DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake men's basketball had a historic 2022-23 season. The Bulldogs won their first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship since 2008 and went to their second NCAA Tournament in three years.
Despite losing four key contribuors — Garrett Sturtz, Roman Penn, D.J. Wilkins and Sardaar Calhoun — Drake has been picked to repeat as champs.
"I think our guys are motivated by it," said head coach Darian Devries. "They want to live up to those expectations. But as we talk to them about every single day, those expectations come, you know, with our own expectations of what that looks like."
Drake returns reigning Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year and starter Darnell Brodie and brings in 10 newcomers. This season, it will look like an entirely new team in the Knapp Center.
"It's preseason," said redshirt sophomore Conor Enright. "So in the end, it doesn't necessarily matter. But you know, I like that for our guys. It's something to chase after, you know, especially (with) a lot of new dudes. So it's a goal that's in sight. And I think that, you know, pushes us further."
Drake tips off the season at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 against Truman State in the Knapp Center.