MBB Earns NCAA Tournament No. 3 Seed in the West Region
3/17/2024 5:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BU is the only team to be a No. 3 seed or higher in four-straight NCAA Tournaments
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – Sixteen years later, Baylor coach Scott Drew still remembers the excitement of the first time the Bears were selected to the NCAA Tournament under his watch, part of the incredible rebuild that led to winning the 2021 national championship.
"It's always great to hear your name," said Drew, whose 23-10 and 13th-ranked team was selected on Sunday as the No. 3 seed in the West Region for this year's tournament and will face 14th-seeded Colgate (25-9) at 11:40 a.m. CT Friday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
"Nothing will ever be more dramatic than probably the first time (in 2008). Still might be the most excited I've been. But this team finished with the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country. That's like hitting the lottery, to have the No. 1 strength of schedule. And we went against the No. 1-ranked defense. So, definitely been proven and battle-tested."
More than half of Baylor's 33 games have come against teams in the NCAA Tournament, with an 8-9 record that includes no-conference wins over Auburn and Florida. The Bears also have wins over NIT-bound Cornell and Seton Hall.
"Probably the thing I'm most proud of is that we're the only school that's had four-straight top-three seeds in the NCAA Tournament," Drew said. "There are a lot of great programs, a lot of great coaches, a lot of great traditions. To be the only school to be a top-three seed the last four years is something that our administration, our fanbase, our players, our staff can be really proud of."
As the No. 3 seed in the West Region, Baylor draws a Colgate team that is making its fifth-consecutive and seventh overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Raiders are coming off their fourth-straight Patriot League championship and fifth in six years after defeating Lehigh, 74-55, in Wednesday's title game at their home court in Hamilton, N.Y.
Sophomore guard Braeden Smith, the Patriot League Player of the Year, averages 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and ranks 25th nationally with 5.8 assists per game.
"The parity, you can take all the seeding and throw it out the window," Drew said. "You'd better be ready to play. This is not a four-of-seven (series), the best team doesn't always win. It's who's best for that 40 minutes. Really, it comes down to a lot of guys who don't want to go home. That's why they're in the NCAA Tournament. Who's able to execute the best stays around."
The West Region is headed by top-seeded and fifth-ranked North Carolina (27-7) and also includes second-seeded and ninth-ranked Arizona (25-8), a potential Sweet 16 matchup for the Bears.
If Baylor advances past the first round, it will face either sixth-seeded Clemson (21-11) or 11th-seeded New Mexico (26-9) in Sunday's second round, with the winner advancing to the regional rounds in Los Angeles for games on March 28 and 30.
"When players are excited about something, that's the first step," Drew said, "because they're motivated and they're locked in. And really, for the first time, they'll know what it's like to not be ready. Because if you're not ready, you realize that this might be the last time you put on the uniform. . . . That brings the heightened awareness and intensity to another level."
WACO, Texas — Baylor men's basketball has been awarded an NCAA Tournament No. 3 seed for the second-straight year. The Bears are seeded in the West Region in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket announced Sunday on CBS.
Baylor (23-10, 11-7 Big 12) will open the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Friday against No. 14 seed Colgate (25-9, 16-2 Patriot) at FedEx Forum in Memphis at a to-be-determined time. The winner of that game will then play a second-round matchup on Sunday against the winner of Friday's first-round game between No. 6 Clemson and No. 11 New Mexico.
Tip-off times and TV networks and are to be determined. The West Regional semifinal and final will be held in Los Angeles, with the Final Four to be held in Phoenix, Ariz.
www.BaylorBears.com
BAYLOR NCAA NOTES:
• Baylor has earned a top-three seed for a fourth-straight NCAA Tournaments. The Bears are the only team in the country to earn a top-three seed in four-straight NCAA Tournaments.
• Baylor is 22-16 in 15 previous NCAA Championships trips, including a 19-10 record in the Scott Drew era.
• Baylor is appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 tournaments.
• Baylor is appearing in the NCAA postseason for a school-record 12th-consecutive time (10 NCAA, 2 NIT).
• Baylor is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in the modern tournament era. BU's first three NCAA Tournament appearances in 1946, 1948 and 1950 were in an eight-team bracket.
• Baylor is 43-26 in postseason tournaments (conference, national) over the last 16 seasons.
• Baylor has played in three Final Fours (1948, 1950, 2021). The first two Final Four appearances were when it was an eight-team bracket.
• Baylor has played in two National Championship games (1948 lost to Kentucky, 2021 defeated Gonzaga).
2023-24 SEASON HONORS
Jalen Bridges
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
Julius Erving Preseason Top-20
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
All-Big 12 Third Team
RAYJ DENNIS
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament MVP
Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week (11/27)
All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches and media)
All-Big 12 Newcomer Team
SCOTT DREW
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Leadership
YVES MISSI
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (2/12)
All-Big 12 Freshman Team
All-Big 12 Defensive Team
JAYDEN NUNN
Big 12 Player of the Week (2/19)
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (2/19)
JA'KOBE WALTER
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Jerry West Award Preseason Top-20
Big 12 Player of the Week (11/13)
NABC Player of the Week (11/14)
Wooden Award Preseason Top-50
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
Wooden Award Midseason Top-25
Jerry West Award Top-10
All-Big 12 Third Team
All-Big 12 Freshman Team
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – Sixteen years later, Baylor coach Scott Drew still remembers the excitement of the first time the Bears were selected to the NCAA Tournament under his watch, part of the incredible rebuild that led to winning the 2021 national championship.
