Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew, March 19, 2022. (AP Photo / Tony Gutierrez)
There will be no repeat winners of the NCAA Men’s Tournament this year.
Defending champion Baylor Bears, a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Region, fell to No. 8 North Carolina on Saturday in an exciting 93-86 overtime contest. The last school to repeat as champion was Florida in 2006 and 2007.
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Before it was over, Baylor (27-7) came back from a 25-point deficit in the second half to force extra time. It represents the biggest comeback ever in an NCAA Tournament game, but the Bears were unable to claim victory in the end.
Finals of Fort Worth#SicEm | #CultureofJOY 🏀 pic.twitter.com/0Oodz83isn
Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) March 19, 2022
Baylor is the first No. 1 to lose in this year’s tournament. But that’s not what coach Scott Drew reminds this team. He will remember his endurance – not just in this game, but throughout the season.
“Above all, [I’ll remember] just what great young men they are, “Drew said in his post-game press conference.” They are fun to be around every day. They came to work, they had a good attitude, they really represented the school.
“Eis Thema [was]”That which is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). I mean, winning back-to-back conference championships with three season-ending injuries, which is phenomenal along with all the other injuries these guys have overcome.
After winning the national title and losing four of his starting titles, few gave Baylor many chances to win another title. But the Bears have earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season – the only time the program has done so in school history – and have won 26 or more games each of the last three seasons.
Baylor has become one of the blue bloods of college basketball, with the likes of the North Carolina program falling on Saturday. By defeating Baylor, UNC (26-9) will make their 30th all-time appearance in the Sweet 16 of the tournament, the most of any school.
But coach Drew said after the game that it’s about more than just basketball with Baylor.
“At Baylor, it’s always bigger than just basketball,” he told a news conference after the game. “We prepare champions for life. It’s great to have spiritual impact; character training. Academically wise, this is one of the best academic groups we’ve had. Mentally, it’s a really deep group; I’m proud of their growth and what they taught me.A character wise, they represent their team and their school in the right way.So I could no longer be satisfied with the kind of young men we have here.
A major influence on Baylor’s play to become “great young men” is the culture of JOY that established Drew. The acronym stands for Jesus, Others, then yourself. Coaches and players often talk about it, and it even shows up on the team Twitter page.
It was very clear how last year the Bears won the national championship. Upon winning, the entire team stopped to gather in a circle on the court thank God in prayer. Moments later, the team was presented with the 2021 National Championship trophy. When answering questions from Jim Nantz of CBS, Drew talked about team culture.
“We play with one Culture of JOY,he said, “This is Jesus, others then yourself.”
Coach Drew elaborated in the press conference tonight. He started the session by saying, “First of all, I want to thank God that he blessed us with this opportunity tonight. I know the boys worked really hard, so glad they now have a Get a chance to celebrate.
He was later asked more about this culture.
“Lots of fun in the wardrobe for sure,” he said. “But our joy is Jesus, the others, yourself. It’s so hard to put other people in front of you and teams that do that are obviously more successful. Our guys, their love for each other [is] because they spend so much time together on their craft, and they put the time into it.
“Credit our assistant coaches for doing an incredible job bringing in high-class kids who want to be great teammates and work hard and want to improve. They deserve everything they get.”
“Lots of joy in the wardrobe for sure, but our joy is Jesus, others, yourself.” @BaylorMBB Trainer @BUDREW after winning the national title, his team discusses JOY’s culture. #MarchMaddness pic.twitter.com/I1CUvgCXFk
– Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) April 6, 2021
Even if the 2021-22 season is over for Baylor, the culture will continue.
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