Report: Scott Drew's family seen returning to Texas on flight from Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats saw their old head basketball coach, John Calipari, pack his bags and join the Arkansas Razorbacks in the past few days. He was officially introduced there on Wednesday evening. That means the Wildcats have been searching for their new head coach and Baylor’s Scott Drew has clearly emerged as one of their top targets.
There was a report from Darby Brown of KWTX on Wednesday evening, that let everyone in on important details on the Drew family visiting Lexington, Kentucky. Scott Drew did not exit the family’s plane when it landed in Temple, Texas tonight at 7:30 p.m. It was coming back from Lexington, Kentucky. But the other members of his family exited the plane. Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio also confirmed the news that the Drew family was visiting and touring Lexington today.
Jones expects Drew to give Kentucky a definitive yes or no by Thursday.
Matt Jones of KSR breaks down Kentucky courtship of Scott Drew
“I think the university has had a view for a while that the first person that was ready to go, is who they go with. And [Billy Donovan] can’t do anything, even take it seriously until after the [NBA] play-in game which is next week. That leaves Drew and Hurley.
“I think the university has always thought Hurley is a long shot. So, but they’ve talked to both of them, and I think anyone that says Hurley has not been involved, I think they’re completely wrong about that. But I also think [Kentucky AD] Mitch [Barnhart’s] comfort level and the one he thinks probably has the most interest in Kentucky is Drew, hence why the family was brought today. … He’s certainly the favorite but I also think the Danny Hurley thing is out there.”
Drew has been the head coach at Baylor since 2003 and built the program from the bottom up. The Bears went 8-21 in his first season at the helm and didn’t make their first NCAA Tournament until 2008. Drew found his stride in 2010, though, when Baylor made its first Elite Eight under his watch.
Eleven years later, in 2021, the Bears brought home the national championship for the first time in program history.
All told, Drew has a 446-244 record at Baylor and two Big 12 championships in 2021 and 2022. The Bears have also made 12 NCAA Tournaments under his watch compared to just four before his arrival.
On3’s Barkley Truax and Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.