2007-08 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team

NCAATeamSeason
Mode=Basketball
Year=2007-08
Prev year=2006-07
Next year=2008-09
Team=Drake Bulldogs


Conference=Missouri Valley Conference
Division=
ShortConference=MVC
CoachRank=23
APRank=14
Record=28-5
ConfRecord=15-3
HeadCoach=Keno Davis
AsstCoach1=Chris Davis
AsstCoach2=Rodell Davis
AsstCoach3=Justin Ohl
StadiumArena=Knapp Center
Champion=MVC Regular Season Champions
MVC Tournament Champions
BowlTourney=1st Round vs. Western Kentucky
BowlTourneyResult=L, 101-99

The 2007-08 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University in the 2007-08 college basketball season. The team was led by first-year head coach Keno Davis. In 2006–07, the Bulldogs finished 17-15 (6-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference). Drake improved upon their first winning season since the 1986-1987 season, making their first NCAA tournament appearance since their run to the Elite Eight in 1971 and their first postseason appearance since their National Invitational Tournament appearance in 1986.

Preseason

The preseason Missouri Valley Conference Coaches' Poll picked the Bulldogs to finish ninth. No Drake players were voted to the preseason first or second teams. It is also noteworthy that Drake only returned one starter from the 2006-07 team that won 17 games, namely shooting guard Josh Young. [cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=36371&SPID=2901&DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=1286125|title=Southern Illinois Picked to Win MVC Men's Basketball Title|publisher=Missouri Valley Conference|accessdate=2007-11-07|date=2007-10-30]

Drake's starters were so lightly-regarded on paper that "ESPN.com" reporter Adam Rittenberg remarked just before the 2008 NCAA tournament that they "not long ago looked better suited for the scout team than the starting lineup":cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/columns/story?id=3296550&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2 |title=Drake's season a remarkable success story |first=Adam |last=Rittenberg |publisher="ESPN.com" |date=2008-03-16 |accessdate=2008-03-17]
* Point guard Adam Emmenecker was a three-year walk-on who only received a scholarship two days before his senior season,cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=2901&SPSID=36371&DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=1403210 |title=Juniors Highlight League's Specialty Award Units |publisher=Missouri Valley Conference |date=2008-03-05 |accessdate=2008-03-09] and had career totals of 64 assists and 57 points entering the 2007-08 season.cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=36371&SPID=2901&DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=1403220 |title=Emmenecker Is Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year |publisher=Missouri Valley Conference |date=2008-03-04 |accessdate=2008-03-09]
* Power forward Jonathan "Bucky" Cox was, like Emmenecker, a former walk-on.
* Shooting guard Leonard Houston was a three-year reserve who had 193 career points entering the season.
* Small forward Klayton Korver missed the 2005-06 season after microfracture knee surgery; while he came back to be a starter at the beginning of the 2006-07 season, he had lost his starting job by season's end.cite web|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71123&SPID=8121&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=865711&Q_SEASON=2007 |title=2007-08 Men's Basketball Roster: #24 Klayton Korver |publisher=Drake University Athletics Department |accessdate=2008-03-17]
* Even returning starter Young was not highly-regarded coming out of high school; all of his 30 scholarship offers were from mid-majors.

