PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Drake Bulldogs:  (Coach: Mark Phelps, first year)
Pos.    Player (Ht., Yr., Hometown)            PPG    RPG    FG%    FT%
G-3    Craig Stanley (5-11, Jr., Plano, Texas)        6.5    0.5    .455    1.00
G-20    Josh Young (6-1, Jr., Lawton, Okla.)        26.5    4.0    .517    .824
F-4    Brent Heemskerk (6-8, Sr., Grand Rapids, Mich.)    1.0    7.5    .200    ??
F-31    Jonathan Cox (6-8, Sr., Barrington, Ill.)        8.5    5.5    .500    1.00
F-44    Adam Templeton (6-5, Jr., Rapid City, S.D.)    3.5    4.0    .222    1.00
Top Reserves
F-2    Alex White (6-6, Sr., Albuquerque, N.M.)    ??    ??    ??    ??
G-11    Jacob Baryenbruch (6-0, Sr., Spring Green, Wis.)    3.0    1.5    .250    ??
F-22    Bill Eaddy (6-5, Jr., Ypsilanti, Mich.)        10.0    1.5    .625    1.00
G-23    Josh Parker (6-0, So., Harvey, Ill.)        4.0    1.0    .400    .750
F- 50    John Michael Hall (6-5, Sr., Moultrie, Ga.)    4.0    1.0    .222    .800

South Dakota State Jackrabbits: (Coach: Scott Nagy, 14th year)
Pos.    Player (Ht., Yr., Hometown)            PPG    RPG    FG%    FT%
G-3    Mackenzie Casey (6-0, Sr., Wounded Knee, S.D.)    3.7    2.7    .227    .500
G-10    Clint Sargent (6-4, So., South Sioux City, Neb.)    17.3    8.3    .484    .750
G-20    Garrett Callahan (6-1, Jr., Seneca, Ill.)        16.3    3.3    .429    .733
F-23    Kai Williams (6-6, Jr., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) 9.3    3.3    .364    .500
F-40    Anthony Cordova (6-7, So., Sioux Falls, S.D.)    8.3    11.7    .458    .375

Top Reserves
G-5    Dale Moss (6-4, So., Brandon, S.D.)        4.7    1.3    .364    .714
G-22    Payton Tivis (6-2, So, Bowman, N.D.)        1.7    2.7    .400    .333
C-44    Mark Engen (6-10, Jr., Lamberton, Minn.)    3.3    3.0    .400    ??   

TELEVISION: Mediacom will televise the game with Larry Morgan and Al Lorenzen describing the action.

DRAKE RADIO: KRNT Radio (1350 AM) is the flagship station of Drake basketball with Larry Cotlar and Dolph Pulliam handling the broadcasting. The pregame show begins 30 minutes before tipoff.

TIP OFF LUNCHEONS: The second monthly Drake Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon is scheduled for Dec. 16  at Christopher's in Beaverdale, starting at 11:30 a.m. Other luncheons are set for Jan. 20 and Feb. 17. Drake head coach Mark Phelps will preview upcoming Bulldog games, while selected players also will speak.

THE SETTING: Drake closes out its season opening three-game homestand, entertaining South Dakota State in the first meeting between the schools in more than 40 years.
   
Following a disappointing season opening loss to Butler, Drake regained its shooting touch by hitting 15 three-point baskets en route to an 86-70 victory past Morehead State in an opening round game of the Cancun Challenge Wednesday.
   
South Dakota State dropped a 72-56 setback at Virginia Commonwealth Wednesday in its
 opening round contest in the Cancun Challenge.   

MORE ON CANCUN CHALLENGE: The inaugural Cancun Challenge is the only opportunity that college men's basketball teams have to play in Mexico during the 2008-09 season.
   
The tournament is being held the next two weeks capped by all 10 participating teams playing the final two games in Cancun, Mexico at the all-inclusive Moon Palace Resort Nov. 29-30. The field also includes Vanderbilt, New Mexico, Virginia Commonwealth, Central Florida, The Citadel, Central Arkansas, South Dakota State and Grambling.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: South Dakota State, in its first year as an active member of the NCAA Division I ranks, was picked to finish eighth in the Summitt League preseason coaches and media poll.
   
