Drake is one of four undefeated Division 1 basketball teams. The Bulldogs (11-0) have also won twenty-seven straight games inside the Knapp Center. First year coach Ben McCollum’s team has defeated three so-called ‘power conference’ teams and are 1-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Drake and all the MVC schools turn their attention completely to the conference race. Belmont (9-3,1-0) visits Des Moines for a key early season challenge. Here are three keys to Drake staying undefeated against the Bruins.
1. Keep the pace of play comfortably slow, but attack
Drake plays at the second slowest pace in all of college basketball and Belmont is the twenty-fourth fastest paced team. McCollum’s team needs to stay patient on the offensive end, but should stay in attack mode. While Belmont is the Valley’s second highest scoring team, they are the league’s worst at defensive field goal percentage and defensive three-point percentage.
Maintaining their slow attacking pace, they will be able to score on the struggling Belmont defense.
2. Stay out of foul trouble
Belmont has a depth advantage. The Bruins have started nine different players and eight average over six points per game and five reach double digits.
McCollum has employed the same starting lineup for every game. Three players, Bennett Stirtz., Mitch Mascari and Daniel Abreu are the team’s top three scorers and each plays well over thirty-minutes per game. While five Bulldogs average over nine points-per-game, only three other players play any kind of contributory role.
Foul trouble to any of Drake’s ‘big three’ could be troublesome.
3. Defend the post
Drake plays an outstanding version of ‘pack line’ defense. They lead the Valley shutting down the three point line and possess the conference’s second best defensive field goal percentage, but they are not big.
Four of Belmont’s nine rotational players are 6’9 and versatile. Leading scorer Jonathan Pierre (13.0 ppg is a strong rebounder (7.3), is averaging four assists per game, and is proficient from long distances. The trio of Sam Orme, Brigham Rogers, and Drew Scharnowski are combining to average 21.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Belmont’s frontcourt is formidable and dangerous.
Drake’s Cam Manyawu will have to be sturdy on the defensive end and if he gets in foul trouble, the Bulldogs could struggle to defend the rim.