Reports Say Drew Will Be Named Baylor Coach

Scott Drew will leave Valparaiso to take on the challenge of repairing a Baylor basketball program torn apart by the death of a player, the shame-filled resignation of Coach Dave Bliss, a string of transfers and potentially strong NCAA violations, according to reports.

Houston television station KRIV, the Waco Tribune-Herald and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, all citing sources, reported Thursday that Drew was expected to be announced as the new coach today.

Baylor President Robert Sloan wouldn’t comment on the reports.

“We do not have a deal yet, but we’re working closely” with the search committee to hire someone soon, he said at a news conference.

“I can’t confirm that at this point,” Baylor spokesman Larry Brumley told Associated Press. He did say, however, that the search committee was “moving very quickly.”

Baylor’s athletic department referred questions about the coaching situation to Brumley, and a message left at the basketball office wasn’t returned.

Valparaiso officials said Drew was in a meeting and the coach did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Drew, 32, has only one year of head coaching experience, going 20-11 and reaching the NIT last season. He spent the nine previous seasons as an assistant to his father, Homer Drew, at Valparaiso.

As an assistant, he was known as a resourceful recruiter, having brought in many players from Europe, Africa and South America.

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Forward Andre Patterson, who was dismissed from UCLA this spring for academic reasons, has enrolled at Tennessee, Volunteer Coach Buzz Peterson announced.

The 6-foot-7 Patterson averaged 7.5 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds while starting 21 of his 24 games for the Bruins last season. He led the team in shooting at 60.8%.

Patterson will sit out the 2003-04 season because of NCAA transfer rules. He will enter the 2004-05 season as a junior.

Motor Racing

Jason Keller set an event qualifying record in winning the pole for tonight’s NASCAR Busch Series Food City 250 at Bristol, Tenn.

Keller turned a lap at 126.021 mph in his Ford. He beat the lap of 125.864 mph run by Kevin Harvick before him in a Chevrolet.

Harvick will start second, followed by Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip and Tony Raines, all in Chevrolets.

Pro Basketball

The Detroit Pistons traded forward Clifford Robinson and guard Pepe Sanchez to the Golden State Warriors for guard Bob Sura.

Robinson, a 14-year NBA veteran, averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds last season as a starter for the Pistons. Sura averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds for the Warriors last season.

Sanchez, the first Argentine to play in the NBA, appeared in only nine games last season.

The Washington Wizards signed guard Steve Blake of Maryland, their second-round draft choice.

The Indiana Pacers signed guard James Jones, their second-round draft pick. He was the 49th overall pick in the draft and the Pacers’ only selection.

Boxing

Unbeaten Jose Navarro of Los Angeles successfully defended his North American Boxing Organization super-flyweight championship with a 12-round unanimous decision over Adonis Rivas at San Jose. Navarro, a 2000 U.S. Olympian, improved his record to 18-0 while Rivas, of Nicaragua, fell to 19-4-1.

Passings

Ken Coleman, a Boston Red Sox broadcaster for 20 years, died Thursday at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, Mass. He was 78. Story in Section B.