Drake's Men's Basketball Schedule

Fourteen home games and the Big Four Classic highlight the 2013-14 Drake men’s basketball schedule, announced Wednesday by first-year coach Ray Giacoletti.

The 30-game slate features 16 games against teams that finished in the top 150 of the RPI last season, including nine dates against RPI top-100 competition.

The Bulldogs will host New Mexico State, Western Michigan, Albany, Nebraska-Omaha and Iowa Wesleyan at the Knapp Center in non-conference action followed by all nine fellow Missouri Valley Conference programs, including league newcomer Loyola. They also take on in-state foe Iowa in the Big Four Classic on Dec. 7 at Wells Fargo Arena coupled with road trips to St. Mary’s and a three-day tournament at Fresno State against the host, Northern Arizona and CSU Bakersfield.

Giacoletti will attack that non-conference schedule with a roster that features five newcomers and eight other experienced players, including a pair of full-time starters in senior guard Richard Carter and senior center Seth Van Deest.

Fans will get their first look at the Bulldogs under Giacoletti on Nov. 3 with an exhibition game against  Central College at 2:05 p.m. Less than a week later, the season tips off in earnest and the squad gets it first road test of the season with a visit to Illinois at Chicago (UIC) of the Horizon League on Nov. 9.

Drake opens its home schedule three days later against Iowa Wesleyan. A return visit to St. Mary’s on Nov. 16. follows, before returning home to host Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 23. Four games away from the Knapp Center follow with three contests at the Fresno State Classic and the Dec. 7 date against Iowa in the Big Four Classic.

The Bulldogs stay at home for the bulk of December with a three-game homestand before the holiday break against New Mexico State, Western Michigan and Albany on Dec. 14, 18 and 23, respectively. The squad hits the road for its final non-conference tune-up, a Dec. 29 meeting at IUPUI.

The Valley schedule gets under way at home on New Year’s Day with Evansville visiting the Knapp Center followed by the team’s first league road game at Bradley on Jan. 4. The Bulldogs welcomes 2013 NCAA Final Four participant Wichita State to the Knapp Center on Jan. 25 as part of a two-game homestand, the only one on its Valley schedule, capped by a visit from Missouri State. Tipoff times for all home Valley games will be announced with the finalization of the league’s television package in the coming weeks.

League newcomer Loyola is also on the slate twice with Drake traveling to Chicago on Jan. 15 and welcoming the Ramblers to Des Moines on Feb. 15. That Feb. 15 date begins the homestretch of the Valley schedule with the Bulldogs playing three of their final league games at home including the regular-season finale against Bradley on March 1.

The Valley tournament is set for the following week, March 6-9, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

To reserve your tickets for the 2013-14 season, visit www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com or call 515-271-DOGS.

 The Schedule:

   

Nov. 3            Central College (Exh.)                               Des Moines, Iowa                                      2:05 p.m.

Nov. 9            at UIC                                                             Chicago, Ill.                                                     7 p.m.

Nov. 12          Iowa Wesleyan                                            Des Moines, Iowa                                      7:05 p.m.

Nov. 16          at St. Mary’s                                                  Moraga, Calif.                                                   TBA

Nov. 23          Nebraska-Omaha                                      Des Moines, Iowa                                         1 p.m.

Nov. 29          at Fresno State #                                         Fresno, Calif.                                                    TBA

Nov. 30          vs. Northern Arizona #                                Fresno, Calif.                                                    TBA

Dec. 1            vs. CSU Bakersfield #                                Fresno, Calif.                                                    TBA

Dec. 7            vs. Iowa &                                                      Des Moines, Iowa                                            TBA                                   

Dec. 14          New Mexico State                                      Des Moines, Iowa                                      7:05 p.m.

Dec. 18          Western Michigan                                      Des Moines, Iowa                                      7:05 p.m.

Dec. 23          Albany                                                           Des Moines, Iowa                                      7:05 p.m.

Dec. 29          at IUPUI                                                         Indianapolis, Ind.                                             TBA

Jan. 1             Evansville *                                                  Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Jan. 4             at Bradley *                                                   Peoria, Ill.                                                          TBA

Jan. 8             Indiana State *                                             Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Jan. 11           at UNI *                                                          Cedar Falls, Iowa                                             TBA

Jan. 15           at Loyola *                                                     Chicago, Ill.                                                       TBA

Jan. 18          Illinois State *                                              Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Jan. 22           at Southern Illinois *                                    Carbondale, Ill.                                                 TBA

Jan. 25          Wichita State *                                            Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Jan. 29          Missouri State *                                          Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Feb. 1             at Illinois State *                                           Normal, Ill.                                                         TBA

Feb. 4             Southern Illinois *                                       Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Feb. 9             at Indiana State *                                         Terre Haute, Ind.                                              TBA

Feb. 12          at Missouri State *                                       Springfield, Mo.                                                TBA

Feb. 15          Loyola *                                                         Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Feb. 18          UNI                                                                 Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

Feb. 22          at Wichita State *                                         Wichita, Kan.                                                     TBA

Feb. 25          at Evansville *                                              Evansville, Ind.                                                 TBA

March 1         Bradley *                                                       Des Moines, Iowa                                           TBA

March 6-9      MVC Conference Tournament                 St. Louis, Mo.

