I still think it is. I might eat my words in the coming 12 hours but I think it still is

IowaBear said:

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He's gone. I was definitely being naive thinking his post today meant he was staying. Wish him luck. But he's going to regret that decision in a hurry.

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Hope you're wrong. I don't think his family's tour of Lexington necessarily makes it so.

Yeah I'm baffled. It's going to be hard to not look at Scott Drew a bit different when he accepts that job tomm. I have no idea why he would send a chunk of his family to Lexington if he wasn't taking that job. His tweet looks like a giant troll job (even if that wasn't his intention)

No Quarterback said:

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He gone. Officially irrelevant in every sport! Great job by Mack, Linda, and our BOR. at least we have nice facilities!

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You can be mad at them for other reasons if you want, but you can't blame anyone in this particular instance. It's freaking Kentucky.

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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OurOurs said:

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If I'm Drew, I'm also thinking about legacy at this point. While it would be tempting to have a change of scenery and a bigger stage, the reality is his name will never have the same weight in Lexington as he has here.

I have a feeling that if he leaves, it's unlikely that we will see his statue on campus. Similar to Mulkey a great, successful, longtime coach, but not an "immortal."

If he stays, we will see his statue before he retires. He will go down as Baylor's greatest sports coach of all-time. He will be a legend here forever. There is still a lot to accomplish at Baylor, and we need his JOY more than ever as a tentpole for the athletics programs and the university as a whole.

I think if he does leave, then he will have some buyer's remorse when he looks back at the end.

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1. He will have success. He always has. He will there.
2. It won't be enough success for UK fans. If he doesn't make a Final Four in his first three years, they will revolt.
3. He will not leave Kentucky on his own terms. He will most likely leave the way Tubby and Cal left, finding a landing spot to escape the toxic culture surrounding that fan base. He'll probably finish his career at a place like Butler.
4. He'll return to Baylor for a ceremony in his 70's and get a warm reception, but he won't have the court named after him or a statue or anything resembling that.
5. He'll still be the best coach we'll ever have.
6. We've got the resources to maintain a good program, but I expect us to look like TCU or BYU in the long run. Expect Kansas, Zona and maybe Houston to run the conference.

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Only thing I disagree with is I kinda expect him to coach 7 - 15 more years. If he takes a contract from Kentucky, I almost expect it to be the length of the rest of his career and he will retire Jay Wright style.

I also don't think we'll remain a relevant program, this is going to piss off the BMD even more, you've got to retain the coaching talent once you build a facilities and this administration doesn't want to do that.

He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

so here is a question I'd love to know the answer to. Homer Drew is probably advising him. Is the advice:

1. "I'm really glad I stayed at one place for the entirety of my head coaching career."

2. "I wish I would have jumped at that [bigger school] opportunity after Bryce hit that shot?"

IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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Kentucky couldn't' fire Cal because of the buyout. It'll be the same with Drew even if he under performs.

IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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If they will track him down at a mom and pop Mexican joint in Waco to harass him as a candidate, imagine his life in Lexington when in their minds they own you. Lol!

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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The administration doesn't want to keep Drew? We can't match UK financially, but that doesn't mean they don't want him. That's silly to think so.

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No idea about Livingstone, but there is a dynamic within academic circles where they would love to be like Emory and Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon where sports just aren't part of the equation at their school.

The UCLA and Cal admins have paid nominal lip service to sports and watched their athletic departments become shells of their former selves. The reality is that in a world where 60% of your new alumni are female each year, the passionate fans that care about athletics become a smaller portion of your university community.

I know it's Kentucky but having a brand new arena and not the pressure seems like would be hard to leave. I wouldn't think he would be driven by the money and he's making 5 million here. And then the tweet. Doesn't make sense knowing him.

IvanBear said:

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IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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Kentucky couldn't' fire Cal because of the buyout. It'll be the same with Drew even if he under performs.

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Drew ain't getting the same buyout Cal got. Not even close.

DallasBear9902 said:

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so here is a question I'd love to know the answer to. Homer Drew is probably advising him. Is the advice:

1. "I'm really glad I stayed at one place for the entirety of my head coaching career."

2. "I wish I would have jumped at that [bigger school] opportunity after Bryce hit that shot?"

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Well Drew left Valpo as head coach so I think we know how he feels about that particular question.

Do you guys really think money is the primary motivating factor here? I don't. I think the money may be the icing on the cake but Scott has always had a huge ego just like most successful coaches. And when the biggest of all big name jobs is offered and he has a chance to be the face of that program there was not much of a chance of him turning it down even though I kept trying to convince myself he would.

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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IvanBear said:

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IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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Kentucky couldn't' fire Cal because of the buyout. It'll be the same with Drew even if he under performs.

