors as of 2013.  In terms of dirt, there isn't any.  

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1208/cbb-hottest-summer-storylines/content.7.html

Uh, at the time of violations/infractions, it was illegal. 

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Cuonzo is the S16 coach they are talking about (Jon Harris is the connection)

They're not going to target Cuonzo.  He doesn't fit their profile and his success can be attributed to Pearl's talent.  Cuonzo hasn't been that successful in the recruiting arena. 

[The Process]

Cuonzo is the S16 coach they are talking about (Jon Harris is the connection)

This guy?

[NickelDimer]

Fail

[77ncaachamps]

Definitely not.

He's in the Big 12.
Waco $ will be pampering him as long as he's winning.
Small school, big money goes a long way.
Texas and the south are rich with recruits.
Have you seen the Baylor girls?

[Jet915]

No thank you. Drew is covered in dirt.

Very true, Drew is a rumored cheat who runs a dirty program.  I wouldn't touch him.  The list should be Howland or Marshall.

[🏀]

You have no idea what Marquette is after.

[NavinRJohnson]

I'm a big Scott Drew fan...for the next two hours.

[drewm88]

You have no idea what Marquette is after.

Do you? You've had some info this week. Anything to share? Don't remember who or where, but we've heard that Ben might not be #2. Any truth to that or any ideas who's ahead of him or why?

[🏀]

Do you? You've had some info this week. Anything to share? Don't remember who or where, but we've heard that Ben might not be #2. Any truth to that or any ideas who's ahead of him or why?

No one dirty or around dirty.

[willie warrior]

You have no idea what Marquette is after.

Not sure Marquette does either.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I like Dwayne Stephens. I have always admired the MSU program from afar and think he would be a great fit. He's apparently a great recruiter and gets a lot of respect for player development.

[drewm88]

No one dirty or around dirty.

That's a solid start for me. Now can we expand it to no one who isn't Ben Howland?

[Dawson Rental]

I'm confident that Marquette could get Scott Drew.  It's probably time to get out of Waco before the train wreck.

[Earl Tatum]

Pastner, Howland or Martin. I like Stephens also, but he be a stepping stone after3 years.