Drake Looking for Quick Transition – DeVries Part 2

More Talent Could Lead to a Quick Transition

(St. Louis, MO) – Rebuilding a decimated roster with some high level talent could lead Drake to a quick transition in the Missouri Valley Conference. In the second part of our interview with new head coach Darian DeVries we discussed Drake’s new recruits and his desired style of play.

After 20 seasons at Creighton, DeVries plans on a playing style similar to that of the Bluejays. DeVries coached under both Dana Altman and Greg McDermott in Omaha and helped Creighton to 19 postseason appearances including 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament. The former Northern Iowa Panther both played and coached in the Valley.

Drake was hit hard by graduation and virtually every player recruited to join the Bulldog program under Niko Medved decided to decommit when Medved left or Colorado State. Just five players remain from last year’s team.

McGlynn The Foundation

Senior Nick McGlynn is the only player MVC fans will remember from last season. If Drake’s hopes of a quick transition are to be realized, the 6’8 senior will have to produce in significant ways. McGlynn is the only returning player from last season’s eight man rotation. He was Drake’s second leading scorer (11.8 points per game) and rebounder (5.7 per game).

DeVries says he loves McGlynn’s work ethic, energy level and that the Bulldogs will lean on his experience.

 

 

McGlynn scored 46 points in last spring’s two postseason games.

Grad Transfers

For a team looking for a quick transition, the Bulldogs found two graduate transfers to bolster their lineup. Nick Norton and Brady Ellingson join Drake after successful careers in other Division 1 programs.

Norton, a 5’10 point guard has been one of the most efficient ball handlers in all of college basketball. He averaged 4.9 assists per game with UAB last season while scoring 7.5 points per game. He missed most of 2016-17 with an injury after being named to the  all-Conference USA third team while leading the league in assist-turnover ratio and averaging almost nine points per game.

Ellingson played 94 games with Iowa and completed 40% of his three-point shots. The 6’4 Wisconsin native brings more experience and scoring ability to the DeVries arsenal. The first year coach says both players bring talent and creativity. Norton, in particular, can step right into a ‘quarterback’ position and run the Bulldog offense.

 

 

Florida Southwestern Connection

If you want a quick transition from a decimated roster to one with significant depth, then go find three solid players from one program. As we heard in Part One – Remaking Bulldog Basketball, DeVries hired his old friend Marty Richter to assist him in Des Moines. Richter convinced DeVries that three of his players from Florida Southwestern State College, could boost the talent level at Drake.

Joining Richter and DeVries are twins Tremell and Anthony Murphy and a third player D.J. Wilkins. Tremell (6’6) is the more celebrated of the twins (ranked as the 20th best juco player in the country by jucorecruiting.com) but DeVries says they are interchangeable wings.

The 6’2 Wilkins is a three-star recruit (verbalcommits.com) and missed last season with an injury. The Murpys were both double digit scorers and all conference performers for the Buccaneers and have two years of eligibility, while Wilkins will join the Bulldogs as a freshman.

DeVries says his Buccaneer recruits are versatile and talented.

 

 

What he likes about the Murphy twins is the way that they compete.

 

 

Big Freshmen

While DeVries is working on a quick transition of styles and talent accumulation, he knows he also needs a long term plan. He has stockpiled talented perimeter players to accelerate the his team’s progression, but he has loaded his front court with freshman ‘bigs’.

Since McGlynn is the only proven post player, DeVries landed 6’9 James Moors (New Zealand), Davenport’s 7-footer Liam Robbins and 6’8 Matthew Gray (Australia). The first-year coach says he needed to build some depth behind McGlynn.

 

 

Bulldog Playing Style

After working 20 years at Creighton, DeVries says the Drake playing style will be similar to that which was employed by Greg McDermott’s Bluejays. He wants to play fast and wants his team make a quick transition from defense to offense.

Drake will take every opportunity to ‘push the basketball’. DeVries wants his team to play fast and play with confidence.

 

 

I asked the long-time assistant about the biggest changes he’s facing as a head coach. He says, now he’s the one that has to answer all the tough questions.

 

 

After a resurgent season under Niko Medved and then his surprise departure, Drake and DeVries have hit the ground running and will be one of the most interesting teams in this year’s Missouri Valley Conference race.

Do Good

 

Editor: Correction. James Moors, originally signed to Drake while Niko Medved was the head coach is no longer with the program.