The Jackrabbits have three starters back from last year's squad which posted an 8-21 record, including a 3-15 conference finish. Junior forward Kai Williams, who was named to 2008-09 The Summit League all-preseason second team, led the Jackrabbits in scoring (14.0 avg.) and rebounding (7.8 avg.) last year.
   
South Dakota State opened the season with a 70-62 home loss to San Jose State before rebounding to claim a 92-61 home victory against Mayville (N.D.) State last Sunday.
   
Sophomore guard Clint Sargent scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds for his first-career double-double at Virginia Commonwealth.
   
Junior guard Garrett Callahan, who started 27 games last year, led the Jackrabbits with 21 points, including 13 in the second half. Sophomore forward Anthony Cordova pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds against Virginia Commonwealth.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs hold a 4-1 series edge, including a 90-65 victory in the last game played on Dec. 4, 1965, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. The lone Jackrabbit victory in the series came in the only game played in Brookings, S.D., an 83-73 win on Dec. 8, 1958.

THE COACHES: A new era in Drake University basketball is underway with Mark Phelps being named the school's 25th head men's basketball coach, April 21, 2008. He succeeded Keno Davis who resigned to become head coach at Providence College.
   
Phelps served as associate head coach at Arizona State the past two seasons. The Virginia Beach, Va., native  had served on the coaching staff at North Carolina State under head coach Herb Sendek from 1996-2006 before joining Sendek at Arizona State in 2006.
   
He was part of Sendek's staff that led North Carolina State to a 53-39 record (.576) in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament play in the final five seasons in Raleigh, N.C. The Wolfpack tied for the second most wins in the ACC from 2001-2002 through the 2005-06 season. He joined the North Carolina State staff in 1996, serving as director of basketball operations before becoming assistant coach in 2000. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator, director of scouting and assistant coach with the Wolfpack in 2005.
   
Phelps posted a 148-53 record (.736 winning percentage) in six years as a high school head coach in Virginia. He was head coach at Atlantic Shores Christian High School in Chesapeake, Va.,  where he compiled a 44-12 record. The 1996 Old Dominion graduate  also coached four years at Rock Church Academy, constructing a 104-41 record while leading teams to three straight Metro Conference championships.
   
Scott Nagy, a 1988 graduate of Delta State, is in his 14th year as head coach of South Dakota State  owning a 244-144 record. He has enjoyed eight 20-plus win campaigns when the Jackrabbits competed in the NCAA Division II North Central Conference.

DRAKE IN KNAPP CENTER: The Bulldogs have won 18 of their last 20 home games, dating back to last year. The season opening 58-48 loss to Butler did snap a string of 11 straight home nonconference victories. The 16-game home winning streak last year was the longest in the 15-year history of the Knapp Center.
   
The Bulldogs have posted a 26-6 home record in the Drake Knapp Center during the past two seasons, including a 14-1 mark in 2007-08. Drake owns a 128-94 home record in the  Drake Knapp Center. Drake is the only private school in the Missouri Valley Conference which plays its home games at an on-campus site.
   
YOUNG GUIDES DRAKE TO FIRST WIN: All-Missouri Valley Conference junior guard Josh Young scored a career-high 34 points as Drake presented Mark Phelps his first collegiate coaching victory with an 86-70 victory past Morehead State in an opening round game of the Cancun Challenge Wednesday.
   
Junior forward Bill Eaddy came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points as the Bulldogs evened their record to 1-1.
   
Drake, which shot just 31.1 percent in its season opener against Butler, hit 51 percent from the floor, making 26 of 51 shots.
   
The Bulldogs were effective from the perimeter, making 15 of 27 three-point baskets for 55.6 percent.
   
The six-foot one-inch Young tied a career high in three-point baskets, by draining seven of 11 treys, while also matching a career high in rebounds with six. He scored 19 points in the second half as Drake rallied from a 39-35 halftime deficit.
   
