Drake

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Drake

They're definitely a different team without Josh Young...but a win is a win. They're getting it done...

[Matt Trump]

Re: Drake

They're definitely a different team without Josh Young...but a win is a win. They're getting it done...

Makes me jealous....

[jman2004]

Re: Drake

I thought they'd get upset. Guess not.

I still say their late road schedule is going to smack them in the face.

[Newt99]

Re: Drake

No Young, no problem. Looks like a huge MVC game next Saturday when Drake hosts the Redbirds. Did anybody have that one circled on their calendar at the beginning of the year?

[Matt Trump]

Re: Drake

I thought they'd get upset. Guess not.

I still say their late road schedule is going to smack them in the face.

Everyone hits some bumps in the road and it will be interesting to see how they respond to it.

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Drake

I still say their late road schedule is going to smack them in the face.

At this rate, they may not need to win any more road games to get into the tourney...

[Matt Trump]

Re: Drake

Drake's success is coming at a perfect time in Des Moines. Iowa State and Iowa are a little down and the BTN is scheduling gametimes at Carver that make it difficult for people to make it let alone see the game on tv. Top that off with Mediacom seizing the opportunity to broadcast most of the games at the Knapp and Des Moines is getting more and more behind this team. If UNI keeps being mediocre, the apathy will potentiate as the state's eyes focus further away from the NE. I've always wanted UNI to get more sports attention in Des Moines and with Drake continuing to have success, its only going to get worse.

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Drake

Drake now #26 in the AP poll. Surreal.

[UnderParPanther]

Re: Drake

They deserve to be in the top 25

[Mudrafan]

Re: Drake

they have guards & players that can shoot the ball. We don't.

[joecooll6]

Re: Drake

Drake's success is coming at a perfect time in Des Moines. Iowa State and Iowa are a little down and the BTN is scheduling gametimes at Carver that make it difficult for people to make it let alone see the game on tv. Top that off with Mediacom seizing the opportunity to broadcast most of the games at the Knapp and Des Moines is getting more and more behind this team. If UNI keeps being mediocre, the apathy will potentiate as the state's eyes focus further away from the NE. I've always wanted UNI to get more sports attention in Des Moines and with Drake continuing to have success, its only going to get worse.

Having spent the last 4 weeks in Des Moines I would say you hit this right on the head. The town is starting to get behind the Bulldogs in a way that never even comes close to ANYTHING I saw growing up in Des Moines. I went to the InSU vs Drake game, and I saw so many people there that are "die-hard" Clones and Hawks. The networks are giving them a lot of air time, they're talking about them on sports radio, and the paper has Bulldogs stuff up and down. Even the "UNI preview articles" were about Drake. They would have an article about the Valley, it would talk mostly about Drake, and then at the bottom would be the UNI starting lineups. No joke.

[jman2004]

Re: Drake

I went to the InSU vs Drake game, and I saw so many people there that are "die-hard" Clones and Hawks.

Sad thing is that as soon as they hit a down slide, those die-hards will probably go back to being Clone or Hawk fans. In Des Moines, probably Clone fans.

It's great to see while it lasts though.

[Cat80]

Re: Drake

Watching the Creighton game tonight, I will say UNI has a small chance of defeating Drake. In Des Moines. Much better in CF.

1. UNI continues to get the ball out of bounds slowly after the opponents made basket. This drove me nuts when Mac was at UNI and it still makes no sense. Seeing Creighton get the ball out of bounds after a made Drake basket the past few years is seeing a work of art. Do not let the press get set up!

2. Slow ball movement and minimal dribble penetration will play into Drake's zone. Drake plays the ball well on the perimeter and the free threes of Dr. Tom's days are over. UNI's ball movement is weak.

3. Motors. Drake has them. Drake is playing with ridiculous hustle and great court sense. And that's not something one could say in the past decade? Generation?

4. Drake is getting big juice from the Knapp Center crowd. Not real used to cheering at basketball games, but they are learning. Drake is getting some bird attention, but not as much as some might think. I wouldn't call it pent-up demand, but there is more casual support for Drake in Des Moines than most people think there is. Some of that is translating to ticket sales. Many people remember the glory days at Vets when 10-12k were the norm. In an area of close to 500,000 people, 7,000 isn't that hard to get to.

Just what UNI and the rest of the Valley needs, a Drake coming out of hibernation.

[jman2004]

Re: Drake

Quite frankly, I think the McLeod fans need to get up off their butts. I've been nothing but disappointed in our boring crowd this year. Every time I stand people stare at me like "I'm here to WATCH a game buddy." It gets old. The entire crowd should've been on their feet a number of times last night.

It's like no one knows how to cheer.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Drake

4. Drake is getting big juice from the Knapp Center crowd. Not real used to cheering at basketball games, but they are learning. Drake is getting some bird attention, but not as much as some might think. I wouldn't call it pent-up demand, but there is more casual support for Drake in Des Moines than most people think there is. Some of that is translating to ticket sales. Many people remember the glory days at Vets when 10-12k were the norm. In an area of close to 500,000 people, 7,000 isn't that hard to get to.

I was surprised to find out that there are HUNDREDS of tickets left for UNI v Drake in Des Moines next weekend. I assume it will sell out easily but I honestly thought they'd be all gone by now.