2026 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 10, 2026

Scott Drew

Cameron Carr

Caden Powell

T-Mobile Center

Baylor Bears

Postgame Press Conference

Arizona State - 83, Baylor - 79

SCOTT DREW: The Big 12 always does a great job with this tournament. But Brett Yormark has always been innovative with the floor. I thought that was a great showcase, a great addition. I would see in the future a lot of NBA and college teams having a floor like that.

As far as the game goes, credit Arizona State. They really came out, shot the ball well. Defensively, we weren't as sharp as we needed to be. But they made shots. And at the end of the day, to shoot 61 percent, 46 from 3 in the first half, regardless of the defense, they came out on point and took it to us.

I was proud of our guys, how we came back, battled. With a group that everything's a first experience because everybody's new, and this is the first Big 12 Tournament, first game in a postseason-type environment, and I thought first half we showed that.

The second half, I thought we did a lot more things that we've been doing the second half at conference. And I was proud of the fight, proud of the effort and not-quit mentality.

Q. Caden, obviously with this being your senior season and you going 5-for-5 today, was there extra fire in you fighting to prolong this game?

CADEN POWELL: Definitely was, but I'd say more so just for my teammates on their end, because I'm not the only senior and I'm not the only one who's out there, and it could be their last game. So it was really just to do what I could to help my teammates out and help us as a team.

Q. Coach, you mentioned some of your initial impressions of the court. There's been some opinions flying around on how that would impact the game. Do you have any thoughts on whether it did or didn't?

SCOTT DREW: I mean, normally in sports you lose, you've got to blame something. I'm not blaming the court. I'm going to give credit to Arizona State. And I thought just the opportunities and the cool things -- we came for shoot-around and guys were signing their name, and it was showing up on the court as they signed. There's so many cool things you can do with it.

I think just like anything, it takes getting used to. And we play with the Nike ball, and it was a Wilson ball. It's just different. I think a lot of positives -- and, again, I credit Commissioner Yormark for always being innovative, always making sure that we're on the cutting edge of things.

Q. Coach, having been here for the women's tournament hearing a lot of the feedback on the court as well, can I hear the players? Cameron and Caden, will you offer speculation, feedback on the court how it played, the actions?

CADEN POWELL: I didn't mind it. I wasn't really dribbling the ball a lot or anything, so it wasn't really something I noticed or something that really bothered me.

I thought it was cool. I thought it was just a different opportunity and something that was really innovative, and I'm glad to be a part of it.

CAMERON CARR: Honestly I just thought it was different. Never played on a court like that, that lights up. Just different experience, different floor. I've never played on it before. So, I don't know, there's a first for everything.

Q. Coach, how do you put into perspective this entire season, and I guess the gauntlet of Big 12 play?

SCOTT DREW: I think, first and foremost, appreciative of how the guys continued to improve and get better. I think if you watched us in the beginning of conference compared to the end, we improved in a lot of different areas.

They were coachable. They competed. They got better. Most coaches feel good about that.

As far as just weighing how tough it is to replace a whole team and some different challenges, and then with the Big 12 itself, I know we had the number one strength of schedule in the Big 12 out of all the Big 12 teams, and you have more teams that have a chance at a Final Four than we've had in recent years. That just speaks to how tough the Big 12 was this year.

Q. One more floor question. How did it feel? Did it feel the same as a wood floor, the grip, et cetera? Different? Better? Worse? Whatever?

CAMERON CARR: I wouldn't say it feels the same, like with the grip and everything, it has a little bit of give to it. It feels good to jump on. Doesn't hurt your legs as much, but it's a little bit slippery, honestly. So that's about it.

CADEN POWELL: I thought that, kind of similar to him, like it felt -- it gave a lot more than the hardwood courts and softer jumping, landing. I didn't really notice too much slip, but I thought it was cool.