Young's 34 points bettered his previous career high of 25 in an upset at then No. 8 ranked Butler last year. It also marked the first time a Drake played had scored 30 or more points in a game since Lonnie Randolph had 30 against Northern Iowa Jan. 29, 2005 a string covering 109 games.
   
Trailing 51-49 with 14:47 left, Young scored nine straight points to fuel an 11-0 run by Drake. A free throw by Young gave Drake its biggest lead at 84-63 with 3:18 left.
   
Senior forward Jonathan Cox added 10 points for Drake. Cox collected three blocked shots to move into second place on Drake's career blocked shot list at 68, surpassing William Celestine who had 67 from 1990-94.
   
Cox, senior forward Brent Heemskerk and Young had six rebounds apiece to pace Drake.
   
Young moved into No. 5 on the Drake career three-point basket made list at 152, surpassing Lynnrick Rogers (1993-97) and B.J. Windhorst (1994-96) who made 151.

COLD SHOOTING SPOILS OPENER: Butler held Drake to just 31.1 percent shooting from the floor to spoil the head coaching debut of Mark Phelps, en route to a 58-48 victory in the season opener for both teams last Saturday (Nov. 15).
   
It was a rematch of the classic 2008 ESPNU BracketBusters game which pitted then No. 16 ranked Drake at then No. 8 ranked Butler.
   
In a game which saw 15 lead changes, Drake came away with a 71-64 victory last Feb. 28 en route to finishing the season with a school-record 28-5 mark. Butler posted a 30-4 mark in 2007-08 while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
   
This time around Butler scored 12 unanswered points to turn a 5-4 lead into a 17-4 advantage with 10:22 left in the first half and never looked back. Drake made just five of 22 shots in the first half to trail 25-14 at intermission.
   
Junior All-Missouri Valley Conference guard Josh Young, who scored a career-high 25 at Butler  last year, continued his torrid shooting against the Bulldogs by netting a game-high 19 points.
       
But the other members of Drake's starting unit - Brent Heemskerk, Adam Templeton, onathan Cox and Craig Stanley - combined for just 16 points.
   
Drake surpassed its entire first half scoring total in the opening nine minutes eight seconds of the second half.
   
Two free throws by reserve senior forward John Michael Hall pulled Drake within 34-29 with 11:52 remaining. But Butler built the lead back to double digits with a 12-5 run, fueled by five points from freshman forward Gordon Hayward to enjoy a 46-35 advantage.
   
Drake whittled the deficit down to six points twice in the last 3:15. A three-point basket by Young with 1:03 left pulled Drake within 52-46. But sophomore forward Matt Howard, the lone returning starter for Butler, scored four of his team's last six points to seal the victory.
   
Cox finished with seven points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for Drake. Heemskerk tied a career high with nine rebounds for Drake. Heemskerk, Young and senior guard Jacob Baryenbruch had two steals apiece for the Bulldogs. Drake committed 17 turnovers in the game.

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL: Drake, coming off a school-record 28-5 campaign,  received one vote in the inaugural preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll released Oct. 31. The Bulldogs were ranked nine straight weeks in the 2007-08 Associated Press Top 25 poll, finishing No. 14 in the final poll.
   
Three opponents which Drake will play this season also received votes: Vanderbilt 11, Butler seven and Creighton seven.
   
Drake will face Vanderbilt in the Cancun Challenge Nov. 29 and then play either Virginia Commonwealth or New Mexico Nov. 30. Virginia Commonwealth  and New Mexico received eight and three votes, respectively, in the AP preseason poll.

DRAKE IN SEASON OPENERS: The Bulldogs' record in season openers slipped to 66-37 following a 58-48 home loss to Butler Saturday, ending a streak of seven straight season opening wins.
       
A SEASON TO REMEMBER: Picked to finish ninth in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll, Drake was the TALK of college basketball in 2007-08, posting a school-record 28-5 mark while storming to the MVC regular-season and post-season tournament titles. The Bulldogs also made their first appearance to the NCAA Tournament since 1971.
   
