Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Every Missouri Valley team’s most successful season since 2000

By Shea Irish

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball
Drake Bulldogs Missouri Valley Basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Drake Bulldogs

Year: 2007-08

Record: 28-5 (15-3)

NCAA Tournament Results: 5 Seed- Round of 64

-Lost to (12) Western Kentucky 101-99 on a buzzer beater in OT

Head Coach: Keno Davis

Notable Players:

Josh Young 6’1” SO (15.9 PPG):

– The 2008 MVC 1st-Team Selection would go on to finish his career as the 2nd leading scorer in program history (1,789 points).

Adam Emmenecker 6’1” SR (8.6 PPG, 6.5 APG):

– The 2008 MVC Player of the Year.

Klayton Korver 6’5” SR (10.4 PPG, 83 3-PT):

– A 1,000 point scorer at Drake that could shoot the three-ball like his older brother and NBA All-Star Kyle Korver.

Season Summary:

The Bulldogs from Des Moines, IA would come out of nowhere to start the 2007-08 season an incredible 22-1, catapulting themselves all the way to the #14 ranked team in the country. Along the way they would beat both in-state powers, Iowa (in the Hawkeyes building) and the Iowa State Cyclones (by 35 points).

The eventual MVC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions would receive a 5 seed to the ‘08 NCAA Tournament, the highest in school history. Unfortunately, they would have their hearts broken by an OT buzzer-beater in the first round to Western Kentucky. If it wasn’t for Ty Roger’s miracle shot, Drake may have been able to advance to the Sweet 16, as the Hilltoppers would go on to accomplish just that. Of Drake’s five losses suffered during the year, four of them came by 3 points or less.

Another Season Worth Honorable Mention: The 2020-21 Drake Bulldogs would complete a historic season by finishing 26-5 and receiving an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament. They would defeat Wichita State in the First Four for the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 50 years.