A brutal out of conference schedule combined with a bad streak of luck that included 3 overtime losses in a row to the teams in the middle of the Southwest Conference they were competing against for Glory.  The Bears had the opportunities to win more games but the cupboard was a little bare in Waco.  They played eight overtime games last season and six more two point or less games. Drew realizes this and has decided to go outside the normal recruiting and bring in some juco kids for the upcoming year.  With all of the players hwo have left for other programs there will be some continuity issues that carry over but the prime need is just more talent and size.  Still, there is hope as most of their players who played big minutes will be coming back next year and maybe they can win some of those close games. 

Drew brought in a marvelous pair of first year kids last year to build around. Second year players Michael Williams and Terry Teagle have already made a huge impact as they are the most talented perimeter players on the roster already.  Teagle is the prototypical small forward and really had a great first year in Waco  Teagle is more a slasher but has the size to post up and can rebound as well.  He can also defend other small forwards as his ongoing matchups with fellow sophomore Clyde Drexler can attest.  He is a gamer with talent as Coach Drew liked to call him. Teagle has good range but needs to get a little thicker and perhaps get about tow more feet on him jump shot.  He also likes to run the court and will finish.  His season was truly spectacular as he took a giant step to being a big time player in the SWC.

Williams combined with Teagle to become as potent of a freshman tandem at there was in the Southwest.  Williams is a great quarterback.  He will get his teammates the ball and can create shots.  He does not miss at the foul line and has a good mid-range shot but is best penetrating and dishing.  He can also defend quick guards.  He shut down Slater Martin as good as anyone and that is saying something.  Williams is dynamic but seems to get lost in all of the talented guards in the SWC but he is every bit as good as anyone.  This duo is the basis for the future but Drew knows he has to get more talent and especially needs some more height up front. 

The rest of the back court feature some solid veterans but not exactly great athletes.  The weakness for the Bears was not necessarily the back court though Drew is bringing in some studs to battle for minutes in between Teagle and Williams.  Returnees Jim Turner, Jack Robinson and Murray Bailey split the two-spot last year but they are not exactly Otis Birdsong.  They can score a little and are gamers but have a hard time guarding the athletic two guards in this league.  Drew has promised to up grade here and is brining in some JC stud from Brooklyn who almost assuredly will be starting soon in Waco at the two.  Apparently this kid can heat it up quickly both inside and out. 

The Bears just did not have the size to match up with the Big Dogs.  Seniors Darrell Hardy and Don Heathington have had stellar careers in Waco but soon found out they would not be able to compete with the new Monsters of the Southwest.  Heathington at six three has no chance versus Elvin Hayes and Drew led his team captain to the three but he is not exactly Drexler athletically. Hardy hung in there at 6’7 but should not be playing center.  He is better suited for the four and Drew will move him there for the upcoming season.  Fellow seniors Carroll Dawson, Winston Moore, Spencer Carlson, Jerry Mallet, Larry Gatewood and Tommy Bowman should be commended as they all stayed in Waco but none of these guys are over 6’6.  Trying to guard the Dream is a nightmare for this team but Drew has promised this group they will not be cut as he values loyalty.  The two returning players that might have enough size are junior Tony ‘Tell Me Something Good’ Rufus and sophomore Darryl Middleton.  Rufus is 6’9 but rail thin and got beat up pretty good last year in the trenches.  Middleton goes 6’8 and 240 and was a huge presence once he finally got moved up from the JV.  He is the favorite to start at center but there are several bigs coming to Waco as Drew has opened to door to anyone who can play.  Mallett might be the best of the seniors but even he left once baseball started as the 6’5 stud is a heck of centerfielder and knows his future is on the diamond and not the basketball court. Bowman and Gatewood put up some good numbers and contributed in their roles but are 6’5 guys trying to hang with the Big E which is not where you want to be. 

The Baylor bears are not the best team in the Southwest conference but at this point are just looking to survive and build as they prepare to enter a new conference.   New Coach Scott Drew has the unenviable task of first just settling down the program which he did last year after years of traumatic incidences.  They have some talent especially in the back court and Drew is quickly changing the negative mentality that has eaten up this program for years.  With all of the bad luck this program has had to overcome it may take awhile for the Bears to get to the elite of the Southwest but then again with the talent and attitude Drew is bringing in it might be quicker than one might expect.  Of course, that won’t matter after this year as the SWC will be no longer but these Bears want to show that their selection as a original member in the Big 12 was the right choice.  And boy could the city of Waco use some good things happening.