FRESHMAN FOREWARD BEN SIMONS jumps above awaiting Iowa State opponents in a game the Bulldogs lost 70-90. Simons and his fellow first-year athletes have brought a youthful vitality to the team that will be key in Drake’s success this season. Photo: Sarah Andrews
The Drake basketball team will take on South Dakota and Binghamton on Friday and Saturday at the Knapp Center in the Drake Invitational. The Bulldogs are coming off a win against North Dakota from the second round of the Hy-Vee Classic this past Saturday and hold a record of 3-5.
Drake lost the opener of the Hy-Vee Classic to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville last Friday, but Head Coach Mark Phelps said he was proud of the team’s response.
“I give the guys a lot of credit for bouncing back,” he said.
The Bulldogs will face South Dakota, part of the Great West conference, Friday. The Coyotes are coming off a massive 111-59 win over South Dakota State and stand at 5-3. Jake Thomas leads South Dakota in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. Tyler Cain is the leading rebounder with 7.3 per game, while contributing 13.6 points.
Binghamton has had a wild ride in the past year. The team made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance last season, by winning the America East conference tournament over Vermont.
Binghamton lost to Duke in the first round. In the offseason, recruiting and academic controversies arose which resulted in the dismissal of six players from the team. The Bearcats have struggled so far this season, going 3-6 in their opening games.
Transfer player Ryan Wedel leads Drake in scoring with 14 points per game. Senior Josh Young is averaging only 10 points per game, but finished with 17 against North Dakota. Phelps said he was satisfied with the play of his star senior.
“He is a guy with a lot of pride,” Phelps said. “He is leaving a great legacy here at Drake.”
Drake will have to rely on its strong shooting, as the team has shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc this season, and 77.3 percent at the line.
USD defeated Dakota State and NAIA school in Madison, SD not South Dakota State University the first and largest DI school in SD located in Brookings. It would be appropriate to note and correct this error.
University of South Dakota’s (USD’s) last win was over Dakota State Univerity (DSU), not South Dakota State University (SDSU). DSU is a NAIA school. SDSU is Division 1 and a member of the Summit League. USD and SDSU have not played in men’s basketball this year.
If you actually took the time too look at the schedule, you would see South Dakota is not scheduled to play South Dakota State as wrongly stated in your article.
Check your story. USD has NOT played South Dakota State and if they did, SDSU would win handily. USD and SDSU men have not played basketball for several years.
Drake’s Sports Information Director was hired away from USD. Ask him (Mike Mahon).
My mistake, I did mean Dakota State and not South Dakota State. It would be odd for SD to wipe the floor with the state’s best division I school. I apologize.