NEW REGULATIONS IF ELECTED. WELL, WHAT’S ANY SPORTING EVENT WITHOUT ITS LOYAL FANS? THE DRAKE MEN AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS ARE GEARING UP TO HEAD T THE NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY, AND THOSE CHEERING ON THE BULLDOGS ARE PACKING UP AND HITTING THE ROAD TO KCCI. IS ETHAN HUMBLE, CAUGHT UP WITH THEM? MARCH MADNESS. ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE A YEAR, AND SOME DRAKE FANS ARE TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE MOMENT BY SHOWING OUT FOR THEIR TEAM. NIKKI SMITH HAS DEEP TIES TO DRAKE UNIVERSITY. I AM A TWO TIME DRAKE GRAD. I SPENT EIGHT YEARS WORKING THERE AS WELL, BUT I’VE BEEN A FAN OF DRAKE BASKETBALL SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, AND NOW HER CHILDHOOD DREAM COME TRUE. THE BULLDOGS ARE HEADED TO THE BIG DANCE. SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO BRING HER SISTER AND HER FRIENDS ALONG. AS SOON AS WE HEARD IT WAS OMAHA, WE WERE ON ON TEXTS. WE WERE CALLING EACH OTHER. WE NEEDED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND THEY’LL BE ARRIVING IN STYLE. I AM PAINTING THE CAR SO THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT WHEN WE’RE GOING TO OMAHA THAT WE ARE DRAKE FANS. THE WOMEN’S TEAM ALSO GETTING SOME SUPPORT FROM HOME. THE BULLDOG MOMS ARE HEADED TO KANSAS. TO CHEER ON THEIR DAUGHTERS. TONI DINNEBIER, AMY HAWTHORNE, AND KIM AMES SAY IT’S A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE. IT REALLY IS A BIG FAMILY. I MEAN, ALL THE PARENTS WE GET TO TO DO THIS TOGETHER, BUT WE’RE SO, SO PROUD OF EACH AND ALL OF THEM. EVERY ONE OF THESE GIRLS, THEY’LL BE TRAVELING WITH PRINTOUTS OF ALL THE PLAYERS FACES. HAWTHORNE SAYS THE LADIES CHEMISTRY OFF THE COURT HELPS THEM WHEN THEY’RE PLAYING. THEY GET ALONG SO WELL ON AND OFF THE COURT, SO IT’S NOT SURPRISING TO US THAT THEY FIND SUCCESS ON THE ON THE COURT TOGETHER BECAUSE THE FUN IS ALSO HAPPENING IN THE STANDS. THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH JOY THEY BRING TO US AND ENTERTAIN ENDLESS HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT. THE DRAKE MEN WILL TIP OFF THURSDAY NIGHT WHILE THE LADY BULLDOGS WILL BEGIN PLAY ON FRIDAY IN JOHNSTON. ETHA
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Drake men's roster: Meet the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament
The Drake men didn't lose a home game all season on their way to a 28-6 record and a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship. The Bulldogs and head coach Darian DeVries, who's 150-54 in six seasons, head to Omaha for a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Washington State Thursday night. A win could mean a potential matchup Saturday against Iowa State.Junior Tucker DeVries leads the Bulldogs in points per game (21.8), assists (3.6), and steals (1.6), and won his second straight Missouri Valley player of the year award. Three other players average double-digit points per game — Atin Wright (13.9), Kevin Overton (11.4) and Darnell Brodie (11.3), who leads the team in rebounds (7.9) and blocks (0.5). NCAA Tournament coverage:Drake March Madness: Tickets, how to watch the Bulldogs vs. Washington State Drake vs. Washington State: What to know about the Bulldogs' NCAA Tournament opponent Meet the Drake Bulldogs0 Kyron GibsonSenior guard from Alexandria, LouisianaAverages 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 34 games this season1 Kevin OvertonFreshman guard from Oklahoma City, OklahomaAverages 11.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 34 games this season2 Brashon HallRedshirt sophom*ore guard from Roswell, GeorgiaAverages 0.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists in 13 games this season3 Colby GarlandFreshman guard from Magnolia, ArkansasAverages 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 30 games this season4 Conor EnrightRedshirt sophom*ore guard from Mundelein, IllinoisAverages 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists in 32 games this season 10 Atin WrightJunior guard from Hawthorne, CaliforniaAverages 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 34 games this season 12 Tucker DeVriesJunior guard/forward from Waukee, IowaAverages 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists in 33 games this seasonLarry Bird MVC Player of the YearWATCH: