Is Drake the Most Remarkable NCAA Basketball Story?

EggMcClone · 02-11-2008, 08:01 PM

I'm curious about that 1971 Drake team if anyone here knows anything about them. I read that they have only been to the NCAA tournament 3 times and the last time was that team that made the final four. Did they have pretty good teams during that era or was that kind of a fluke year? It seems pretty amazing that with only three appearances one of them went all the way to the final four.

LindenCy · 02-11-2008, 08:08 PM

I definitely see them a legit sweet 16 team, but if they meet the wrong 6 (like an A&M) that would be a tall order. But I will root for them.

c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s · 02-11-2008, 09:56 PM

I don't mean to be a downer but I refuse to jump on the Drake bandwagon until they actually play somebody. Or at least beat one of these bad teams soundly - besides Iowa State.

For instance, you talk about how tough it will be to win at SIU. SIU is currently #80 on the RPI index.

Drake's strenghth of schedule is at #87 in the country. For comparison's sake, our SOS is 56th. Shockingly, to me anyway, Butler has had it even easier with a SOS of 150.

Drake is 4-1 against the RPI top fifty. That looks good until you consider that those 4 wins are against Creighton and Ill State. Those two teams have just now climbed into numbers 49th and 50th, putting them in the top 50 for the first time in over a month. Again, for comparison's sake ISU has played 7 games against the top fifty with 3 more yet to play.

Drake's remaining schedule....

#80 SIU
#112 UNI
#99 Bradley
#16 Butler (NCAA bracket buster)
#147 Missouri State
#159 Witchita State

What does all this mean? By season's end they will have played exactly 2 teams that are solid candidates for the NCAA tourney. They have already lost to one of those teams and may very well lose to the other (Butler).

c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s · 02-11-2008, 10:04 PM

Oops. Double post

Wesley · 02-11-2008, 10:13 PM

BUTLER WILL BE A TRUE TEST.

c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s · 02-11-2008, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by EggMcClone

I'm curious about that 1971 Drake team if anyone here knows anything about them. I read that they have only been to the NCAA tournament 3 times and the last time was that team that made the final four. Did they have pretty good teams during that era or was that kind of a fluke year? It seems pretty amazing that with only three appearances one of them went all the way to the final four.

They were a very good team. In 1969, They lost to John Wooden's UCLA dynasty with Lew Alcindor (Abdul-Jabbar), Sidney Wicks, Lynn Shackelford etc. by three points. They beat Dean Smith's North Carolina team in the consolation by 19 points

In 1970 they went to the elite eight where they lost a close game to New Mexico State.

In 1971 they lost in the elite eight to Kansas by two.

ISU hired Maury John away from Drake in 1972. Sadly he never had much of a chance to do much at ISU and died of cancer in 1974.

I found this excellent article about coach John in the register's archive.

Maury John, Drake University, 1995 | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

cybsball20 · 02-11-2008, 11:19 PM

I think the Drake vs. UCLA game was the only game UCLA didn't win by at least 20 the whole tournament, maybe the whole year...

ahaselhu · 02-11-2008, 11:20 PM

No one is obligated to be impressed by what they've accomplished. There are very valid reasons to respect what Drake has done, and valid reasons to suspect that they aren't as good as their record.

They've had chances to lose several tough road games, and in some cases they've had to come back to win those games. Illinois State and Creighton may not be great teams, but ask KSU how hard it can be to win on the road, even against a mediocre team (Missouri RPI: 91).

The MVC may not be the greatest conference, and may be having a down year, but they still rank as the 8th best conference behind the Atlantic 10. That's not quite as bad as some are making it out to be.

I'm not saying they're world beaters, or that they're national championship contenders. But they've proven that they know how to win, and they're doing it time and time again, and in my opinion, that deserves some respect.

Phaedrus · 02-12-2008, 09:20 AM

I want to see Drake win. Their magical season is a feel-good story that just about anyone could get behind.

cycloneman003 · 02-13-2008, 05:06 PM

i doubt drake loses more that 1 game the rest of the reg. season (either SIU or Butler, maybe neither)... i do think they will finish the reg. season with one loss, and will conference tourney giving them a record of 31-1 i believe, depending on who is in their region they could get to sweet 16, i think keno would be happy with 33-2 and a sweet 16

Wx4Cy · 02-13-2008, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s

I don't mean to be a downer but I refuse to jump on the Drake bandwagon until they actually play somebody. Or at least beat one of these bad teams soundly - besides Iowa State.

For instance, you talk about how tough it will be to win at SIU. SIU is currently #80 on the RPI index.

Drake's strenghth of schedule is at #87 in the country. For comparison's sake, our SOS is 56th. Shockingly, to me anyway, Butler has had it even easier with a SOS of 150.

Drake is 4-1 against the RPI top fifty. That looks good until you consider that those 4 wins are against Creighton and Ill State. Those two teams have just now climbed into numbers 49th and 50th, putting them in the top 50 for the first time in over a month. Again, for comparison's sake ISU has played 7 games against the top fifty with 3 more yet to play.

Drake's remaining schedule....

#80 SIU
#112 UNI
#99 Bradley
#16 Butler (NCAA bracket buster)
#147 Missouri State
#159 Witchita State

What does all this mean? By season's end they will have played exactly 2 teams that are solid candidates for the NCAA tourney. They have already lost to one of those teams and may very well lose to the other (Butler).

I'm with you...good team yes...weak Valley...yeah...week ISU/UI teams...yeah. I'll stay off the bus until they beat someone credible.