# Fresno State Classic

& Big Four Classic

* Missouri Valley contest

(All times central)                    

--Ty Patton, Drake's athletic athletic director for communications                                           

An ESPN.com Take On the Hawkeyes

By JOSH MEYER

ESPN.com

 

Kirk Ferentz looked like a politician Tuesday as he leaned forward, wearing a red tie, and fielded questions about his Iowa Hawkeyes. He alternated between taking sips of coffee and water, while topics ranged from Jake Rudock's interceptions to the lack of a pass rush.

Despite everything that was discussed, Tuesday's news conference basically revolved around one simple theme: Is losing a 30-27 game to MAC school Northern Illinois part of the new normal for Iowa?
The Hawkeyes' longtime coach has more questions than answers right now. Surely he'd like to think this is just part of some unlucky trend -- one that's seen him lose five times by a field goal or less in the last 12 games -- but the point is it's a losing trend. And Ferentz hasn't yet found a way to reverse it.
Iowa fell to Central Michigan last season 32-31, and lost to the Huskies on Saturday. Ferentz last lost to a MAC team in 2007. Before that? In 2000, his second year as head coach.
Maybe Ferentz's best days are behind him; maybe not. That's not something that was answered by just the Northern Illinois game, a matchup that pitted the best player in the MAC -- dual-threat QB Jordan Lynch -- against a defense that averaged about a sack a game in 2012.
But Ferentz knows what his team has to do to find a favorable solution. The Hawkeyes must pick up the pieces and limit turnovers and big plays.
"The next step," he said, "is you need to learn how to win."
This is just the first bell in a 12-round bout, but the Hawkeyes are reeling right now. This loss isn't nearly on the same scale as other upsets over the weekend. It's still painful, but Iowa isn't South Florida. There are still reasons for fans clad in black and yellow to cheer.
For one, this offense might not be near the best in the Big Ten -- but it's no longer anemic. It rushed for 202 yards Saturday, a full 99 yards more than last season's average. Mark Weisman reached the century mark rushing and averaged 5 yards a carry.
Rudock tossed an interception that led to the Huskies' game-winning field goal, but he threw for 256 yards -- 69 yards more than the Iowa norm in 2012. So what, then, is holding this offense back? Why did it manage to score only two touchdowns?
No doubt Ferentz will be breaking down the film and looking for answers. But offensive coordinator Greg Davis needs to take some of the blame here. He curiously abstained from using his running backs on third-and-short during the second half and, on a key third-and-9 play late in the game, he called Kevonte Martin-Manley's number ... on a bubble screen. The play went for 1 yard.
The pass-rush seems nonexistent and the secondary is still adjusting without Micah Hyde. But after the first game, this doesn't appear to be a bad team -- at least not worse than last year. It's a losing team right now, but there is a difference.
Ferentz will continue to field these questions until winning once again becomes a trend. Iowa should get an easy victory in Week 2 from Missouri State. But the hopes for a successful season seem pinned on Week 3, at Iowa State.
Iowa didn't pass its first test, but it showed potential. If it fails another, if improvement doesn't translate into victories, the questions might stop -- but Ferentz won't like the answers.

Woody Allen Should Find a New Line Of Work

By RON MALY

Update on Blue Jasmine, the generally-depressing movie four of us saw this afternoon at the Varsity Theater. Cate Blanchett turned in  a wonderful performance as Jasmine, and may indeed come

Woody Allen

away with an Academy Award. But the Oscars won't be given out until  early next year, and I'm sure there will be plenty of superb acting performances turned in before then. So it's much too early to say Cate is a sure-fire winner. As for Woody Allen's movie, all of us can see the same crappy stuff on ABC-TV regularly throughout the week. I'm glad the movie cost us only $5 apiece. Anything else would have been too much.   Something tells me Allen should look for another job. By the way, my lunch at the Drake Diner--a blackened salmon sandwich on a wheat bun, with sweet potato fries and something the waitress called honey jalapeno sauce--was outstanding.

And a Very Happy Labor Day To You, Too

By RON MALY

My neighbor Al, the health nut and rabid Northern Iowa football fan, won't like this. I received an

e-mail this morning from a reader who calls himself  "Longtime Viking." Longtime writes: "Ron, I've got it figured out that my Grand View Vikings will, for the first time, win the mythical collegiate state football championship. They got the season off to a rollicking start last week by beating Drake. Then Northern Iowa pulled off its big upset Saturday at Iowa State. This week, Drake will come away with an even bigger shocker by winning at UNI. Later, Iowa State will beat Iowa. After all of that, Grand View will be the only unbeaten team in games involving our state's teams. Consequently, the Vikings will be state champs." All I can say, Longtime, is that I hope you didn't stay up all night thinking about that scenario. If you did, maybe you had one too many Coronas. But great hearing from you, and have a wonderful Labor Day. As for my holiday plans, four of us are having what could either be labeled a late breakfast or early lunch at the Drake Diner,

followed by a trip to the Varsity Theater to watch Woody Allen's new movie, Blue Jasmine. I'll decide if Cate Blanchett turns in an Academy Award performance. Happy Labor Day to everyone.

