Ayrton Oneill
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team, representing Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, competes in the NCAA Division I. The team has a rich history in basketball, with their first season taking place in 1906-07. They were charter members of the Missouri Valley Conference, which is the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference. The Bulldogs have achieved notable success over the years, including winning three conference titles in the 1930s and making the 1969 Final Four. They have also appeared in several postseason tournaments and continue to be a competitive force in Division I basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Drake Bulldogs |
| University | Drake University |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) |
| Colours | Blue and White |
| First Season | 1906-1907 |
| First MVC Season | 1907-1908 |
| MVC Titles | 3 |
| National Tournament Appearances | 8 |
| National Tournament Record | 7-8 |
| National Invitation Tournament Appearances | 3 |
| National Invitation Tournament Record | 1-3 |
| College Basketball Invitational Appearances | 1 |
| Retired Jersey Numbers | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
Drake University's basketball team, the Bulldogs, compete in Division I
The Bulldogs have enjoyed success over the years, with a notable appearance in the 1969 Final Four and eight appearances in the NCAA tournament. They have also won three conference titles in the 1930s and fourteen winning seasons between the 1960s and mid-1980s. The team experienced a period of dominance under Coach Maury John, who led the Bulldogs from 1958 to 1971, securing a record of 211 wins.
The 2024–25 season marked a new era for the Bulldogs, with the appointment of Ben McCollum as the new head coach. McCollum guided the team to a successful season, capturing the MVC regular season championship and the MVC Tournament title.
The Bulldogs' success has continued into recent years, with their performance in Division I gaining recognition and making their rivals "take notice". Their impact has been such that one commentator exclaimed, "Drake is for real. Fun to watch." The team's success has been attributed in part to their strong coaching staff, with one commentator expressing concern that their rival school's coach might move back to his hometown of Iowa, where Drake University is located.
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The Bulldogs play in the Missouri Valley Conference
The Drake University Bulldogs play in the Missouri Valley Conference, an NCAA Division I basketball competition. The team is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and has been a part of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1907, with a brief hiatus from 1951 to 1956.
The Bulldogs have a rich history in the conference, with a particularly strong run during the 1930s, where they won three conference titles. They continued their success into the 1940s and 1950s, with eight winning seasons across those two decades. The team also experienced a successful period from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, regularly appearing in the national rankings and making the Final Four in 1969.
The Missouri Valley Conference itself celebrated its centennial in 2006-07, recognizing its history as the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference. The conference has a strong reputation for competitive basketball, and the Bulldogs have often featured prominently within it.
In recent years, the Bulldogs have continued to perform well. In the 2024-25 season, under the leadership of head coach Ben McCollum, the team achieved a 27-3 overall record and a 17-3 record specifically in Missouri Valley Conference play. They secured their first outright MVC regular-season championship since 2007-08 and went on to win their third consecutive MVC tournament title.
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They have appeared in eight NCAA tournaments
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University in NCAA Division I basketball competition. The team has a long history dating back to the 1906–07 season, but they are particularly renowned for their success in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this period, the Bulldogs made multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament, including a memorable run to the Final Four in 1969.
The 1968–69 season was a historic one for the Drake Bulldogs. Under the leadership of Coach John, the team dominated the Missouri Valley Conference and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They received a bye in the first round and then defeated Texas A&M and Colorado State to advance to the Final Four. In the national semifinal, they faced a talented UCLA team led by Coach John Wooden and a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite a valiant effort, the Bulldogs fell just short, losing 85–82. However, they bounced back to defeat North Carolina in the third-place game, securing a third-place finish in the nation.
The Bulldogs continued their success in the following two seasons, advancing to the Elite Eight of both the 1970 and 1971 NCAA tournaments. In 1970, they captured their second straight Missouri Valley Conference title and earned a bye in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They defeated Houston but then fell to New Mexico State in the Midwest Regional Final. The 1970–71 season saw the Bulldogs win their third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championship and make their third straight trip to the NCAA tournament. They defeated Notre Dame University in overtime but were then narrowly defeated by Kansas in the Midwest Regional Final.
In total, the Drake Bulldogs have appeared in eight NCAA tournaments, with a combined record of 7–8. Their most recent appearance was in the 2024–25 season, where they achieved a 27–3 overall record under the leadership of new head coach Ben McCollum. This successful season marked a new era for the program, building on their rich history and continuing their legacy in Division I basketball.
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The team has appeared in three National Invitation Tournaments
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. The team has a rich history, with their first season dating back to 1906-1907.
The Bulldogs have made three appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), a prestigious postseason tournament. Their journey to the NIT began in the 1963-1964 season when they shared the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) title with Louisville, earning them an invitation to the NIT. However, their first actual appearance in the NIT was during the 1974-1975 season, where they secured their first national tournament title, the National Commissioners Invitational Tournament, under Coach Ortegel.
The Bulldogs returned to the NIT in the 1980-1981 season, facing off against Minnesota in the first round but suffered a loss. This season's appearance was marked by a coaching change, with Bob Ortegel taking over the reins from 1974 to 1981. The team made their third appearance in the NIT during the 1985-1986 season under Coach Gary Garner. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Marquette in the first round.
Despite facing setbacks and a stretch of non-winning seasons from 1987 to 2006, the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team has demonstrated resilience and a fighting spirit. Their appearances in the NIT showcase their determination and skill, contributing to the team's legacy in Division I basketball.
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Drake's coach is Ben McCollum
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa. The team competes in the NCAA Division I basketball competition.
Drake hired Ben McCollum as the program's new head coach in April 2024. McCollum, a native of Storm Lake, Iowa, previously led Northwest Missouri State to four Division II national championships. In his first season at Drake, McCollum guided the Bulldogs to a 27-3 overall record and a 17-3 record in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play. The team captured its first outright MVC regular-season championship since the 2007-08 season.
McCollum's success continued into his second season at Drake. The Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference's regular-season and tournament titles, beating Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They finished the season with a 31-4 record and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA tournament's round of 32 since 1971. McCollum was named Missouri Valley Coach of the Year and was a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award.
Ben McCollum's success at Drake has been remarkable, building on his previous accomplishments at Northwest Missouri State. His leadership and coaching abilities have guided the Bulldogs to new heights, and the program's future looks bright under his guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
Drake Bulldogs basketball team plays in Division I of the NCAA.
Drake University's basketball team plays in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Drake first joined the MVC in 1907 and has been a member ever since, except for a period between 1951 and 1956.
The Bulldogs have won three solo MVC league titles, including one in the 2024-25 season. They have also won three conference titles in the 1930s.
Ben McCollum, who joined in April 2024.
