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Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa. The team has a rich history, dating back to the 1906–07 season, and has achieved notable success in the NCAA Division I basketball competition. Drake basketball has a proud tradition, with a strong winning streak in the 1940s and 1950s, and regular appearances in the national rankings during the 1960s through the mid-1980s. The team has appeared in several postseason tournaments, including the NCAA Tournaments, National Invitation Tournaments, and the College Basketball Invitational. The university has a dedicated men's basketball team page on its website, providing information on upcoming matches and past achievements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team name | Drake Bulldogs |
| University | Drake University |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Competition | NCAA Division I |
| Seasons | 1906–07 |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Tournament appearances | 8 NCAA Tournaments, 3 National Invitation Tournaments, 1 College Basketball Invitational, 4 CollegeInsider.com Tournaments |
| Tournament record | 7–8 in NCAA Tournaments, 1–3 in National Invitation Tournaments, 1-1 in College Basketball Invitational, 2–4 in CollegeInsider.com Tournaments |
| Notable seasons | 1934–35, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1943–44, 1944–45, 1951–56, 1969, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08 |
| Notable coaches | Maury John, Tom Davis, Keno Davis, Ortegel, Gary Garner |
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What You'll Learn
Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa
Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is a mid-sized private university recognised as one of the finest institutions for experiential learning. Founded in March 1881 by George T. Carpenter, a teacher and pastor, and Francis Marion Drake, a Civil War Union general, the university has a rich history and strong academic reputation.
The university offers a wide range of academic programmes, including over 140 undergraduate and graduate programmes. Among these are professional programmes in business, education, law, and pharmacy. The law school at Drake University, established in 1865, is one of the oldest in the country, and the university's School of Journalism & Mass Communication has achieved national prominence.
Drake University has a notable athletics programme, with student-athletes competing in NCAA Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference in most sports. The men's basketball team, known as the Drake Bulldogs, has a particularly noteworthy history. The team has appeared in eight NCAA Tournaments, including a famous run to the Final Four in 1969. The Bulldogs have also competed in various other postseason tournaments, including National Invitation Tournaments and the College Basketball Invitational.
The university's athletics history extends beyond basketball, with a football programme that dates back to the opening of its first football field in 1905. Drake University also established a department of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics in 1973, nearly 70 years after the original women's basketball team had been banned. The university features a range of student organisations, including fraternities and sororities, and has a strong sense of community and tradition.
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Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa. They compete in the NCAA Division I basketball competition. The team is best known for making the Final Four in 1969, and they have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2025.
The Bulldogs first fielded a men's basketball team during the 1906-07 season, finishing with a 2-1 record as an independent team. The following season, they became charter members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake dominated the 1930s, winning three conference titles (1934-35, 1935-36, and 1938-39). However, they did not qualify for any postseason tournaments during this period as none were held in the 1934-35 season, and they did not compete in the 1935-36 postseason tournament due to the lack of a conference title.
The Bulldogs enjoyed a successful run during the 1940s and 1950s, securing eight winning seasons. They temporarily withdrew from the MVC in 1951, along with Bradley, in protest of the conference's inaction in the Johnny Bright Incident. They rejoined the MVC for the 1956-57 season and continued their success into the 1960s and mid-1980s, regularly appearing in national rankings.
The team has had notable coaches throughout its history. Coach Maury John led the Bulldogs from 1958 to 1971, accumulating a record of 211 wins. In 1971, John left Drake for Iowa State University. The Bulldogs won their first national tournament title in the 1974-75 season under Coach Ortegel, defeating Arizona in the championship game.
More recently, in the 2003-04 season, former Iowa head coach Dr. Tom Davis was hired as the new men's basketball coach at Drake. Davis led a rebuilding project for the team, and after three seasons, he resigned, passing the torch to his son, Keno Davis. Under Keno's guidance, the 2007-08 season was one of Drake's most successful, with the Bulldogs winning both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.
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Drake's tournament appearances
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa. The team has participated in four different postseason tournaments, with an overall record of 12-10.
The Bulldogs have made eight appearances in the NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 7-8. Their most recent appearance was in 2025, marking the team's first NCAA Tournament in 13 years. They won their first game against former MVC foe Wichita State with a score of 53-52, securing their first victory in the tournament in 50 years. However, they were eliminated in the next round by the USC Trojans.
The Drake Bulldogs have also appeared in three National Invitation Tournaments, with a combined record of 1-3. They advanced to the National Invitational Tournament during the 1980-81 and 1985-86 seasons but lost in the first round both times. Additionally, the team has participated in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI), with a record of 1-1, and four CollegeInsider.com Tournaments, with a record of 2-4.
The Bulldogs also participated in the National Intercollegiate Tournament in the 1937-38 and 1938-39 seasons but lost to Murray State and Oklahoma State, respectively. During the 1960s through the mid-1980s, the team was consistently ranked nationally, and the Missouri Valley Conference was one of the premier conferences in men's basketball.
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Drake's winning streak in the 1940s and 1950s
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and competes in the NCAA Division I basketball competition.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Drake Bulldogs enjoyed a successful run, securing eight winning seasons. However, there was an interruption in their play during the 1943-44 and 1944-45 seasons due to World War II, as many Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schools halted their basketball activities.
In 1951, Drake withdrew from the MVC along with Bradley as a protest against the conference's inaction in the Johnny Bright Incident involving Oklahoma A&M. This withdrawal meant that Drake did not participate in the MVC again until the 1956-57 season.
Despite this interruption, the Drake Bulldogs had established a strong foundation for success during the 1940s and 1950s, setting the stage for their continued excellence in basketball throughout the following decades.
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Drake's head coach
Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is home to the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team, which competes in the NCAA Division I. The team has a rich history, dating back to its first season in 1906-1907. Over the years, the Bulldogs have achieved notable success, including several conference titles and appearances in postseason tournaments.
The current head coach of the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team is Ben McCollum, who was appointed to the position on April 1, 2024. A native of Storm Lake, Iowa, McCollum joins Drake University with high expectations and a strong basketball background.
Prior to Coach McCollum's arrival, the Bulldogs have been led by several notable coaches who have left their mark on the program. One of the most renowned coaches in Drake's history is Maury John, who coached the team from 1958 to 1971. During his tenure, John amassed an impressive 211 wins, securing a place in the Drake record books. Under John's leadership, the Bulldogs consistently performed well, with eight winning seasons during his time at the helm.
Another influential coach was Dr. Tom Davis, hired in 2003 to rebuild the struggling program. Davis brought instant credibility to the team, with a distinguished career that included sixteen 20-win seasons and 18 post-season appearances. During his tenure at Drake, he led the Bulldogs to their first winning record in 21 years before passing the torch to his son, Keno Davis, who continued the team's success.
The Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team has a proud history, and with the leadership of Head Coach Ben McCollum, the program looks to continue its tradition of excellence on the court and build towards future victories.
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Frequently asked questions
Drake University, home to the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team, is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Drake Bulldogs are members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Bulldogs were charter members of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1907-08 season.
The Drake Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Tournament eight times.
Notable Drake basketball coaches include Dr. Tom Davis, Keno Davis, Maury John, and Ortegel.
