FRISCO, Texas — Baylor head coach Dave Aranda says he’d rather his team focus on its daily process than spend time worrying about whether outsiders see the Bears as contenders or underdogs in a Big 12 Conference full of parity and fresh faces.
At Big 12 Media Day at Ford Center at The Star, Aranda was asked whether Baylor’s place in the league pecking order could serve as motivation this fall.
“It's good to to be so focused on what you're doing, and to be so so maniacal about getting it better, getting it right, and to be so hard on yourself that it pushes others themselves, much rather focusing that way than focused on what other people think, what other people are saying, and all that,” Aranda said. “So I think from you know, my seat on this team, there's been a great emphasis on kind of what's happening on the inside, and so I'd like to continue to push that and see how far we can take that.”
After a 8-5 finish last season, Baylor faces an uphill climb to reestablish itself as a true contender to win the conference. Aranda believes the difference this year is a deeper belief among the Bears’ returners.
“So I think there's a confidence in this team where I thought before, you know, there would be things that we would talk about… now to know we are that guy. I am that guy.” Aranda said. “And so leading from that space, kind of can keep in more of an attack mode and more of a go, take it mode. And so I think hunger comes from that.”
As the Big 12 continues to evolve with new programs and more competition for respect, Aranda said Baylor’s foundation must remain player development.
“You have to make a concerted effort to recruit high school players,” Aranda said. “All the pressure to win, the money that's involved in winning sometimes makes that time and to make that a priority, and then still win, is what we're trying to do.”