The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team heads into the new year with a pair of contests as it continues its early slate of Missouri Valley Conference games. The Bulldogs are next slated for a New Years Day matchup with UIC and then will return home to host the Murray State Racers on Jan. 5.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake remains just one of four teams in the country that is undefeated after improving its record to 12-0 overall on the season defeating Green Bay in its non-conference finale, 72-62, on Dec. 21 and securing its second MVC win taking down Belmont, 65-46, on Dec. 29.
The Bulldog's defense has proven to be one of the best in the country through the first two months of the season. Drake is currently ranked second in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 56.2 points per game and ranks 27th in three-point field goal percentage defense with opponents shooting just 28.5 percent beyond the arc.
Drake has held 10 of 12 opponents to season lows in scoring at the time when it played those teams: York (41), Stephen F. Austin (51), Florida Gulf Coast (61), Miami (69), Florida Atlantic (63), Vanderbilt (70), Georgia Southern (47), Valpo (60), St. Ambrose (35), and Belmont (46).
The Bulldogs are led by
Bennett Stirtz who is one of only two men's Division I players to average 17.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game this season. The junior finds himself in rare company as only eight players over the past 20 seasons (and four in the past 10 seasons) have averaged that statistical line. Stirtz also leads the NCAA in minutes played (37:42). Other key contributors for the Bulldogs on the offensive end have been
Daniel Abreu (12.6 ppg) and
Mitch Mascari (12.3 ppg) while
Cam Manyawu leads the team in rebounds (6.5 rpg).
Drake Leaders
Bennett Stirtz l 17.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.6 apg
Daniel Abreu l 12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .456 FG%
Mitch Mascari l 12.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .494 3pt%
Scouting UIC
The Flames own an overall record of 8-4 as they welcome Drake to the Windy City on New Years Day. UIC has won four straight contests and picked up its first conference win of the season its last time out against Illinois State. The Flames lost their conference opener to UNI back on Dec. 4.
UIC is led by head coach Rob Ehsan who is in his first year leading the program. Prior to taking the helm in Chicago, Ehsan spent four seasons at UAB and complied a record of 76-57.
In the all-time series between Drake and UIC the Bulldogs have the advantage at a mark of 10-2. Drake has won five straight against the Flames highlighted by last seasons 107-105 three overtime marathon. The Bulldogs have gone 4-1 in games played from the Windy City against UIC.
UIC Leaders
Sasa Ciani l 12.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, .525 FG%
Javon Jackson l 12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 25 stl
Ahmad Henderson II l 11.1 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.7 rpg
Scouting Murray State
The Racers currently own a record of 7-6 and are 1-1 in conference play. Murray State spent the Christmas Holiday at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic where it went 1-2 falling to Nebraska and Charlotte but picked up a win over Loyola-Chicago. The Racers will host Illinois State before making their trip to Des Moines.
Head coach Steve Prohm is in his second stint at Murray State previously leading the program from 2011-15. In between his time at Murray State, Prohm was the head coach at Iowa State where he went 97-95 over six seasons. Overall, he has a career record of 237-165 in 13 seasons.
The Bulldogs and the Racers have faced off seven times previously and Drake owns the series advantage, 5-2. Drake's five wins over Murray State have been consecutive and all have come within the past five seasons.
Murray State Leaders
JaCobi Wood l 13.6 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.9 rpg
Kylen Milton l 12.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .468 FG%
AJ Ferguson l 12.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .542 FG%
Up Next
Drake will take to the road to challenge Preseason MVC favorite Bradley on Jan. 8 followed by a home contest versus Evansville on Jan. 11.