Regular season

On December 1, 2007 Drake won the Iowa Realty Invitational with victories over North Carolina Central and Duquesne. On December 8, 2007 Drake won the Drake Regency Classic with victories over Chicago State and Texas-Pan American. On December 14, 2007 Drake broke a 20 year winless streak at Iowa with a 56-51 victory. With the victory Drake improved to 9-1 for the first time since the 1979-80 season. [cite press release|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/SPORTS020504/712150346/1003/SPORTS|title=Big 4 basketball: 40 years later, Drake rules again|publisher=The Des Moines Register|accessdate=2007-12-17|date=2007-12-15] On December 17, 2007 Drake received 6 points in the AP Top 25 poll. That has them ranked T-37th in the nation. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=7|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Dec. 17)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2007-12-17|date=2007-12-17] The last time Drake was ranked was March 16, 1971. [cite press release|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/SPORTS020403/71217045/1003/SPORTS|title=Drake basketball: Bulldogs receive votes in Top 25 poll|publisher=The Des Moines Register|accessdate=2007-12-17|date=2007-12-17] On December 24, 2007 Drake received 3 points in the AP Top 25 poll. That has them ranked T-40th. On December 30, 2007 Drake's RPI rating was 19th in the nation. On December 31, 2007 Drake received 8 points in the AP Top 25 poll. That has them ranked T-35th. On January 2, 2007 Drake won its first game against Southern Illinois since February 17, 1999. Their 11-1 record ties the best start in school history set by the 1969-70 team. [cite press release|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/recap;_ylt=ApiW_AOyNqRAaCtWjgluqR8h07YF?gid=200801020170&prov=ap|title=NCAA Basketball - Southern Illinois Salukis/Drake Bulldogs Recap Wednesday January 2, 2008|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|accessdate=2008-01-03|date=2008-01-02] It is the first 2-0 start by the Bulldogs in the MVC since the 1995-96 season. With the Bulldogs 71-68 win over Evansville on January 6, 2008 they set a new Drake record for the best start in school history with a 12-1 mark. They are 3-0 in the MVC for the first time since the 1982-83 season. [cite press release|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1364181|title=Men's Basketball Team Wins 11th Straight; Off To Best Start In School History|publisher=Drake University|accessdate=2008-01-07|date=2008-01-06] On January 7, 2008 Drake received it's first vote of the year in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=10|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Jan. 7)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-07|date=2008-01-07] They also received season high 22 points in the AP Top 25 poll with a ranking of T-31. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=10|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Jan. 7)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-07|date=2008-01-07] With Drake's victory over Indiana State on January 9, 2008 Drake started 4-0 in the MVC for the first time since 1970. January 10, 2008 Drake's RPI rating was 15th in the nation. On January 12, 2008 Drake won their first game against Missouri State after losing the last 10 games. They also set a school record with a 14-1 mark for the best start in school history. As of before the days game Drake's RPI was 11th in the nation. On January 14, 2008 Drake received 17 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 30th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=11|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Jan. 14)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-14|date=2008-01-14] They also were ranked 26th in the AP Top 25 poll with 75 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=11|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Jan. 14)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-14|date=2008-01-14] On January 19, 2008 Drake improved their record to 16-1 with a victory over Illinois State in what was the first meeting between two teams with 6-0 conference records in Missouri Valley Conference play. [cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7600&ATCLID=1371646|title= Drake Rallies to Win 15th-Straight; Creighton, Southern Illinois, Bradley Also Win|publisher=Missouri Valley Conference|accessdate=2008-01-20|date=2008-01-19] On January 21, 2008 Drake received 92 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 23rd. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=12|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Jan. 21)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-21|date=2008-01-21] They also were ranked 22nd in the AP Top 25 poll with 313 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=12|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Jan. 21)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-21|date=2008-01-21] It is the first time Drake has been ranked since they were ranked 16th in the AP Top 20 poll on March 1975. On January 25, 2008 Drake was ranked 9th in RPI ratings. On January 28, 2008 Drake received 220 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 17th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=13|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Jan. 28)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-28|date=2008-01-28] They also were ranked 16th in the AP Top 25 poll with 616 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=13|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Jan. 28)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-28|date=2008-01-28] On January 30, 2008 with the Drake win over Creighton and the Kansas' loss to Kansas State, Drake now holds the 2nd longest winning streak in the nation at 18 wins in a row. They are second only to Memphis' 20 connsectutive wins. On February 2, 2008 Drake won 20 games in a season for the first time since the 1970-71 season. On February 4, 2008 Drake received 334 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 15th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=14|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Feb. 4)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-04|date=2008-02-04] They also were ranked 15th in the AP Top 25 poll with 817 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=14|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Feb. 4)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-04|date=2008-02-04] On February 9, 2008 Drake extended their winning streak to 21 games. [cite press release|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71124&SPID=8121&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1386562|title=2008 Cox Scores Season High 21 As Basketball Team Wins 21st Straight|publisher=Drake University|accessdate=2008-02-13|date=2008-02-09] On February 11, 2008 Drake received 361 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 15th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=15|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Feb. 11)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-11|date=2008-02-11] They also were ranked 14th in the AP Top 25 poll with 863 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=15|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Feb. 11)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-11|date=2008-02-11] On February 16, 2008 Drake won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship for the first time since the 1970-71 season. [cite press release|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71122&SPID=8121&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1391085|title=2008 Men's Basketball Team Captures First MVC Title Since 1971|publisher=Drake University|accessdate=2008-02-18|date=2008-02-16] Also with the win they now hold the second most wins in Drake history with 23, with the school record being 26 by the 1968-69 team. On February 18, 2008 Drake received 243 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 18th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=16|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Feb. 18)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-18|date=2008-02-18] They also were ranked 16th in the AP Top 25 poll with 612 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=16|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Feb. 18)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-18|date=2008-02-18] On February 23, 2008 with Drake's 71-64 win over No. 8 Butler, they claimed their first win over a top-10 team since a 56-55 home victory over No. 7 Tulsa on February 15, 1982. [cite press release|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71124&SPID=8121&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1396471|title=2008 Men's Basketball Team Holds Off No. 8 Butler|publisher=Drake University|accessdate=2008-02-24|date=2008-02-23] On February 25, 2008 Drake received 259 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 20th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=17|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Feb. 25)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-25|date=2008-02-25] They also were ranked 20th in the AP Top 25 poll with 621 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=17|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Feb. 25)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-02-25|date=2008-02-25] On March 1, 2008 with Drake's win over Wichita State, Drake won it's most games ever in the Missouri Valley Conference with 15. On March 3, 2008 Drake received 116 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 21st. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=18|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Mar. 3)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-03|date=2008-03-03] They also were ranked 20th in the AP Top 25 poll with 346 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=18|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Mar. 3)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-03|date=2008-03-03] The ranking marked the 7th consecutive week Drake was ranked in the AP and Coaches polls. This tied the Drake record set by the 1969-1970 team set from Jan. 27, 1970 through March 10, 1970. This is also the first time a Missouri Valley Conference team has been ranked for seven consecutive weeks since Creighton was ranked during the 2002-2003 season. [cite press release|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1404415|title= Basketball Team Remains Nationally Ranked For Seventh Straight Week|publisher=Drake University|accessdate=2008-03-04|date=2008-03-03] On March 10, 2008 Drake received 235 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 18th. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=2&year=2008&week=19|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Mar. 10)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-10|date=2008-03-10] They also were ranked 16th in the AP Top 25 poll with 672 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?poll=1&year=2008&week=19|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Mar. 10)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-10|date=2008-03-10] On March 18, 2008 Drake received 310 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 14th. [cite press release|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?pollId=2&seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=1&seasonType=3|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Mar. 18)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-18|date=2008-03-18] They also were ranked 14th in the AP Top 25 poll with 794 points. [cite press release|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?pollId=1&seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=1&seasonType=3|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings AP Top 25 (Mar. 18)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-03-18|date=2008-03-18] On April 7, 2008 Drake received 117 points in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll which had them ranked 23rd. [cite press release|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?pollId=2&seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=3&seasonType=3|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings USA Today/ESPN Top 25 (Apr. 7)|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-04-07|date=2008-04-07]