Big Victory, $350,000 Payday for UNI At Ames

Big paydays. Even bigger upsets. That is exactly what the seven FCS teams that won on the road against FBS teams got through Saturday as the college football season opened in earnest.

The best way to sum up the FCS over FBS upsets that kicked off the new season in rollicking fashion? Surprising but not shocking.  From ESPN Stats & Info, and reported by ESPN.com: 

 

• 4 FCS teams won against FBS teams Saturday alone, bringing the total to 7 for Week 1. It's the most victories by FCS schools over FBS schools in a single week since 2000.


• Perhaps the biggest shocker was Eastern Washington winning at No. 25 Oregon State. It marked just the third time since 2000 that an FCS school beat a ranked FBS school.


• McNeese State won in dominating fashion, 53-21 at South Florida. The 32-point victory is the largest by an FCS school over an FBS school since Troy beat Louisiana-Monroe by 32 in 2001.


• Could it continue this week? Sam Houston State --- a 74-0 winner over Houston Baptist on Saturday -- plays at Texas A&M. 

The seven FCS teams raked in a total of $2.375 million, ranging from $225,000 to $450,000 each.

Eastern Washington became only the third FCS (formerly Division I-AA) team to beat a ranked FBS team, knocking off No. 25 Oregon State 49-45. In similarly stunning fashion, North Dakota State shocked defending co-Big 12 champion Kansas State 24-21 on Friday.

McNeese State routed South Florida 53-21, the most points scored by an FCS team against an FBS opponent. Also, Eastern Illinois dominated San Diego State 40-19, Northern Iowa beat Iowa State 28-20, Towson defeated UConn 33-18 and Southern Utah edged South Alabama 22-21.

The breakdown of payouts each team received from its FBS opponent (note: the NCAA recognizes eight FCS-FBS upsets, including Samford over Georgia State, but Georgia State is transitioning from FCS to FBS designation and is not yet an FBS member):

• Eastern Washington, $450,000 from Oregon State.

• McNeese State, $400,000 from South Florida.

• North Dakota State, $350,000 from Kansas State.

• Northern Iowa, $350,000 from Iowa State.

• Eastern Illinois, $325,000 from San Diego State.

• Towson, $275,000 from UConn.

• Southern Utah, $225,000 from South Alabama.

My neighbor Al, the health nut, was at the front door late this afternoon, saying he was in need of a cup of Italian Dark Roast. "You seem to be in a festive mood," I told Al. "Damn right," he answered. "I'm still celebrating UNI's victory last night over the Clones. It used to be whenever we beat Iowa State, it cost the Clones their coach. I remember when Terry Allen used to beat Jim Walden, then ol' Jimbo was toast shortly thereafter. But, actually, I feel good just winning last night's game. I didn't want it to cost a coach or an athletic director his job at Ames." And, really, ISU is my second-favorite team. I root for 'em in every game, unless they're playing UNI." Al didn't go to the Panthers' 28-20 victory last night, but listened on the radio. "I was anxious to see what they said about it on the late-night TV news," he said, "but got a little upset when I heard what the channel 8 announcer said. "What did he say, Al?" I asked. "Oh, hell, he was crying and screaming that Iowa had already lost to Northern Illinois earlier in the day,and that if Iowa State didn't beat UNI neither of the 'state' schools would be victorious. I guess he forgot that UNI is a state school, too." I asked Al who the announcer was. "I don't know, some clown who probably got his diploma from DMAAC," Al said. "He was one of the weekend announcers, of course, and he'll no doubt be on again tonight. Come to think of it, I now remember that the guy's name was Reister or Rooster. "Well, I know they've go t a guy named Scott Reister there. If it wasn't him you heard, I'm sure he'll let me know. I'd advise you to cool off, Al," said. "Be happy your team won. And, by the way, there's nothing wrong with DMAAC. They turn out good students over there." Before he finished his coffee, Al said he wasn't happy about what he read in the paper about the UNI-ISU game. "I always read the rag at Hy-Vee, and got pissed the minute I saw the headline on page 1," he said. It read, STATE OF SHOCK--Cyclones Suffer Stunning Home Loss At the Hands Of Northern Iowa." I said, "What did you expect, Al? Newspapering is a dead business, and so is the product."

Kurt Warner Salutes UNI, His Alma Mater, On Twitter

Kurt Warner ‏@kurt13warner 15h

A big Congrats to my alma mater @UNIFootball on their win vs Iowa State, huge victory 2 start season! Well done fellas!