DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's basketball team officially opens its 2017-18 season under first-year head coach Niko Medved Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs welcome Coe College to the Knapp Center for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The contest will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3.
 
After officially being named head coach March 26, 2017, Medved inherited a veteran roster that features five seniors and three others that have spent at least two years at Drake. Medved also added five newcomers to round out the 2017-18 roster. The Bulldogs return an honorable mention All-MVC player in senior Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.). Timmer enters his senior season already ranked in the top 10 in career scoring at Drake with more than 1,300 career points and his 121 career three-pointers rank just outside the top-10.
 
In its lone exhibition game of the season, Drake defeated Minnesota Crookston 86-73. Junior Nick McGlynn (Stoughton, Wis.) led the Bulldogs with 18 points on an 8-of-8 shooting performance. Senior Ore Arogundade (Chicago, Ill.), junior Casey Schlatter (Iowa Falls, Iowa) and Timmer also added double-digit performances with 14, 13, and 11 points each, respectively. Arogundade also added a team-high six assists while McGlynn, Schlatter and freshman Jalen Gibbs (Waldorf, Md.) tied for a team-high five rebounds.
 
Coe College opens their season at the Knapp Center returning 14 players from a team that went 10-15 a year ago. The Kohawks add seven freshman to their roster this year.
 
Following the home opener, Drake will travel to Lynchburg, Va. for the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Bulldogs will open the tournament Nov. 17 against 2017 NCAA Tournament participant Wake Forest. The game will be broadcast on 1350 ESPN Des Moines and is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.