Friends and enemies: For Scott Drew and Grant McCasland, competition comes first

Well before Tuesday’s game between Baylor and Texas Tech, Red Raider head coach Grant McCasland spent some extra time greeting the coaches and support staff on the Bears’ bench.

He went into the stands just off the floor and greeted some more people.

After all, McCasland was molded in Waco.

McCasland was a point guard for the Bears and graduated in 1999. After spending more than a decade coaching at the lower levels, he returned to his alma mater and spent five years as an assistant coach under Scott Drew.

“I think God’s given all of us clarity with what this is,” McCasland said. “This is competition. If you ask me about Coach Drew as a husband and a father and as a friend, I don’t know anybody better. He’s a joy to be around.”

The Red Raiders ran the Bears out of the gym on Tuesday, seeing three players score more than 20 points and tying the school record with 17 made 3-pointers in their 92-73 romp.

Texas Tech has won four straight over Baylor, its longest winning streak in the series since winning six in a row from 2003-06.

McCasland improved to 4-1 all-time against his former boss.

“I’ve changed my tune on this,” McCasland said. “What I’ve learned to do is look at it like it’s going to grow us either way. I know how great a coach he is, and I know how great a result this is. No matter the result, I’m not going to approach this any differently.”

Tuesday was the second-straight win for McCasland over Drew in Waco. 

“Grant has done a lot for Baylor basketball, as has (Kansas State head coach Jerome) Tang,” Drew said Monday. “It’s always good seeing them, but once the game starts, it’s business as usual. They’re trying to win, we’re trying to win.

“With that being said, playing a former coach, they’re a little more apt to know what you’re thinking coming out of timeouts and whatnot. That’s part of the chess match.”

As a senior at Baylor, McCasland didn’t win a conference game.

When he became a coach for the Bears, he helped them get to the NCAA Tournament three times in five years, including trips to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight.

When he became a DI head coach, he quickly established himself as one of the best. He won 20 games in his lone season at Arkansas State before helping North Texas win two postseason tournaments and make the NCAA Tournament in six years in charge of the Mean Green.

He won 20 or more games in his first two seasons at Texas Tech, took the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight last season and has them ranked No. 12, just half a game behind first place in the Big 12 standings.

“He’s a competitor,” Texas Tech senior guard Donovan Atwell said. “He loves to win, and he’ll do anything to make that happen. I respect him a lot as a coach. He teaches us to play the right way defensively and offensively. He’s a great coach.”

Baylor isn’t having the season it expected to, getting off to its worst start to Big 12 play since the 2013-14 season, when the Bears finished 9-9 and eventually advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

Count McCasland among those who aren't quite ready to write the Bears off just yet.

“I just want to remind people that Coach Drew is one of the best coaches in college basketball (of) all time,” McCasland said. “I have so much respect for Coach Drew because he’s the ultimate fighter. He’s got such kindness and humility, but he’s a scrapper. They’ve got the talent. Probably not the pieces that fit Coach perfectly, but they’ll keep getting better.

“I’m thankful for the competition. Outside of that, there’s nobody I respect more than Coach Drew. It’s just an opportunity to get better for both of us.”