KCCI's Shannon Ehrhardt interviews Griff II before Drake's NCAA Tournament game Thursday night13 Carlos RosarioRedshirt sophom*ore forward from Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicAverages 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists in 31 games this season 21 Andrew AliaRedshirt freshman guard from Kenosha, WisconsinAverages 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists in 16 games this season 24 Nate FergusonRedshirt junior forward from Lemont, IllinoisAverages 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists in 34 games this season35 Eric NorthweatherJunior forward from Jefferson City, MissouriAverages 1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.2 assists in 19 games this season51 Darnell BrodieGraduate student forward from Newark, New JerseyAverages 11.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 33 games this seasonDrake Bulldogs coachesHead coach: Darian DeVriesAssistant coaches: Marty Richer, Tom Ostrom, Brent Crews
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The Drake men didn't lose a home game all season on their way to a 28-6 record and a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship.
The Bulldogs and head coach Darian DeVries, who's 150-54 in six seasons, head to Omaha for a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Washington State Thursday night. A win could mean a potential matchup Saturday against Iowa State.
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Junior Tucker DeVries leads the Bulldogs in points per game (21.8), assists (3.6), and steals (1.6), and won his second straight Missouri Valley player of the year award. Three other players average double-digit points per game — Atin Wright (13.9), Kevin Overton (11.4) and Darnell Brodie (11.3), who leads the team in rebounds (7.9) and blocks (0.5).
NCAA Tournament coverage:
- Drake March Madness: Tickets, how to watch the Bulldogs vs. Washington State
- Drake vs. Washington State: What to know about the Bulldogs' NCAA Tournament opponent
Meet the Drake Bulldogs
0 Kyron Gibson
- Senior guard from Alexandria, Louisiana
- Averages 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 34 games this season
1 Kevin Overton
- Freshman guard from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Averages 11.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 34 games this season
2 Brashon Hall
- Redshirt sophom*ore guard from Roswell, Georgia
- Averages 0.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists in 13 games this season
3 Colby Garland
- Freshman guard from Magnolia, Arkansas
- Averages 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 30 games this season
4 Conor Enright
- Redshirt sophom*ore guard from Mundelein, Illinois
- Averages 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists in 32 games this season
10 Atin Wright
- Junior guard from Hawthorne, California
- Averages 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 34 games this season
12 Tucker DeVries
- Junior guard/forward from Waukee, Iowa
- Averages 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists in 33 games this season
- Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year
Getting to know Drake's Tucker DeVries: Trading a hairdo for handles
WATCH: KCCI's Shannon Ehrhardt interviews Griff II before Drake's NCAA Tournament game Thursday night
13 Carlos Rosario
- Redshirt sophom*ore forward from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Averages 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists in 31 games this season
21 Andrew Alia
- Redshirt freshman guard from Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Averages 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists in 16 games this season
24 Nate Ferguson
- Redshirt junior forward from Lemont, Illinois
- Averages 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists in 34 games this season
35 Eric Northweather
- Junior forward from Jefferson City, Missouri
- Averages 1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.2 assists in 19 games this season
51 Darnell Brodie
- Graduate student forward from Newark, New Jersey
- Averages 11.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 33 games this season
Drake Bulldogs coaches
Head coach: Darian DeVries
Assistant coaches: Marty Richer, Tom Ostrom, Brent Crews
