Bryce Drew
Encyclopedia
Bryce Homer Drew is the head coach, and a former member, of the Valparaiso University
Crusader
men's basketball team. His father, Homer Drew
, had served as the head coach of the men's basketball team, and his brother Scott Drew
is the head coach of Baylor University
's men's basketball team after having served 9 years as assistant coach at Valparaiso and one year as head coach. Bryce Drew is best known for his buzzer-beating shot in the first round of Valparaiso's improbable run in the 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
. As he progressed through high school though, Drew developed a rapid heartbeat, which required three surgeries to repair. Despite this difficulty, he led his team to the state final game, and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball of 1994.
He was also named the Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year for Indiana his senior season in high school after guiding his team to a 28–1 season with the only loss coming in the state finals in overtime.
that ensued during his senior year in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. In the Midwest Region, 13-seed Valparaiso was facing 4-seed Ole Miss in the first round. Valparaiso was down 67–69 with 4.1 seconds remaining in the game and Mississippi's Ansu Sesay
at the free throw line. After Sesay missed both shots, the Crusaders came up with possession – 94 feet (28.7 m) from their basket, and with only 2.5 seconds remaining in the game. On the inbound, the Crusaders used a play known as the Pacer. Jamie Sykes inbounded to Bill Jenkins (basketball), who passed the ball to Bryce Drew. Then, as time expired, Drew released a 23-foot 3-point shot, giving him his 22nd point of the night, and clinching the Crusaders' 70–69 upset and advancing them in the tournament. "The Shot" is seen each year on CBS during "March Madness" and is considered one of the top moments in NCAA history. Drew proceeded to lead the defeat of 12-seeded Florida State University
83–77 in overtime, with a 22-point game. Drew and the Crusaders finally fell to 8-seeded University of Rhode Island
by a score of 74–68, with Drew scoring only 18 points. Sports Illustrated
would rank it the No. 5 sports moment of 1998, and Drew secured his place as a Valparaiso, Indiana celebrity along with popcorn guru Orville Redenbacher
.
by the Houston Rockets
. After playing with the Rockets for two years, Drew spent one season with the Chicago Bulls
, and signed as a free agent
for three seasons with the New Orleans Hornets (Charlotte Hornets during his first season with the team). Drew was then waived by the Hornets, and played professionally for the Valencia BC for a year.
and Philadelphia 76ers
basketball player, Casey Shaw
. Drew's sister Dana is Shaw's wife.
Drew's wife, formerly Tara Thibodeaux, was a professional cheerleader of the Atlanta Hawks
. Tara is the daughter of former TV star Keith Thibodeaux
who is better known as "Little Ricky" on the TV series I Love Lucy
.
His brother, Scott Drew
, is the basketball coach at Baylor University
in Waco, Texas.
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
Crusader
Valparaiso Crusaders
The Valparaiso University Crusaders compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I .Valparaiso competes in the Horizon League in all sports except for football, which is not sponsored by the conference. The football team is a member of the Pioneer Football League. On May 27,...
men's basketball team. His father, Homer Drew
Homer Drew
Homer Drew is a former American college basketball coach, most recently for Valparaiso University Crusaders men's basketball team. His younger son, Bryce Drew, succeeded him as the head coach in May 2011...
, had served as the head coach of the men's basketball team, and his brother Scott Drew
Scott Drew
-References:...
is the head coach of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
's men's basketball team after having served 9 years as assistant coach at Valparaiso and one year as head coach. Bryce Drew is best known for his buzzer-beating shot in the first round of Valparaiso's improbable run in the 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
.
High school career
After having been exposed to basketball for years through his father's head coaching position, Bryce played basketball as the point guard for Valparaiso High School in Valparaiso, IndianaValparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
. As he progressed through high school though, Drew developed a rapid heartbeat, which required three surgeries to repair. Despite this difficulty, he led his team to the state final game, and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball of 1994.
He was also named the Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year for Indiana his senior season in high school after guiding his team to a 28–1 season with the only loss coming in the state finals in overtime.
College career
Though recruited by dozens of schools, Drew eventually decided to attend Valparaiso University, then a member of the Mid-Continent Conference, for men's basketball. In his four years playing, Drew collected dozens of honors and records, including being ranked in the top 15 nationally in 3-point field goal and free throw percentage and leading the team to three consecutive conference regular season and tournament championships. He also collected three conference tournament MVP awards, two conference MVP awards, and is Valparaiso's all-time scoring, 3-point field goal, and assist leader."The Shot"
All of this paled in comparison to the March MadnessNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
that ensued during his senior year in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. In the Midwest Region, 13-seed Valparaiso was facing 4-seed Ole Miss in the first round. Valparaiso was down 67–69 with 4.1 seconds remaining in the game and Mississippi's Ansu Sesay
Ansu Sesay
Ansu Martin Sesay is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA.-High school and college career:Sesay attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas...
at the free throw line. After Sesay missed both shots, the Crusaders came up with possession – 94 feet (28.7 m) from their basket, and with only 2.5 seconds remaining in the game. On the inbound, the Crusaders used a play known as the Pacer. Jamie Sykes inbounded to Bill Jenkins (basketball), who passed the ball to Bryce Drew. Then, as time expired, Drew released a 23-foot 3-point shot, giving him his 22nd point of the night, and clinching the Crusaders' 70–69 upset and advancing them in the tournament. "The Shot" is seen each year on CBS during "March Madness" and is considered one of the top moments in NCAA history. Drew proceeded to lead the defeat of 12-seeded Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
83–77 in overtime, with a 22-point game. Drew and the Crusaders finally fell to 8-seeded University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
by a score of 74–68, with Drew scoring only 18 points. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
would rank it the No. 5 sports moment of 1998, and Drew secured his place as a Valparaiso, Indiana celebrity along with popcorn guru Orville Redenbacher
Orville Redenbacher
Orville Clarence Redenbacher was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name.-Early life:...
.
Professional career
Following his rise to fame in the tournament, Drew was selected as Valpo's first ever first round pick as the 16th selection of the 1998 NBA Draft1998 NBA Draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors....
by the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. After playing with the Rockets for two years, Drew spent one season with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, and signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
for three seasons with the New Orleans Hornets (Charlotte Hornets during his first season with the team). Drew was then waived by the Hornets, and played professionally for the Valencia BC for a year.
Return to Valpo
In the summer of 2005, Drew was selected as the new assistant coach of the Valparaiso University men's basketball team. In 2006, Bryce was elevated to the position of associate coach, furthering speculation that he will eventually inherit the head coaching position upon his father's retirement. Drew was also nominated to become one of Valparaiso University's 150 Most Influential Persons in the University's history.Personal
Drew is the brother-in-law of former University of ToledoUniversity of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
and Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
basketball player, Casey Shaw
Casey Shaw
Joseph Casey Shaw is an American basketball center, formerly in the NBA. After a career at the University of Toledo Rockets, he was drafted 37th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1998 NBA Draft....
. Drew's sister Dana is Shaw's wife.
Drew's wife, formerly Tara Thibodeaux, was a professional cheerleader of the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. Tara is the daughter of former TV star Keith Thibodeaux
Keith Thibodeaux
Keith Thibodeaux is a former child actor and musician, best known for playing "Little Ricky" in the I Love Lucy and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour television shows.-Career:He is credited for those series as Richard Keith...
who is better known as "Little Ricky" on the TV series I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
.
His brother, Scott Drew
Scott Drew
-References:...
, is the basketball coach at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in Waco, Texas.