The Bulldogs enjoyed a school-record 21-game winning streak, while being ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll nine straight weeks. The 21-game winning streak was the fourth longest winning streak by a team in Missouri Valley Conference history, and the longest winning streak since Bradley reeled off 22 straight wins in 1985-86.
   
Drake started off the MVC season with a 13-0 record before finishing at 15-3 for the most league victories ever by a Bulldog team.
   
Drake became just the 12th regular season MVC champion to also win the league tournament title. Drake's 13-0 league start marked just the fifth time in the last 50 years that a school has enjoyed a 13-0 start in the MVC.  Drake more than doubled its entire MVC victory output of six wins in 2006-07.

DRAKE WINS EXHIBITION TUNE UPS: In a final tune-up before its season opener, junior guard Josh Young scored a game-high 14 points as Drake rallied for a 57-51 victory past Arkansas Tech.  Junior forward Adam Templeton netted 12 points, while senior forward Jonathan Cox added nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds for Drake.
   
Drake shot just 35.6 percent from the floor, making 16 of 45 shots. But the Bulldogs relied on a sizeable advantage at the free throw line, sinking 20 of 28 free throws while Arkansas Tech failed to have a free-throw attempt.
   
A reverse layup by junior transfer guard Craig Stanley with 1 minute 21 seconds left gave Drake a 52-51 advantage.That would be the last basket either team would score as the Bulldogs sealed the victory by making five free throws in the last 53.9 seconds.
   
After a charity toss by Templeton with 18 seconds left pushed Drake's lead to 54-51, senior reserve guard Jacob Baryenbruch preserved the victory when he stole a pass on Arkansas Tech's next possession. Baryenbruch was fouled and made two free throws with eight seconds remaining.
   
After a layup by Stanley gave Drake a 43-41 lead at the 12:01 mark, the Bulldogs would go the next 8:01 without a basket. But Drake's defense held Arkansas Tech scoreless for nearly 7 minutes. A three-point basket by Young pushed Drake's lead to 48-43 before Brandon Friedel ended Arkansas State's dry spell with a basket with 3:53 left.
   
Drake 77, Truman Sate 61 (Nov. 1, 2008, Des Moines, Iowa) ?Senior forward Jonathan Cox collected 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to pace a balanced attack for Drake.Six players scored in double figures for Drake which is the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and post-season tournament champions.
   
Senior guard Jacob Baryenbruch came off the bench to score 14 points, hitting four of six three-point baskets, for Drake. Sophomore guard Josh Parker tallied 11 points, including six in the first half, for the Bulldogs who owned a 41-26 halftime lead.
   
A three-point basket from the left baseline by Parker gave Drake a 5-2 lead that it never relinquished. That also triggered an 11-0 scoring outburst by the Bulldogs.
   
Truman State opened the game making just one of its first 12 shots from the floor in the opening 11 minutes 32 seconds.
   
Junior transfer Craig Stanley, who started at point guard, responded with 12 points in his Drake debut, hitting all four shots from the floor, along with five assists and two steals.
   
Drake junior guard Josh Young, who led the MVC in scoring last year, added 12 points, while fifth-year senior forward Brent Heemskerk netted 10. Heemskerk also blocked three shots as Drake totaled nine rejections in the contest.
   
Drake forced Truman State into 18 turnovers, while scoring 23 points off its miscues. Drake shot 49.1 percent from the floor, hitting 26 of 53 shots, including 50 percent in the second half.

SIZING UP THE BULLDOGS: Despite the loss of graduated seniors Adam Emmenecker, Leonard Houston and Klayton Korver, the Drake basketball team hopes to ride the momentum generated from a record-breaking campaign last year.
   
First-year coach Mark Phelps inherits a roster that has eight returning letterwinners, including All-Missouri Valley Conference performers Josh Young and Jonathan Cox, from a team that posted a school-record 28-5 mark.
   
The Bulldogs were the talk of college basketball in 2007-08. Picked to finish ninth in the MVC preseason poll, Drake reeled off a school-record 21 straight wins  - including 13 straight to begin conference play - en route to becoming the first team to sweep both the MVC regular-season and tournament titles since 2002.
   
