2017–18 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Drake University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by first-year head coach Niko Medved. They played their home games at Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 17–17, 10–8 in MVC play to finish in to finish in a tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament to Bradley. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Abilene Christian in the first round in a game referred to as the Lou Henson Classic. In the second round they were defeated by Northern Colorado.

2017–18 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball
Lou Henson Classic champions
CIT, Second round
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
2017–18 record17–17 (10–8 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaKnapp Center
2017–18 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Loyola–Chicago †15–3 .833  32–6  .842
Southern Illinois11–7 .611  20–13  .606
Illinois State10–8 .556  18–15  .545
Drake10–8 .556  17–17  .500
Bradley9–9 .500  20–13  .606
Indiana State8–10 .444  13–18  .419
Missouri State7–11 .389  18–15  .545
Evansville7–11 .389  17–15  .531
Northern Iowa7–11 .389  16–16  .500
Valparaiso6–12 .333  15–17  .469
† 2018 MVC Tournament winner

On March 22, 2018, it was announced that head coach Niko Medved had accepted the head coaching position at Colorado State, where he had previously served as an assistant.[1][2] A week after Medved's departure, Drake hired Creighton assistant and Iowa native Darian DeVries for the head coaching job.[3]

Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the 2016–17 season They finished the season 7–24, 5–13 to finish in a tie for ninth place in MVC play. They lost in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to Bradley.

Fourth-year head coach Ray Giacoletti resigned on December 6, 2016 after the first eight games of the season.[4] Assistant coach Jeff Rutter was named interim head coach.[4] Following the season, the school chose not to keep Jeff Rutter as head coach and hired Niko Medved, former head coach at Furman, as the Bulldogs' new head coach.[5]

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Bill Wampler2F6'6"200SophomoreEau Claire, WITransferred to Wright State
T. J. Thomas10F6'8"205JuniorStone Mountain, GALeft the team due to personal reasons
Jacob Enevold11C7'0"246SeniorLunderskov, DenmarkGraduated
A. J. Rutter14G6'1"180RS JuniorAmes, IAWalk-on; didn't return
Will Halfon21G6'2"200FreshmanGreenwood Village, COWalk-on; didn't return
Nick Girardi24G6'4"180FreshmanFort Collins, COWalk-on; didn't return
Johannes Dolven25F6'8"230RS FreshmanOslo, NorwayTransferred to Barry

2017 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jalen Gibbs
SG		 Waldorf, Md North Point High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A Apr 25, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Noah Thomas
PG		 Sydney, Australia 22Ft Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) N/A May 6, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Antonio Pilipovic
SF		 Cologne, Germany RheinStars Köln 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jul 13, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2017-10-01.

    2018 recruiting class

    Preseason

    In the conference's preseason poll, the Bulldogs were picked to finish in last place in the MVC.[6] Senior guard Reed Timmer was named to the preseason All-MVC first team.[6]

