Drake Preview and Game Thread -- 2-14-2021

[JCT]

Sunday, February 14, 2021 2:00 pm
Knapp Center, Des Moines, Iowa


The #22 Loyola Ramblers trailed Drake by three at halftime on Saturday, but shot 70.4% from the field in the second half en route to a decisive 81-54 win. The second half surge lifted the Ramblers to 18-3 overall, separated Loyola from Drake in the conference loss column, and marked the seventh win for Loyola in the last eight games between the two teams.

A Loyola win in Sunday's rematch at the Knapp Center could effectively lock up the regular season title for the Ramblers with three games remaining. A Drake win on Sunday could keep alive the prospect of the Bulldogs earning an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament should they not win on Sunday at Arch Madness.

By nearly everyone's account, the Bulldogs haven't been as sharp since their Covid break in early-mid January. But the loss of their leading scorer ShanQuan Hemphill to foot surgery early in the week was obvious in their second half struggles against the Ramblers on Saturday. Hemphill's energy, size, and length were noticeably absent on Saturday, but the Bulldogs have become known for players answering the call of "next man up." Over the past three seasons, Drake has lost top players to injury for long stretches-- Nick Norton in 2018-19, Tremell Murphy last year, and now Hemphill.

Coach Darian DeVries has worked wonders with Drake in his 2+ seasons. He earned a tie (with the Ramblers) for the regular season championship in 2018-19, and notched a 20-win season in their injury-plagued 2019-20 season. With their 19-2 start to 2020-21,DeVries is 63-26 (.708) at Drake.

Roman Penn, a 6'0" senior transfer from Siena, is the league's best point guard. A native of Calumet City, he averages 12.0 points and 5.6 assists per game. Penn was terrific last year and named to all conference 2nd team in the preseason poll, but he has improved his shot selection. Six-two junior shooting guard DJ Wilkins has nailed 45 of his 104 three-point attempts on the season (43.2%), and averages 9.7 points per game.

Dynamic 6'3" junior guard Garret Sturtz earned the start on Saturday in place of Hemphill. Sturtz is a really dangerous offensive player who likes to mix it up at the basket and has great hands. He's the team leader in steals, has a nose for rebounds, and brings a lot of energy. He averages 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Also at the forward position is 6'6" redshirt senior Tremell Murphy of Griffith, Ind., who missed all but five games last season. Murphy averages 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and shoots well from distance (39.4%).

Six-foot-ten Seton Hall transfer Darnell Brodie uses his height and 275 pounds very effectively to screen guards on the drive, make rebounds, and score near the rim. The big center has capably filled the hole left by 7-footer Liam Robbins, who ditched Drake for Minnesota at the end of last season. Brodie averages 7.4 points, 7.3 rebounds.

The top players off the bench are 6'0" sophomore guard Joseph Yesufu, 6'3" senior guard Jonah Jackson, 6'8" freshman forward Nate Ferguson out of Lemont, Ill., and 6'8" freshman forward Issa Samake. Yesufu is quick, active and averages 8.8 points; the Bollingbrook, Ill. native might remind some Rambler fans a little bit of Marquise Kennedy. Jackson is almost exclusively a three-point shooter and averages 3.7 points per game. Frontcourt fill-ins Ferguson and Samake are inexperienced but athletic.

Drake is a really resilient and hard-scrabble team, so don't expect them to be cowed by Saturday's 27-point loss. Coach DeVries has pulled off some shocking wins with limited resources in the past, such as 8 seed Drake's jaw-dropping 77-56 upset of 1 seed UNI in last season's Arch Madness quarterfinal. Earlier this season, the then-undefeated Bulldogs followed their 78-76 overtime comeback win over Illinois State on Jan. 31 with a 35-point drubbing the next day. And after losing their first game of the season last week at Valparaiso, Drake followed it by putting a 21-point beat down on UNI.


Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... 13_21_.pdf

Drake game notes: https://godrakebulldogs.com/documents/2 ... Loyola.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN2 https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=ed ... 3a7e0d2255

Internet audio feed: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=70&type=Live

Live stats: https://godrakebulldogs.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Vegas odds: Loyola by 5.5

[Chiguy14]

Thanks for the quick post, JCT.

[swellafelon]

I think a win will pretty much sew up an at-large bid, barring a collapse of epic proportions.

[Chiguy14]

I think a win will pretty much sew up an at-large bid, barring a collapse of epic proportions.

Agreed. We have three easy home games after this. Hoping for no cancelations.

[swellafelon]

I think a win will pretty much sew up an at-large bid, barring a collapse of epic proportions.

Agreed. We have three easy home games after this. Hoping for no cancelations.

I knew if I kept saying this game after game somebody would eventually agree with me!

[GoRamblers]

Drake is going to be physical today. We need to not panic a d let them get themselves into foul trouble again.

As of now, though, the refs are letting them play (for better or worse). Just keep fighting

[swellafelon]

Is it the same set of refs?

[GoRamblers]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Blers42]

We’re looking good so far in the first half, a few too many turnovers but we’re up!

[JCT]

These two teams are exhausted.