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Drew ain't getting the same buyout Cal got. Not even close.

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Why not, he's got all the leverage, Kentucky's next best hope is a NBA coach who might be interested but hasn't recruited in years or the king of sleaze Rick Pitino. He has Kentucky over the same barrel he has Baylor from a negotiation perspective.

IvanBear said:

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DallasBear9902 said:

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so here is a question I'd love to know the answer to. Homer Drew is probably advising him. Is the advice:

1. "I'm really glad I stayed at one place for the entirety of my head coaching career."

2. "I wish I would have jumped at that [bigger school] opportunity after Bryce hit that shot?"

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Well Drew left Valpo as head coach so I think we know how he feels about that particular question.

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That's a great point. The jump to Baylor allowed him to take a big short cut on the career ladder. That said, he's proven he can win a NC at Baylor. That was never going to happen at Valpo.

Tinfoil hat time - any chance that since Drew and Barnhart are supposed buddies, this is all a stall tact to preoccupy the UK fanbase? Drew says no to the job but helps a buddy out to let the fans chase their tails for a week until the NBA season ends and Donovan becomes available. Not a good look for the AD of a program like that if there's no smoke for a week due to the top candidates saying no (and quickly). All would easily be forgotten if Donovan is the new HC by Monday. Not to mention, has a NBA coach ever taken a collegiate job before the season has ended?

It doesn't explain the family in Lexington thing unless it was a, "good luck convincing my wife and kids to uproot, but I'll let you have a shot". I still can't see Drew tweeting that out today if he was going to leave. Just not his style even if it was trying to disprove he was in Lexington.

One thing I do know - there are just as many UK fans calling for their AD's job if they hire Drew. Not getting into the Mack discussion but that is one job where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I would think UK fans calling the restaurant today would be enough for him to say no right then and there.
I think what's happening here is the allure of coaching UK is just too much for him to pass up regardless of all the red flags. Just an opinion.
Think he will fail there (by UK standards) and have regret rather quick but I suppose will see

OkieBear12 said:

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Tinfoil hat time - any chance that since Drew and Barnhart are supposed buddies, this is all a stall tact to preoccupy the UK fanbase? Drew says no to the job but helps a buddy out to let the fans chase their tails for a week until the NBA season ends and Donovan becomes available. Not a good look for the AD of a program like that if there's no smoke for a week due to the top candidates saying no (and quickly). All would easily be forgotten if Donovan is the new HC by Monday. Not to mention, has a NBA coach ever taken a collegiate job before the season has ended?

It doesn't explain the family in Lexington thing unless it was a, "good luck convincing my wife and kids to uproot, but I'll let you have a shot". I still can't see Drew tweeting that out today if he was going to leave. Just not his style even if it was trying to disprove he was in Lexington.

One thing I do know - there are just as many UK fans calling for their AD's job if they hire Drew. Not getting into the Mack discussion but that is one job where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

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Just to your last paragraph and it seems that way on Twittersphere, why jump into that situation? Why go to a place where your seat is already warm at the opening announcment ceremony.

OkieBear12 said:

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I still can't see Drew tweeting that out today if he was going to leave. Just not his style even if it was trying to disprove he was in Lexington.

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Very strange if so. He's no fool.. that will leave a very sour taste for some and for no benefit.

Quite frankly it sounds like it's down to a long discussion between him and his wife tonight. I've had a bad feeling about this since the minute Arkansas reportedly landed Cal.

In Drew's shoes there are strong arguments for both, but I see a lot of legitimate reasons for his career and with the changing landscape of college athletics moving to the SEC would be wise. Why not move to the best program in the SEC if given the offer. Also, it's always referenced on the side here but as a Christian there's a lot of things Baylor (going to pin this on the administrative machine not one individual) does that isn't very Christian anymore and it's grating on Christians I know employed by the school. I'm sure that blows back less on the coach of the basketball team but also its tough to see people claim your faith and not life it out and you be a mouthpiece for that culture. Finally, Drew is an insane competitor I'm sure he thinks he can win 5 straight Nattys if he gets everything he wants, Kentucky will give him everything he wants resource wise. Baylor just can't give him near unlimited NIL.

On the flip side, I also think he fully controls the culture of the basketball program at Baylor, if he doesn't then that's why he's leaving. But I assume he does, and he won't get that level of control at Kentucky. The opportunity here is to become the next Jay Wright or a slightly lesser Coach K but with a more unique story than either of them if he finishes his career out at Baylor. That's got to be appealing.

I'm inclined to go with he actually is unsure of what he'll do and he's probably going to pray about it a lot and see where he falls on it in the morning.

IvanBear said:

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EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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IvanBear said:

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IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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Kentucky couldn't' fire Cal because of the buyout. It'll be the same with Drew even if he under performs.