    Roster
    2017–18 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 C. J. Rivers 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)187 lb (85 kg) SrCahokia Cahokia, IL
    G 1 Samm Jones (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS FrNorthwestern
    De La Salle    		 Minneapolis, MN
    G 2 Jalen Gibbs 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrNorth Point Waldorf, MD
    G 3 Graham Woodward 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)182 lb (83 kg) RS SrPenn State
    Edina HS    		 Edina, MN
    G 4 De'Antae McMurray 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) SrSouthwestern Illinois College
    Alton HS    		 Alton, IL
    F 11 Antonio Pilipovic 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrRheinStars Köln Cologne, Germany
    G 12 Reed Timmer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrEisenhower New Berlin, WI
    G 14 Noah Thomas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) Fr22 Ft Academy Sydney, Australia
    F 22 Casey Schlatter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)207 lb (94 kg) RS JrIowa Falls Alden Iowa Falls, IA
    G 23 Ore Arogundade 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrSt. Viator Arlington Heights, IL
    G 25 Connor Gholson (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrNewton Newton, IA
    F/C 32 Kory Kuenstling 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)234 lb (106 kg) RS JrDunkerton Dunkerton, IA
    F 35 Nick McGlynn 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)223 lb (101 kg) JrStoughton Stoughton, WI
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    November 4, 2017*
    1:00 pm    		 Minnesota–Crookston W 86–73 
    		Knapp Center (2,062)
    Des Moines, IA
    Non-conference regular season
    November 11, 2017*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Coe W 101–54  1–0
    		 Knapp Center (2,685)
    Des Moines, IA
    November 17, 2017*
    7:30 pm    		 vs. Wake Forest
    Paradise Jam quarterfinals[lower-alpha 1][8]    		 W 77–74  2–0
    		 Vines Center (586)
    Lynchburg, VA
    November 18, 2017*
    7:30 pm    		 vs. Colorado
    Paradise Jam semifinals    		 L 81–86  2–1
    		 Vines Center (568)
    Lynchburg, VA
    November 19, 2017*
    5:00 pm    		 vs. Drexel
    Paradise Jam 3rd place game    		 W 90–88 2OT 3–1
    		 Vines Center (577)
    Lynchburg, VA
    November 26, 2017*
    2:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Chicago State W 79–67  4–1
    		 Knapp Center (2,386)
    Des Moines, IA
    November 29, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 at Omaha L 73–75  4–2
    		 Baxter Arena (1,525)
    Omaha, NE
    December 2, 2017*
    5:00 pm    		 at Wyoming
    MW–MVC Challenge    		 L 89–96 2OT 4–3
    		 Arena-Auditorium (4,853)
    Laramie, WY
    December 6, 2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at South Dakota L 65–93  4–4
    		 Sanford Coyote Sports Center (2,101)
    Vermillion, SD
    December 9, 2017*
    5:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Omaha W 93–74  5–4
    		 Knapp Center (2,718)
    Des Moines, IA
    December 11, 2017*
    7:00 pm, BTN    		 at Minnesota L 67–68  5–5
    		 Williams Arena (11,319)
    Minneapolis, MN
    December 16, 2017*
    1:00 pm, BTN    		 vs. Iowa
    Hy-Vee Classic    		 L 64–90  5–6
    		 Wells Fargo Arena (13,828)
    Des Moines, IA
    December 19, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 at South Dakota State L 74–87  5–7
    		 Frost Arena (1,525)
    Brookings, SD
    December 22, 2017*
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Maryland Eastern Shore W 81–57  6–7
    		 Knapp Center (2,214)
    Des Moines, IA
    MVC regular season
    December 28, 2017
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Bradley W 66–64  7–7
    (1–0)    		 Knapp Center (2,611)
    Des Moines, IA
    December 31, 2017
    3:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Southern Illinois W 70–67  8–7
    (2–0)    		 SIU Arena (4,230)
    Carbondale, IL
    January 3, 2018
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Illinois State W 87–62  9–7
    (3–0)    		 Knapp Center (3,113)
    Des Moines, IA
    January 6, 2018
    1:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Indiana State W 75–72  10–7
    (4–0)    		 Hulman Center (3,249)
    Terre Haute, IN
    January 10, 2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Valparaiso L 60–77  10–8
    (4–1)    		 Athletics–Recreation Center (2,710)
    Valparaiso, IN
    January 13, 2018
    2:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Evansville W 81–65  11–8
    (5–1)    		 Knapp Center (3,313)
    Des Moines, IA
    January 16, 2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Northern Iowa L 54–68  11–9
    (5–2)    		 McLeod Center (3,880)
    Cedar Falls, IA
    January 20, 2018
    3:00 pm, FSMW/NBCSC    		 Missouri State W 61–58  12–9
    (6–2)    		 Knapp Center (3,647)
    Des Moines, IA
    January 24, 2018
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Loyola–Chicago L 57–80  12–10
    (6–3)    		 Knapp Center (3,522)
    Des Moines, IA
    January 27, 2018
    1:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Evansville L 73–77  12–11
    (6–4)    		 Ford Center (4,295)
    Evansville, IN
    January 30, 2018
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Southern Illinois L 67–78  12–12
    (6–5)    		 Knapp Center (3,198)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 3, 2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Bradley W 78–68  13–12
    (7–5)    		 Carver Arena (7,793)
    Peoria, IL
    February 7, 2018
    7:00 pm, NBCSC    		 at Loyola–Chicago L 57–72  13–13
    (7–6)    		 Joseph J. Gentile Arena (2,802)
    Chicago, IL
    February 10, 2018
    3:00 pm, FSMW    		 Northern Iowa W 71–64  14–13
    (8–6)    		 Knapp Center (5,121)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 14, 2018
    7:00 pm, MC22/ESPN3    		 Indiana State W 90–76  15–13
    (9–6)    		 Knapp Center (2,617)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 18, 2018
    3:00 pm, ESPNU    		 at Missouri State W 67–63  16–13
    (10–6)    		 JQH Arena (4,859)
    Springfield, MO
    February 21, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 at Illinois State L 81–89 OT 16–14
    (10–7)    		 Redbird Arena (5,028)
    Normal, IL
    February 24, 2018
    2:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Valparaiso L 64–69  16–15
    (10–8)    		 Knapp Center (4,025)
    Des Moines, IA
    MVC Tournament
    March 2, 2018
    2:30 pm, ESPN3    		 (4) vs. (5) Bradley
    Quarterfinals    		 L 61–63  16–16
    		 Scottrade Center (6,410)
    St. Louis, MO
    CIT
    March 12, 2018*
    1:00 pm, CBSSN    		 Abilene Christian
    First round – Lou Henson Classic    		 W 80–73 OT 17–16
    		 Knapp Center (3,565)
    Des Moines, IA
    March 18, 2018*
    4:00 pm    		 at Northern Colorado
    Second round    		 L 72–81  17–17
    		 Bank of Colorado Arena (1,074)
    Greeley, CO
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.
    1. The tournament was originally scheduled for the Sports and Fitness Center in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, but was moved due to damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Organizers decided to solicit hosting bids from the eight participating teams, with Liberty selected as the substitute host on September 29.[7]

    References
    1. Star, Sean (March 22, 2018). "Colorado State set to hire Niko Medved as its men's basketball head coach". Reporter-Herald. Loveland, CO. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
    2. "Drake's Niko Medved leaves for Colorado State; Dave Thorson takes over as interim coach". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
    3. Bain, Matthew (March 29, 2018). "Drake hires Creighton assistant Darian DeVries as head men's basketball coach". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
    4. "Drake's Giacoletti resigns: 'I think it's time for a new voice'". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
    5. "Jeff Rutter feels he was treated 'fairly and seriously' during Drake search". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
    6. "Missouri State Picked to Win MVC Men's Basketball". Retrieved 2017-10-24.
    7. "Storm damage forces Paradise Jam from Virgin Islands; host site to be named next week". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
    8. https://www.midmajormadness.com/2017/9/29/16387068/paradise-jam-liberty-university-tournament-site
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