The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team begins the backend of its schedule with just six games remaining in the regular season coming into this week. The Bulldogs will have an important pair of games over the next few days as they take on two of the top-five teams in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. On Wednesday, Feb. 12 Drake travels to Normal, Illinois, for a contest against the Illinois State Redbirds and then returns to Des Moines to host Bradley on Sunday, Feb. 16.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs have tied for the second-best start in school history with its 22-2 record (matching the 22-2 start by the 2020-21 squad) and only trailing a 24-1 start by the 2007-08 team and sit in first place in the MVC standings with a league mark of 12-2. Drake's winning percentage (.916) is the best in the nation and Drake's 22 victories are the most by a NCAA Division I team this season. Drake is ranked No. 57 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, owning a 2-0 mark against Quad 1 teams. The Bulldogs also received 21 votes in the latest Associated Press poll.
 
Making a case as one of the most valuable "sixth man" players in the Missouri Valley Conference is Tavion Banks. Banks averages 18.5 minutes per game off the bench, averaging 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 51.7 percent. Banks has scored in double figures in 12 games, including the last three straight and the Bulldogs are 12-0 when he scores in double figures. Banks is averaging 16.0 points off the bench in his last three games, while shooting a sizzling 70.8 percent (17-24) from the floor. He scored a career-high 21 points in a 75-65 victory at Southern Illinois Feb. 1 and followed up with 16 points to spark a 55-45 win at Murray State Feb. 4. But he saved the best in his last game scoring seven of his 11 points in overtime helping Drake topple Indiana State 85-81 Saturday.

While Drake has gained national notoriety for its defense, where it ranks second in the NCAA in scoring defense (58.5), the 2024-25 edition of the Bulldogs ranks as one of the best shooting teams in school history. Drake ranks 15th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.492). The Bulldogs are challenging the school single-season record of .503 set by the 1980-81 Drake team. The Bulldogs have shot 50-percent or better in 12 games this season, including seven of their last eight MVC games. Drake has shot 50 percent or better in the first half of 14 games.
 
Drake Leaders
Bennett Stirtz l 18.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.2 apg
Daniel Abreu l 11.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, .458 FG%
Mitch Mascari l 11.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .455 3pt%

 
Scouting Illinois State
The Redbirds currently sit in fifth place in the MVC standings with an overall record of 15-10 and a league mark of 7-7. Illinois State has gone 5-2 in their last seven games with the pair of losses coming against Bradley and UNI. The Redbirds suffered defeats to the Braves and the Panthers by a combined seven points. Illinois State has played in the most MVC games decided by six points or less (11).
 
The Redbirds are coached by Ryan Pedon, who is in his third season at the helm. Pedon has amassed a record of 41-48 during his tenure in Normal. With one more victory on the season, Pedon will surpass his previous high for wins in a season while at Illinois State.
 
Wednesday marks the 103rd all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Redbirds, with Illinois State leading the series, 61-41. In games that have taken place in Normal, Drake has gone 10-35. The Bulldogs currently have a nine-game win streak against the Redbirds and have gone 9-1 in the last 10 matchups. Drake defeated Illinois State in its most recent contest back on Jan. 15, 66-62, from Des Moines.
 
Illinois State Leaders
Chase Walker l 15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, .588 FG%
Johnny Kinziger l 14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .420 3pt%
Dalton Banks l 9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg
 
Scouting Bradley
The Braves are currently tied with UNI for second place in the league standings with a record of 10-4. Overall, Bradley owns a record of 19-6. The Braves recently went through a three-game skid dropping games to UIC, UNI, and Belmont, but bounced back with a win over Evansville in their most recent outing. Bradley hosts Southern Illinois on Wednesday before making its trip to Des Moines.
 
Brain Wardle is the head coach of the Braves and is in his 10th season at Bradley. While in Peoria, Wardle has tallied a record of 177-144. Previously he served as the head coach at Green Bay where he went 95-65 over five seasons.
 
The rivalry between Drake and Bradley is the oldest in the MVC and Sunday's contest will mark the 168th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Braves have the edge over the Bulldogs in the all-time series, 93-74, but Drake has won five in-a-row, which is its longest win streak over Bradley in the series. The Bulldogs have defended their home court against the Braves over the years owning a 44-30 record in games played from Des Moines.
 
Bradley Leaders
Duke Deen l 13.3 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.4 rpg
Zek Montgomery l 13.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .402 3pt%
Darius Hannah l 11.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .582 FG%
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs remain in Des Moines following their game with Bradley to host UIC on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Drake then travels to Cedar Falls for an in-state showdown against UNI on Sunday, Feb. 23.