Postseason

On March 7, 2008 Drake tied the school record for most wins in a season, set by the 1968-1969 team, with their 26th win over Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. On March 8, 2008 Drake set a new school record for wins in a season with its semifinal victory over 4th seeded Creighton. The victory also earned them their first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearance. On March 9, 2008 Drake won their first ever Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 79-49 victory over Illinois State. With the win they also clinched their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 1970-1971 season.

The Bulldogs were well-represented on the MVC postseason honors list:
* Emmenecker was named the league's MVP. The official conference press release announcing him as MVP called him "perhaps the most improbable MVC Player of the Year (based on pre-season expectations) in league history." In 2007-08, he set a single-season school record with 177 assists in the regular season (since extended to 213), and his average of 6.1 per game led the MVC. He started every game for the Bulldogs after making only two starts in his previous three seasons, and his regular-season totals in assists, points (223), and rebounds (129) more than doubled his previous career totals in all three categories.
* Young also made the All-MVC first team.
* Cox and Houston made the All-MVC second team.
* Emmenecker, Cox, and Houston were all named to the MVC Most Improved Team, with Emmenecker selected as captain.
* Emmenecker, who carried a 3.97 grade point average in a four-major academic program going into his final academic term at Drake, was also named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=2901&DB_OEM_ID=7600&SPSID=36371&ATCLID=1405380 |title=Emmenecker Named Prairie-Farms Scholar-Athlete of the Year |publisher=Missouri Valley Conference |date=2008-03-06 |accessdate=2008-03-09]
* Keno Davis was named MVC Coach of the Year.cite press release|url=http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=2901&DB_OEM_ID=7600&SPSID=36371&ATCLID=1405413 |title=Drake's Keno Davis Named Valley’s Top Men’s Basketball Coach |publisher=Missouri Valley Conference |date=2008-03-06 |accessdate=2008-03-09] In the 2008 NCAA Tournament 5th-seeded Drake took on the 12th-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. After overcoming a 16-point deficit in the last 8 minutes of the game to send the game into overtime, the Bulldogs would lose 101-99 on Ty Rogers' desperation 26-foot 3-pointer as time expired.cite news|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=284000035&confId=100 |title=Rogers' desperation 26-foot 3 in OT lifts No. 12 W. Kentucky past No. 5 Drake |author=Associated Press |publisher="ESPN.com" |date=2008-03-21 |accessdate=2008-03-22]

Roster

Missouri Valley Conference standings

External links

*http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&KEY=&SPID=8121&SPSID=71122
*http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&KEY=&SPID=8121&SPSID=71124
*http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/dar
*http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/team?statsId=170
*http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/page/DRA
*http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=2181
*http://www.sportingnews.com/cbasketball/teams/drake/index.html
*http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/teams/drake/
*http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SPORTS0204

References