Most Drake fans would say that the start of the men’s basketball season has been a disappointment. A 3-5 record, with losses to Iowa State, SIUE and IUPUI, have highlighted the start to the Bulldog season.
Be patient, Drake fans.
There have been difficult losses to deal with to start the year, but that is what these early games are for. This is a young team, with four, sometimes five, freshmen contributing big minutes in every game.
One thing is certain: These guys have talent. There’s a reason why ESPN rated this freshman class the top recruiting class in the Missouri Valley Conference. Ben Simons is a pure shooter who can really carry a team. Seth VanDeest has stepped right into the starting center role and has played tremendously.
Aaron Hawley has come off the bench and has been instant offense at times, making large contributions in two of Drake’s victories.
David Smith could possibly be the most athletic guard on the team, and Reece Uhlenhopp provides depth in the front court.
Phelps said before the season that these players would play early and often, and he has held true to that statement.
“We’re excited about our freshman,” Head Coach Mark Phelps said at the Drake basketball media day. “They’re going to get thrown right into the fire.”
Another newcomer that has had a strong start to the season is junior transfer Ryan Wedel. Wedel leads the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. He is the Bulldogs’ most potent 3-point shooting threat.
Throw all of these newcomers in with veterans Josh Young, Craig Stanley, Bill Eaddy and Adam Templeton, and Drake is sure to be a contender. Right?
Well, that question hasn’t been answered yet, but I think they will be. It takes time for young, talented players to gel with a veteran core. The goal is to be at your best at the end of the season, not the beginning. Winning is a process, and it takes time to be a consistent winner.
The stretch starts Dec. 19, when Drake travels to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes. Although Iowa is in the midst of a rebuilding season, it is still a Big Ten team. The Bulldogs then come home to face San Diego State on Dec. 22, who nearly missed an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament last season, and made the final four of the NIT tournament.
A week later Drake starts play in the Valley, opening with a home game against Bradley. Bradley has a win against Illinois, who at the time was ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25, on its resume.
Drake also plays at Creighton and Southern Illinois and has a home game against Illinois State before the spring semester begins. Creighton finished second in the conference last year and made the NIT, and are a dark horse to crash the NCAA tournament this year. Southern Illinois is always a force to reckon with in the MVC, and Illinois State may have the best player in the conference in senior guard Osiris Eldridge.
We will find out what the Bulldogs are made of in the next month. A 3-5 start is nothing to get too worried about, and Phelps agrees that that is the approach to take.
“Anger is one letter away from danger,” he said.
I see Josh Young really starting to come into his own as the season continues. I think a lot of the campus is expecting him to score 20+ points a game because he was named to the MVC pre-season team, but teams are making sure to have an eye on him at all time so that won’t be happening as often. I think once we get Wedel, Simons, VanDeest, etc the ball while they are focusing on Josh it’ll lead to a lot of success.
As a Minnesotan, I’m drawing comparisons between Wedel and Blake Hoffarber for the Gophers. When he is hot shooting, he is really hot (IUPUI game), but when he is able to fall into a rut. I think if Wedel, and Simons for that matter, can remain confident more of their shots will start falling.
I think VanDeest will be a threat next year, probably even the end of this year. If he gets stronger in the off-season it will help with his rebounding, something a lot of fans I’ve talked to have said we need work on. Aaron Hawley can help out with rebounding as well, and if he can consistently put up points like he did in the North Dakota game he will be a threat.
I’m predicting the Bulldogs can take both South Dakota and Binghamton this weekend and start the turnaround.
And my prediction was right! Excellent!
That’s a good comparison with Wedel and the kid from Minnesota, but I think Wedel possesses more point guard and ball-handling skills. But you are dead on with the shooting comparison.
I think youre right with everyone’s expectations of JY, and I think he has handled it well by being the team’s floor leader. I have been really impressed with Van Deest and the other freshmen, and they will only get better as the season progresses. Van Deest played very well against Iowa. I would like to see more consistency out of Hawley, but again that is something that will come with time.