BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TIPOFF MEDIA DAY

October 18, 2023

Scott Drew

Kansas State Wildcats

Media Day Press Conference

SCOTT DREW: First, thanks for being here. Second of all, thanks for the warmer weather. Third, Big 12 basketball is special and is going to continue to be special with the conference additions and what the presidents, ADs and the commissioner were able to do for the Big 12 is amazing and makes it real easy as a coach to know the future of the Big 12 and just how successful and competitive it's going to continue to be because of the additions.

Q. Talking about those new additions, what do they bring to this conference, and how competitive is this conference going to be?

SCOTT DREW: Well, statistically, you know, the Big 12 has been the best conference, but last year just looking at those numbers, 7 in the top 27 and everybody in the top 70, that's record setting.

The one thing I've said the last couple media days is I do look forward to the year where we have three or four Final Four teams all from the same conference. There's no doubt that's going to happen in the Big 12 at some point. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

As far as the new teams coming in, great traditions, history, outstanding coaches, players. Again, just makes our conference stronger.

The only thing that probably makes it a little bit tougher will be the scheduling part of it. The one nice thing is playing everybody home and away made it where you knew who you were playing, when you were playing. You're a little more anxious now when the schedule comes out to see where you're at and who you have.

Q. Speaking of new additions, want to talk about your new arena. Is that still on tap for early January? What's the meaning of having a new arena?

SCOTT DREW: So January 2nd -- first, it means better wi-fi in seats for all of us, so we're good.

Home-court advantage is so important in the Big 12. You know that from all the years you've covered it.

One of the best things that I think the state of Texas in general has done is made newer, smaller arenas to make sure the fans were more on top of you instead of so spread out with the bigger arenas that we used to have.

We should have the same thing, fans on top of you, making sure they're supporting the home team and welcoming the visiting team, and look forward to showing you and everybody else January 2nd. They tell us that's the day we're going to be in there. I think best case is shootaround on the 1st and then the game on the 2nd. But excited for that.

Q. Kind of piggy-backing off one of the earlier questions, wondering if you would have any interest in continuing to schedule Texas with them and Oklahoma leaving the conference?

SCOTT DREW: I know we've had a great history with Texas; much respect for their program and what they're going to continue to do in the future. We've already talked as a staff and I know Coach Terry will be in discussion with him in the future seeing if there's something we can do.

It's always great when in-state rivals and schools have a chance to play. It's been great in my 21 years just to see how far the state has come in basketball and how many great players, programs, coaches we have now, and want to continue that success, especially for the younger players in the state.

Q. You talk about those new additions. You bring in a guy like RayJ Dennis from Toledo. Talk about what you've seen from him this season?

SCOTT DREW: RayJ is an old school type player, old school game, meaning really fundamentally sound, makes all the right passes, reads, really pitches the ball ahead, a joy to coach. He's been in two great programs at Boise State and Toledo. Learned a lot from those staffs, and he's won. He's used to winning.

Comes from a great family. He's a great fit for Baylor University.

Q. Is it kind of surreal for you to look around and see two of your former assistants now leading Big 12 programs?

SCOTT DREW: Well, it makes it great for media day and times like this when I get a chance to see them. I was teasing Coach Tang. I notice he had a jacket in. I said, in Waco you wouldn't need that jacket. I know he's not a big fan of the cold weather.

But it's great see him and Coach McCasland, and I know both of them do a great job and I cheer like heck for them every game of the year except for when we play.

Q. You played at BYU, 2011. Just wondering what your recollections were of that trip, and then also how is BYU transfer Caleb Lohner doing with your program?

SCOTT DREW: Two great questions. The first one, going into that game we heard what a great environment and what great fans BYU had. I remember that was an outstanding game, came down to the last seconds and one of the louder places we've played in and have played in, period. Great respect for their fan base and just their game management, how do they things.

Caleb Lohner, great young man, fun to be with every day. He's somebody that you can talk basketball you can also talk life and so many other things. He's got a ton of hobbies from building cars to surfing to whatever. Great young man.

Q. I know defensively you guys had some struggles last year. I'm curious now that you've had a whole off-season to study it and figure out what went wrong, what your plan of attack is this year to improve on that end of the floor.

SCOTT DREW: Well, first, you've got to give credit to teams we faced, the players and strategies they had. Second of all, each and every year your personnel dictate and change what you might do defensively. This year one thing we do have is more size and length, and hopefully that does help with that.

You're always tinkering with things as a coach, so if it's not working just right, you're always adding add changing things. We'll see how those things work in the next couple weeks as we have our scrimmages and non-conference schedule. But definitely added size and length always helps on defense.

Q. Can you just talk about what Cincinnati brings to the league in terms of prestige and history?

SCOTT DREW: Montgomery and ribs, Skyline chili, Graeter's ice cream. That's a start. But obviously great program. A lot of success.

When I coached at Valparaiso University we played there when Coach Huggins was the coach. Just always been one of the better programs in the country. Great fan base.

Wes is a great coach, is doing a great job recruiting, and I know he's going to have a lot of success there. Again, Cincinnati speaks for itself. People know what a about tradition and the great players and coaches they've had in the past.