Drake Bulldogs Expecting the Unexpected

They Always Believed

(St. Louis, MO) – When the horn went off signaling the Drake championship at Arch Madness, the confetti flew, the music played and trophies given, but this was the culmination Ben McCollum’s team expecting the unexpected.

While they may not have known they would win the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and postseason tournament, but they expected to be highly successful and believed they could win big.

Expecting the unexpected comes from the quiet confidence that comes with preparation, hard work, strong character and friendship. McCollum and his Northwest Missouri State transfers brought that winning DNA with them to Des Moines.

After six years of unmitigated success under Darian DeVries, fans and administrators at Drake have high expectations to begin with. Coming into the season, the Bulldogs were the two-time reigning tournament champions.

When DeVries left for West Virginia, McCollum had to completely rebuild the roster, create his roster’s culture and learn a new landscape. What he didn’t have to learn, was how to win.

As Athletic Director Brian Hardin says, winners know how to win, because they know what it takes to win.

(We spoke with coach McCollum, right after he was hired at Drake)

With the tournament title comes a trip to the NCAA Tournament and McCollum told me that ultimately that’s why he took the job.

“I think it was 3:00 AM and I woke up. I’m like, huh, think I want to do this thing,” said McCollum. “And really, kind of, there was a moment there that I said, Why do I want to make this change? And playing in the Division One NCAA Tournament was a part of that decision. Not only just to play or coach for a different program, try to make a difference. You know? Somewhere else but playing there (in the NCAA Tournament).“

Players Expecting the Unexpected

Four Division 2 players from Norhtwest Missouri, a couple of Wyoming transfers, a junior college player, one freshman and one returning player became McCollum’s team. Observers (including this one) kept expecting Drake’s lack of depth to catch up with them. Instead, the Valley’s ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ came from this roster.

At NMSU the quartet of Bennett Stirtz, Daniel Abreu, Mitch Mascari and Isaiah Jackson won two conference championships, league tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA D2 Round of 32 and a Sweet Sixteen.

The year before Stirtz arrived in Maryville, Missouri, the other three were part of the Bearcats’ fourth National Championship under McCollum. Moving to Division 1 and the Missouri Valley Conference didn’t spook this bunch of winners.

Stirtz and Abreu told me they expected to be highly successful. They didn’t know how successful they’d be, but they were not intimidated by the brighter lights.

McCollum’s similar sentiment revolved around the process. The spectacularly successful head coach (424-94-.819) obviously wants to win, but he is more concerned with building the right thing with the right kind of players. He believes when you do those two things, and work extremely hard you should start expecting the unexpected.

The four former Bearcats were the Bulldog starters, but the unsung heroes of Drake’s team may be the two players McCollum called the ‘Mash Brothers’. Cam Manyawu and ‘Sixth Man’ Tavion Banks relentlessly crashed the championship game offensive window. McCollum says when Stirtz shoots, they probably think of it as a pass and want to go get it.

Three-Peat – Expecting the Unexpected

When Hardin recruited and then signed McCollum, he was expecting good things. He has enjoyed a long string of success in his coaching hires. Drake’s third straight tournament title made them just the second team in Valley history to win three straight (Southern Illinois 1993,1994,1995).

Hardin knew McCollum would win. How soon, or how much he would win was unknown, but Hardin was secretly expecting the unexpected. I asked him which of the three titles is his favorite.

Now there is no way to expect who and where the Bulldogs will play next. Nationally known bracketologists have them pegged as an eleven or twelve seed in the NCAA Tournament. Friend of the site, Rocco Miller had them as an eleven and playing BYU. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi agrees with the eleven slotting, but playing UCLA. Others list the Dogs as a twelve and facing Mississippi.

We’ll find out on Sunday night.

No matter who they play or where they play them, we will be expecting the unexpected.

Do Good