The Basics
After defeating Louisiana, 76-64 this past Saturday, the 6-0 Drake men's basketball team opens Missouri Valley Conference play at Indiana State on Wednesday (Nov. 30) before welcoming UIC to the Valley and the Knapp Center on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Broadcast Information
Wednesday's game at Indiana State will be televised on the MVC TV Network including Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Indiana Extra and NBC Sports Chicago Plus. The ESPN+ simulcast of Wednesday's game will be blacked out in the six-state footprint of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Saturday's game versus UIC will be televised locally on Mediacom MC22 and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
102.1/1350 ESPN Des Moines is back at the radio home of Drake men's basketball and all Drake men's basketball games are streamed via The Varsity Network App.
Scouting Indiana State
The Sycamores are off to a 6-1 start in 2022-23 with their only loss coming against Kansas City, 63-61 on Nov. 22 in the Gulf Coast Showcase semifinals. Indiana State defeated East Carolina, 79-75 in the qiarterfinals and finished its stay in Estero, Fla., with a 85-81 victory over Drexel on Nov. 23.
Indiana State is coming off a dominant 105-68 home win over Trinity Christian (NAIA) on Sunday, Nov. 27. Six Sycamores scored in double figures including freshman center Robbie Avila posting a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
DePaul transfer guard Courvoisier McCauley paces Indiana State with 18.0 points per game and 6.2 rebounds a contest. He delivered 30 points in a win versus North Dakota State on Nov. 17. McCauley is reuniting with head coach Josh Schertz, whom he played for at Lincoln Memorial from 2018-20.
Senior guards Cameron Henry (10.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 21 assists, 10 steals) and Cooper Neese (10.7 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game) return for the Sycamores.
Indiana State was predicted to finish seventh in the 2022-23 MVC Preseason Poll. The Sycamores finished the 2021-22 campaign with an 11-20 overall record including a 4-14 mark in The Valley.
After an ultra-successful 13-year run at Lincoln Memorial, Josh Schertz is back for year two in Terre Haute.
Series vs. Indiana State
Drake now controls the all-time series, 48-47, having won four consecutive games against the Sycamores.
Scouting UIC
In its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the Flames are off to a 5-2 start on the hardwood entering Wednesday's showdown at Missouri State.
Previously in the Horizon League, UIC had a 14-16 overall record in 2021-22 including a 9-10 league mark.
Guards Tre Anderson (16.6 points per game, 31 assists) and Jace Carter (16.3 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game) fuel this Flames team. UIC heads into Wednesday on a three-game winning streak including victories over Stonehill, Holy Cross and Green Bay. Anderson poured in a game-high 25 points in the 78-64 win at Green Bay while Toby Okani added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Former Michigan and Texas assistant coach Luke Yaklich is in his third season at the helm of the UIC men's basketball program. Former Drake guard C.J. Rivers is on Yaklich's staff as an assistant coach.
Scouting UIC
Drake leads the all-time series, 7-2 having last met on Nov. 28, 2015 in the Knapp Center when the Bulldogs won 83-62.
2022-23 MVC Preseason Poll
Pl. Points
1. Drake (52) .. 646
2. Bradley (1) .. 542
3. Southern Illinois (1) .. 537
4. Missouri State .. 418
5. UNI .. 416
6. Belmont .. 388
7. Indiana State .. 344
8. Murray State .. 324
9. Valparaiso .. 234
10. Illinois State .. 186
11. UIC .. 109
12. Evansville .. 68
Remaining Unbeaten Teams
As of Tuesday, Nov. 29, Drake is one of 18 remaining Undefeated Teams in NCAA Division I men's basketball.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to non-conference play hosting Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
