BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 15, 2024

Scott Drew

Jalen Bridges

Caleb Lohner

T-Mobile Center

Baylor Bears

Postgame Press Conference

Iowa State - 76, Baylor - 62

SCOTT DREW: I think, again, thank Kansas City, the Big 12 Tournament. They put on a great tournament which allows us an opportunity to get ready for the NCAA Tournament.

Obviously wanted to win this tournament, but hats off to Iowa State. They really played well, really shot it well. Some of that's on our defense. Some of that's credit deserved for them -- 92 percent from the free-throw line, 50 from 3, 45 from the field, only six turnovers.

So really efficient there. I was pleased with how we rebounded the basketball, but other than that, we didn't play our best game. Hopefully we can make sure we do that for the tournament.

Q. Scott, obviously you guys have been a great offensive team all season. With the way the last two games have gone, do you have any concerns going into the NCAA Tournament?

SCOTT DREW: Well, first, Cincinnati's defense was third-best, I think, in the conference. And Iowa State second in the nation. So they're going to make everybody look bad offensively.

And when you don't make shots -- I mean, we're 5-for-24. Some of those are tough shots that we took that I didn't put our guys in good enough positions to get better looks. That's on me.

We had some open ones. But that's where 14-0 second-chance points is normally good but not good enough when you're shooting 20 percent. And I mean, they weren't guarding us on the free-throw line in 64 percent, that sends you home.

Q. Scott, if Iowa State plays like they played tonight the rest of the way, how far can T.J.'s team go?

SCOTT DREW: This year is more wide open than any year. They easily could win a national championship. You could probably say that for about 30 teams.

The one thing they're going to do defensively is going to give them a chance each and every night. When they operate like they did offensively, they're really hard to beat.

Q. You guys had 13 turnovers. That's actually not bad against Iowa State, the way they played this year. What else did they do to slow you down offensively tonight?

SCOTT DREW: I mean, 13's better than 20 we had the first time. But the first time we made a lot more shots. So the big thing is our turnovers, they need to be dead-ball and not live-ball. We had too many live-ball turnovers that put them into transition.

Q. Jalen, do your eyes kind of light up when you play Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament? Because you did get off to a pretty good start shooting the ball.

JALEN BRIDGES: I wouldn't say, like, anybody in particular I get more excited for. But I just feel every opportunity we have, especially coming towards the end, it's just a blessing to be out there with my teammates and these coaches. I don't care who it is, I'm going to give it my all regardless. If it's Iowa State, whoever, it don't matter.

Q. Caleb, you had a big tournament both nights. How fun was that to contribute like you did?

CALEB LOHNER: It was fun. I just want to give credit to my teammates and coaches. I wouldn't be able to play the way I played unless I was put in positions to be successful. One of my roles is to come in, bring my energy and help the team win. At the end of the day, I think that's every player's goal. We want to win every single game we can. And I think coming in, establishing myself a little bit and helping us get going has helped us a little bit. But I'm excited to get things moving on and see where we're going next Thursday or Friday.

Q. Coach, do you expect Langston to be good to go tournament time next week?

SCOTT DREW: That's the plan. Really feel for him. He's had a tough go at it. He's a great young man and works really hard. The last time -- he was just getting back to where he was feeling really good. The good news is he's in good spirits, and we'll see how he does in practice come this week.

Q. Jalen, as you guys kind of go look at the film, kind of go back to the drawing board, get ready for next week, do you still like this team's chances to make a good run in March?

JALEN BRIDGES: Absolutely. We talk about it amongst ourselves all the time. No matter what our conference record says, we feel like we're the best team in this conference.

So I'm just super excited. Whoever we end up against, just like I said before, go at it with these players, my teammates, these coaches, because it's win-or-go-home time. And I don't want to go home yet. I want to keep playing with these guys.