Baylor’s men’s basketball program will touch down in Montreal next August for a five‑day foreign tour that culminates with two exhibition scrimmages against Canadian university teams. The Bears are slated to meet Concordia University on August 7 and Bishop’s University on August 8, with both games scheduled to be played behind closed doors and without a broadcast feed.
A Strategic Test in Montreal
The trip marks a deliberate step in Coach Scott Drew’s 24th year at the helm, a tenure that places him among the nation’s longest‑standing active coaches. After guiding the Bears to the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown last season, Drew sees the Montreal stop as a chance to blend the returning core with new pieces before the regular season begins.
Among the returnees, Isaac Williams IV stands out as the program’s leading scorer, averaging 10.4 points per game last year, and he will once again anchor the offense. The roster will also welcome a wave of transfers — Brett Decker Jr., Kayden Mingo, Isaac Celiscar and Evan Chatman — while top‑40 prospects Dylan Mingo and four‑star recruit Elijah Williams add depth and versatility. Notably, fifth‑year center Caden Powell has been granted an extra year of eligibility, allowing him to return for a final season and bolster the frontcourt.
Powell’s recent production — 6.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, with starts in the final 20 of 34 contests — offers a glimpse of the interior stability the Bears hope to harness. His presence, combined with the experience of returning associate head coach Jerome Tang and new assistant coach/general manager Jake Lindsey, creates a staff that blends continuity with fresh perspective.
The coaching staff will also retain Ron Sanchez and Tweety Carter for the 2026‑27 campaign, ensuring that the tactical foundation remains intact as the team integrates its new talent. This blend of veteran leadership and promising newcomers is designed to translate the momentum from last season’s semifinal run into a stronger overall performance.
While the Montreal scrimmages will not be televised, they serve a clear purpose: to give the Bears a controlled environment to experiment with lineups, assess chemistry, and fine‑tune strategies ahead of a demanding schedule. The experience of playing abroad also adds a developmental dimension that can prove valuable beyond the box score.