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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 National Coach of the Year candidates for 2020-21

By Benjamin Zacher

COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 31, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 31, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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Drake Darian DeVries NCAA Basketball 20210210 Drakeuni
Drake Darian DeVries NCAA Basketball 20210210 Drakeuni /

7. Darian DeVries (Drake)

  • 2020-21 record: 23-2 overall, 14-2 MVC

There are not as many mid-major conferences as thrilling as the Missouri Valley, which once boasted Creighton and Wichita State – and has now given way to recent titans like Northern Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, and Bradley – but a fourth team has quietly become a power as well, and has finally broken through to the national stage.

Enter the Drake Bulldogs, who have put together three-straight seasons with at least 20 wins – all coming under Darian DeVries, now in his third season at the helm.  Under DeVries, the Bulldogs have tended to surpass expectations – and this season is no exception.

In his first season, DeVries’ crew were picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the MVC‘s preseason poll – and finished in a tie for first, alongside Loyola-Chicago.  This year, the Bulldogs were selected seventh – and currently, again, sit in a tie for first with the Ramblers.  However, circumstances are different this year – and DeVries and the Bulldogs are finally being recognized for it.

After losing last year’s leading scorer Liam Robbins to transfer, Drake earned the talents of sixth-year ShanQuan Hemphill, who – paired with senior guard Roman Penn – has led the Bulldogs to the national spotlight.  The Bulldogs kicked off the season with a double-digit win at Kansas State, went 18-0 to start the season – becoming, at the time, one of the last three undefeated teams in the nation – and propelled the 25th spot in the AP Top 25.

The situation has changed dramatically for the Bulldogs as of late – they dropped games to Valparaiso and Loyola-Chicago, all the while losing both Hemphill and Penn to injuries, with Hemphill expected to be back at some point this year, but Penn ruled out for the rest of the season – but DeVries and his crew have been resilient through it all, winning four-straight games – including a must-win tilt over the Ramblers in overtime.

With Joseph Yesufu now leading the way on the floor – he is coming off a 36-point game over Evansville, after all – DeVries’ team have remained in the spotlight, continuing to earn votes in the AP Top 25 and still vying for an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament.  On the court, the Bulldogs maintain one of the best offenses in the nation – 26th in efficiency, 40th in 3P%, and 29th in 2P% – all the while their defense ranks 81st in efficiency, as well.

The job that DeVries has done with the Bulldogs – not just this season, but in his career – has been beyond impressive.  And, after losing nearly 40% of the offensive production from last year’s team, DeVries has put together his best team yet.  Time will tell how the Bulldogs operate without both Hemphill and Penn – but DeVries has proven that this is a team not to mess around with.

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