"It's always great to hear your name," said Drew, whose 23-10 and 13th-ranked team was selected on Sunday as the No. 3 seed in the West Region for this year's tournament and will face 14th-seeded Colgate (25-9) at 11:40 a.m. CT Friday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
"Nothing will ever be more dramatic than probably the first time (in 2008). Still might be the most excited I've been. But this team finished with the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country. That's like hitting the lottery, to have the No. 1 strength of schedule. And we went against the No. 1-ranked defense. So, definitely been proven and battle-tested."
More than half of Baylor's 33 games have come against teams in the NCAA Tournament, with an 8-9 record that includes no-conference wins over Auburn and Florida. The Bears also have wins over NIT-bound Cornell and Seton Hall.
"Probably the thing I'm most proud of is that we're the only school that's had four-straight top-three seeds in the NCAA Tournament," Drew said. "There are a lot of great programs, a lot of great coaches, a lot of great traditions. To be the only school to be a top-three seed the last four years is something that our administration, our fanbase, our players, our staff can be really proud of."
As the No. 3 seed in the West Region, Baylor draws a Colgate team that is making its fifth-consecutive and seventh overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Raiders are coming off their fourth-straight Patriot League championship and fifth in six years after defeating Lehigh, 74-55, in Wednesday's title game at their home court in Hamilton, N.Y.
Sophomore guard Braeden Smith, the Patriot League Player of the Year, averages 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and ranks 25th nationally with 5.8 assists per game.
"The parity, you can take all the seeding and throw it out the window," Drew said. "You'd better be ready to play. This is not a four-of-seven (series), the best team doesn't always win. It's who's best for that 40 minutes. Really, it comes down to a lot of guys who don't want to go home. That's why they're in the NCAA Tournament. Who's able to execute the best stays around."
The West Region is headed by top-seeded and fifth-ranked North Carolina (27-7) and also includes second-seeded and ninth-ranked Arizona (25-8), a potential Sweet 16 matchup for the Bears.
If Baylor advances past the first round, it will face either sixth-seeded Clemson (21-11) or 11th-seeded New Mexico (26-9) in Sunday's second round, with the winner advancing to the regional rounds in Los Angeles for games on March 28 and 30.
"When players are excited about something, that's the first step," Drew said, "because they're motivated and they're locked in. And really, for the first time, they'll know what it's like to not be ready. Because if you're not ready, you realize that this might be the last time you put on the uniform. . . . That brings the heightened awareness and intensity to another level."
WACO, Texas — Baylor men's basketball has been awarded an NCAA Tournament No. 3 seed for the second-straight year. The Bears are seeded in the West Region in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket announced Sunday on CBS.
Baylor (23-10, 11-7 Big 12) will open the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Friday against No. 14 seed Colgate (25-9, 16-2 Patriot) at FedEx Forum in Memphis at a to-be-determined time. The winner of that game will then play a second-round matchup on Sunday against the winner of Friday's first-round game between No. 6 Clemson and No. 11 New Mexico.
Tip-off times and TV networks and are to be determined. The West Regional semifinal and final will be held in Los Angeles, with the Final Four to be held in Phoenix, Ariz.
www.BaylorBears.com
BAYLOR NCAA NOTES:
• Baylor has earned a top-three seed for a fourth-straight NCAA Tournaments. The Bears are the only team in the country to earn a top-three seed in four-straight NCAA Tournaments.
• Baylor is 22-16 in 15 previous NCAA Championships trips, including a 19-10 record in the Scott Drew era.
• Baylor is appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 tournaments.
• Baylor is appearing in the NCAA postseason for a school-record 12th-consecutive time (10 NCAA, 2 NIT).
• Baylor is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in the modern tournament era. BU's first three NCAA Tournament appearances in 1946, 1948 and 1950 were in an eight-team bracket.
• Baylor is 43-26 in postseason tournaments (conference, national) over the last 16 seasons.
• Baylor has played in three Final Fours (1948, 1950, 2021). The first two Final Four appearances were when it was an eight-team bracket.
• Baylor has played in two National Championship games (1948 lost to Kentucky, 2021 defeated Gonzaga).
2023-24 SEASON HONORS
Jalen Bridges
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
Julius Erving Preseason Top-20
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
All-Big 12 Third Team
RAYJ DENNIS
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament MVP
Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week (11/27)
All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches and media)
All-Big 12 Newcomer Team
SCOTT DREW
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Leadership
YVES MISSI
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (2/12)
All-Big 12 Freshman Team
All-Big 12 Defensive Team
JAYDEN NUNN
Big 12 Player of the Week (2/19)
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (2/19)
JA'KOBE WALTER
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Jerry West Award Preseason Top-20
Big 12 Player of the Week (11/13)
NABC Player of the Week (11/14)
Wooden Award Preseason Top-50
NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
Wooden Award Midseason Top-25
Jerry West Award Top-10
All-Big 12 Third Team
All-Big 12 Freshman Team
Players Mentioned
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