Veteran leadership, featuring five seniors, will be a key in aiding the transition of a new staff.
   
"When you look at the returning players coming back, especially the seniors, this team has a taste of winning at a high level and that mentality going into games will be every bit as valuable as our on-court preparation, because in big games they've had success and know what it feels like," said Phelps.
   
"Our players have been terrific. I knew that we were coming into a situation where we had really good players and good people but the reception has been outstanding from our guys. It just confirms what we thought all along that we have some terrific people and I think that will translate to success on the court as well."
   
The Bulldogs' biggest calling card to success was  outside shooting after setting a school single-season mark with 310 three-point baskets.
   
Despite the loss of Korver, who tied the school career mark with 241 treys, Drake should be lethal again from the perimeter with Young, Cox and the addition of junior transfer forward Adam Templeton from UC Irvine.
   
Young, a 6-foot 1-inch junior guard, led the MVC in scoring last year with a 15.9 average, while ranking second with 86 three-point baskets and third in three-point field goal percentage (.434).
   
Selected to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-District VI team, Young enjoyed eight 20-plus scoring games, netting  a career-high 25 in a 71-64 upset at then No. 8 ranked Butler.
   
At 6-8 Cox might be the most versatile frontline performer in the MVC. The former walk-on ranked second in the MVC in rebounding (8.5 avg.), three-point field goal percentage (.440) and defensive rebounding (6.1 avg.).
   
Named to the 2008 MVC Most Improved Team, Cox saved his best for last with a career-high 29 points and 16 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game against Western Kentucky.
   
"Cox is such a unique front court player because he can play all over the floor and at 6-8 he can score in the low post and can operate off the lane and stretch the defense to the perimeter," Phelps added.
   
Senior forwards John Michael Hall (3.5 ppg), Brent Heemskerk (4.7 ppg) and Alex White (3.7 ppg) look to blossom in more expanded roles. Two-year letterwinner Bill Eaddy, a 6-5 junior swingman, also is expected to make his presence known.
   
"Several of those players who haven't had a major role on the floor, to date in their career, have an opportunity to step up in a big way for us," said Phelps.
   
The biggest shoe to fill is at point guard where Adam Emmenecker graduated after being named both the Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year as well as the MVC Tournament MVP. He set a school single-season record with 213 assists last year.
   
Sophomore Josh Parker, who was Emmenecker's understudy, will battle junior Craig Stanley, a transfer from Collin (Texas) County Community College, and senior Jacob Baryenbruch for the vacated position. Baryenbruch, who started in five games last year, is a three-year letterwinner, who impressed Phelps during preseason workouts. Parker played in 31 games as a freshman averaging 2.0 points.

NEW KIDS ON BLOCK: Newcomers who are expected to contribute immediately are junior transfers Craig Stanley from Collin (Texas) County Community College and  Adam Templeton from UC Irvine.
   
The 6-5 Templeton was a two-year starter at UC Irvine where he was named to the Big West Conference All-Freshman team in 2005-06. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Anteaters in 2006-07, while leading the team with 59 three-point baskets. He led the squad in scoring in five games, with a career-high 19 points at Drake in 2006. He also had a double-double in an upset win vs. South Carolina, collecting 16 points and 10 rebounds. Templeton earned first team all-state honors as a senior at Rapid City (S.D.) Central High School, while averaging 19.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in leading his team to the state tournament.
   
Stanley ranked seventh nationally in assists last year, averaging 5.4 and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.14). He averaged 11.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 2006-07, while leading Collin County Community College to a 21-9 record. He enjoyed double-doubles of 10 points and 10 assists against Southwestern Christian College and a career-high 23 points and 10 assists against Jacksonville. He earned first-team All-District 8-5A honors as a senior at West High School in Plano, Texas, in 2006 after leading the team in scoring (13.1 avg.) and assists (3.6 avg.).

