MVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

Mar 5, 2023; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) celebrates with head coach Darian DeVries during the second half against the Bradley Braves in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

12 of 13

MVC Basketball Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) reacts with guard Sardaar Calhoun Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Drake Bulldogs – Head Coach Darian DeVries

2022-23 record: 27-8 overall, 15-5 in the MVC

This is the Valley’s most dominant team of the past five seasons, and it shouldn’t be much different this season. While this is the most significant makeover for Drake and Darian DeVries since his first season in Des Moines, the Bulldogs will be in the hunt for another title.

Drake has averaged 24 wins per DeVries-led season and yet the Bulldogs have won just one shared, regular season title. They collected their first conference tournament title last March.

Gone are starters Roman Penn, Garrett Sturtz and D.J. Wilkins. Those three have their names written all over the Drake record book, but it is a new era in Des Moines. It is the ‘Tucker DeVries Era’. The reigning ‘Player of the Year’ is back and ready to lead the Bulldogs into this next season of challenge.

DeVries returns for his junior year as the unquestioned, best-player in the league. He is the Valley’s leading returning scorer (18.56 ppg) and its most unstoppable offensive player. Joining DeVries is sixth year center Darnell Brodie (9.1 ppg). As part of the ‘most improved’ team Brodie finished fourth in rebounding (7.3 per game) and at 6’9, 275 pounds, he is an intimidating rim protector.

All freshman team member Conor Enright returns after backing up Penn and Wilkins.

Beyond DeVries where most the Bulldog fans’ excitement lies is with the talented newcomers. Three, double-digit scoring transfers join the team along with some special looking rookies.

Kyron Gibson (UT Arlington) averaged 11.2 points and is an accomplished three point shooter and distributor. Atin Wright (Cal State Northridge) was named to the Big West ‘honorable mention team’ for averaging 16.7 points. Patriot League ‘Rookie of the Year’ Ethan Roberts made over 40% of his long distance attempts while averaging 12.4 points for Army.

Drake looks loaded.

Coach DeVries has never had so many freshmen. Kevin Overton, Colby Garland, Chico Johnson, Patrick Bath and Elijah Price all arrive with gawdy resumes.

This has the makings of being Drake’s best team yet, but blending all the pieces into one coherent unit could take some time.

Home/Missouri Valley Basketball