Drake media day

[DUBulldog]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101011/SPORTS020403/10120350/1097/SPORTS0204/Drake-Basketball-Bulldogs-look-to-improve-on-Valley-record

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/13/phelps-prepares-to-guide-his-touted-recruits-into-the-valley/

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/11/raw-keeler-column-from-mondays-drake-mens-basketball-media-day/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SeanKeeler+%28Sean+Keeler%29

[DUBulldog]

Some more Bulldog articles....

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/18/madison-ready-to-contribute-and-distribute/

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/19/rice-eager-to-get-cooking-for-drake/

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/20/wedel-puts-some-bounce-into-his-game/

[DoubleJayAlum]

DuBulldog -

What are the expectations of this Drake team by the fans and supporters?

[DUBulldog]

DuBulldog -

What are the expectations of this Drake team by the fans and supporters?

Quite honestly, I don't think anybody has a real good idea what's going to happen this season. There is a lot of talent, size and depth, but the team is extremely young with only 1 senior and 3 juniors....and 2 of those juniors are newcomers. Nobody on the team has played more than 1 season in a Drake uniform.

There is more depth than I can ever remember. With the exception of Van Deest (6-11, 244 soph) at the '5', there will be huge competition for playing time at every position. And Van Deest's back-up is a kid, Kraidon Woods (6-9, 215 junior) who signed with Villanova out of high school.

The '4' position is probably the biggest question mark, although there are a lot of possible candidates including Jordan Clarke (6-8, 253 soph) a transfer from Vermont who had approx 50 D-1 offers out of high school in the DC area; Reece Uhlenhopp (6-8, 232 soph) a left-handed banger with 3-point range; walk-on Cory Parker (6-8, 232 soph) and Aaron Hawley (6-8, 200 soph) who is capable of putting a lot of points up real quick, but isn't nearly as strong as the other candidates at the position. Hawley will be in the mix at the '3' as well.

At the '3', there is Hawley, Ben Simons (6-8, 200 soph) who was runner-up for Mr Basketball in Michigan a couple of years ago, Rayvonte Rice (6-4, 235 frosh) who was the Gatorade player-of-the-year in Illinois last season, and Jeremy Jeffers (6-6, 205 frosh) who was one of the top players in North Carolina last season.

At '2', Ryan Wedel (5-11) is the Bulldogs' leading returning scorer; but he'll be pushed by Kurt Alexander (6-0 junior) a juco D2 All-American last season and David Smith (6-4 redshirt frosh) who is probably Drake's best defensive player

At the point, it's a 4-way battle. Frank Wiseler (6-2 junior) is the returning started, but he's in a real dogfight with Alexander, Smith and Karl Madison (5-10 freshman) who was considered one of the top 10-15 players in Illinois last season. Wiseler has the experience, Alexander has more strength and scoring ability, Smith is the biggest and strongest, and Madison is the quickest.

I'm hoping that all the uncertainty about playing time is leading to some great battles in practice every day. Almost nobody is assured of playing time, and quite honestly, there probably aren't enough minutes available to keep everybody happy.

With so many newcomers, team chemistry is always a question, especially when there are likely to be a couple of guys unhappy with their playing time. Rebounding is a huge, huge question. Drake was by far the worst rebounding team in the league last season, and lost their best rebounder (Templeton). But, there's a lot of big bodies and Phelps is changing to a man-to-man defense this season, which should help the rebounding (the big guys were often way out of rebounding position in the match-up zone the last few years).

There are lots of guys on this team capable of scoring. How bad they want it on the defensive end and on the boards will decide how good the 'dogs will be this season.

[WSUbballer]

Does DT still wanna dropkick Phelps?

Have Drake fans simmered down on Coach Phelps or is he still a topic of discussion?

[DUBulldog]

Have Drake fans simmered down on Coach Phelps or is he still a topic of discussion?

Drake fans all seem to be very happy with the talent Phelps is brining in. But, until he starts winning, there will be questions about his coaching.

[DUBulldog]

Here's some pics from Drake's "blue-white" game

http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPSID=71122&SPID=8121&PALBID=381011&DB_OEM_ID=15700&PAGE_ID=&ZID=205364551

Here's some pics of the new guys

Jordan Clarke

Kraidon Woods

David Smith


Kurt Alexander


Rayvonte Rice

Karl Madison

Jeremy Jeffers

[45otseoj]

Good size on the new guys

[DUBulldog]

Good size on the new guys

Yeah, the thing I noticed immediately was how physically mature the new guys looked. Last year, Drake had some talented new guys, but they were a pretty skinny bunch. Not this group.