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Drew ain't getting the same buyout Cal got. Not even close.

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Why not, he's got all the leverage, Kentucky's next best hope is a NBA coach who might be interested but hasn't recruited in years or the king of sleaze Rick Pitino. He has Kentucky over the same barrel he has Baylor from a negotiation perspective.

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He may be the king of sleaze, but Kentucky fans wouldn't care about that. He's the best coach they've had in 40 years, and he only left because he thought he was getting Tim Duncan in Boston. Kentucky fans would look past all his faults for five years of his coaching. But that ain't happening.

And yet I don't think Drew "has them over a barrel." There are still lots of really good coaches available. If Drew is going, he's not going to hold out for a $20-25 million buyout.

Publisher of "catsillustrated.com"

If you're a site member I recommend you stay up a few minutes. Going to want to read this.

— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) April 11, 2024

I posted more tonight, but circling back to this. Keith took a lot of crap for this. What I learned today is that he was right, and based on when he tweeted this, he was one of the first to know. https://t.co/qx8DRKVWgS

— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) April 11, 2024

Scott and the Kentucky NIL won't have it easy. They will have to go firmly against

Cal at Arkansas, and a commitment from Arkansas BMDs to have as much or more NIL funds as Kentucky
Oats at Alabama, whose NIL is reportedly not any lower than Kentucky.
Barnes at Tennessee, whose NIL is in the range of Kentucky
Beard at Ole Miss, whose boosters have committed to up the ante on NIL
Pearl at Auburn, whose NIL is not that far off Kentucky's

And it will be interesting to see how long Texas rides with Terry or do they jettison him pretty quickly and bring their NIL up to the SEC top line. And what does LSU do if it feels it is starting to fall behind.

It won't be easy for Drew even in his own conference.

Welp....hope it gets announced early tomorrow either way....don't want to waste another day hitting refresh

Scott Drew's family was in Lexington today to "check things out" Talking it through tonight and expect a decision tomorrow.

— Keith Taylor (@keithtaylor21) April 11, 2024

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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IvanBear said:

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EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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IvanBear said:

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IowaBear said:

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He ain't lasting 7 years at Kentucky if he doesn't win a ship fast. His 24-11 seasons aren't cutting it there. That fanbase will turn on him in a second. He better pump out SEC titles and deep March runs right away.

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Kentucky couldn't' fire Cal because of the buyout. It'll be the same with Drew even if he under performs.

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Drew ain't getting the same buyout Cal got. Not even close.

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Why not, he's got all the leverage, Kentucky's next best hope is a NBA coach who might be interested but hasn't recruited in years or the king of sleaze Rick Pitino. He has Kentucky over the same barrel he has Baylor from a negotiation perspective.

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He may be the king of sleaze, but Kentucky fans wouldn't care about that. He's the best coach they've had in 40 years, and he only left because he thought he was getting Tim Duncan in Boston. Kentucky fans would look past all his faults for five years of his coaching. But that ain't happening.

And yet I don't think Drew "has them over a barrel." There are still lots of really good coaches available. If Drew is going, he's not going to hold out for a $20-25 million buyout.

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You don't take this job without getting
1) more monkey than Cal
2) equal or greater NIL support than Cal
3) a fully guaranteed contract like Cal

Drew is in an elite elite club of national championship winning coaches. He's got a horrific agent (which with his reported byalor buy out he doesn't) if he doesn't get maximum protection from the school axing him.

IowaBear said:

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Officially baffled beyond belief he made that Twitter post knowing his family was in Lexington. Little Busch league imo. Maybe I'm being dramatic. But that doesn't sit well with me

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Nope you're not. We can only hope it was done after he got a text from his wife about what a horrible time she was having.

BUCANDOIT82 said:

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Drew is not taking a very public interview to turn them down. He's just letting them know he's not desperate and he needs XY & Z.

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I don't agree with you often, but I think you're spot on here. Get Grant McCasland on Line 1.

boognish_bear said:

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IowaBear said:

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He's gone. I was definitely being naive thinking his post today meant he was staying. Wish him luck. But he's going to regret that decision in a hurry.

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Guess I'll wait to see how this all plays out...but that tweet definitely feels like a false step with the fans he's built a relationship with for 20 years.

He had to know how we would all receive something like that....then knowing the whole time his family was up in Lexington. Doesn't sit right. He should have just stayed silent.

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Maybe he is that tone deaf after all because I can't see Scott Drew actively trolling Baylor fans.

The irony is most Baylor fans won't even be mad if he leaves for Kentucky. They'll understand why he's doing it. He could have just said nothing, accepted the job and we'd have moved on pretty quickly.

Weird decision, for sure.