PREP STANDOUTS JOIN PROGRAM: High school basketball standouts Aaron Hawley, a 6-foot 7-inch forward from Rogers, Ark.; Ben Simons, a 6-7 guard from Cadillac, Mich.; David Smith, a 6-3 guard from Chicago;  Reece Uhlenhopp, a 6-7 forward from Urbandale, Iowa; and Seth VanDeest, a 6-9 forward from Bettendorf, Iowa, have signed national letters of intent indicating they will join the Drake men's basketball program.
   
“We are very excited to announce the signing of five outstanding young men who will join us as freshmen here at Drake in the fall of 2009,” said Drake coach Mark Phelps. “Each of these young men comes to us with demonstrated success and each has had the privilege of playing for winning high school basketball programs. 
       
“These five men exemplify the type of student-athletes we want to recruit to Drake. They excel in the classroom, they are men of character and integrity and are versatile, talented basketball players. Each of these young men are from terrific families and are very enjoyable to be around.”
       
Hawley will enter his third year as a starter at Rogers High School where he earned Arkansas Class VII all-state honors in 2007-08. Hawley also was named to the all-region teams of the Northwest Arkansas Morning News, The Benton County Daily Record and the KURM Dream Team.
   
The two-time all-league performer averaged 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2007-08 keying his team to a 21-8 record en route to the quarterfinal round of the Arkansas VII State Tournament. He scored 30 points vs. Little Rock Central as a sophomore, while tallying 28 points vs. Alma last year.
   
“Aaron is a versatile, athletic wing who has the ability to be successful from a variety of areas on the floor,” said Phelps.  “He shoots the ball very well from the perimeter and the ability to also score around the basket.  His competitive nature and desire to excel makes him stand out among his peers.”
       
Simons earned first-team Michigan Class B all-state honors by the Detroit Free Press and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. He was a two-time first team All-Big North Conference performer who averaged 18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 blocked shots, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 2007-08 while leading Cadillac to a 16-6 record. Simons had 29 points vs. Traverse City Central, while grabbing 15 rebounds vs. Mount Pleasant. He is a nominee for the 2009 McDonald's High School All-American game.                                     
       
“Ben is a versatile guard who can put the ball on the floor very well and has a great shooting touch from beyond the college line,” pointed out Phelps. “His high basketball IQ, length and ability to score make him an ideal fit for our style of play.  He grew up in a basketball family and has a great passion for and knowledge of the game.”
           
Smith is a three-year starter at Lake Forest Academy, who has been a two-time first-team all-conference performer. He averaged 13.0 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals in 2007-08 after guiding the team to a 24-9 record including the Independent School League title with a 13-0 mark.
            
Smith is a nominee for the 2009 McDonald's High School All-American game. A three-time team captain, he had a career-high 22 points as a sophomore vs. Luther North. The versatile athlete also won the high jump in the 2008 Independent School League meet.
   
“David is an explosive guard who can create shots for himself and others,” Phelps said.  “He has great speed and quickness and is a very effective open court player.  David is court savvy, has a high basketball IQ and plays with tremendous poise.  He will be a very important addition to our backcourt.”
           
Uhlenhopp earned third-team all-state honors in 2007-08 by the Iowa Newspaper Association. He was a first-team all-district choice who averaged 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from floor in 2007-08.
           
Uhlenhopp helped lead Urbandale to 13-9 record last year, including its fourth straight Central Iowa Metro League title. He is the step-brother of former Drake women's basketball standout Jill Martin (2003-08) who was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer.
           
“Reece is a forward who will provide great versatility and toughness along our front line,” added Phelps.  “He can score around the basket in a variety of ways while also being able to step out and shoot from the perimeter.  Reece is a very hard worker and understands what it means to be a student-athlete at Drake University.”
   
VanDeest earned second-team all-conference honors in 2007-008, while guiding Bettendorf to a 19-4 record including a second-place conference finish. He averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
           
“Seth is a skilled center with tremendous toughness and determination,” Phelps said. “He has very good footwork, is an excellent passer and has a variety of post moves. Seth also has an excellent shooting touch for a player his size. Seth has a strong desire to reach his full potential. His grit and work ethic stood out to our staff during the recruiting process.”