Is Drake the Home Team?

DeVries Clan Comes Home

(Omaha, NE) – Drake head coach Darian DeVries coached at Omaha’s Creighton University for twenty years and star forward Tucker DeVries grew up in this town. So the question has to be asked, ‘is Drake the home team’ when they play Washington State tonight?

Tucker DeVries has many childhood memories of the town, but also CHI Medical Health Arena. He says walking back in the building felt really good and he’s looking forward to making new memories this week.

“Obviously it felt pretty good (walking back into the arena). I have a lot of memories,” he said. “I was able to come back this year for Doug’s (McDermott) jersey retirement. So being back here, kind of soaking it all in and you know, hopefully being able to create my own memories here as a player would be pretty special.”

DeVries has great admiration and respect for Omaha and the Creighton program. His memories are from a youthful perspective that has grown into a now informed understanding.

“Growing up as a little kid just running around the place and probably being annoying,” said Tucker.  “Obviously getting to see so many great players play in this building. I feel like a lot of my memories are a lot of everybody else’s memories of watching Doug play and all the great teams that were able to win a couple of championships here.”

Is Drake the home team?

“I expect it to be a great crowd and hopefully a pro Drake crowd too,” said DeVries. “I think it’s nice that our fans were able to make the short trip down here and come to the game. There’s gonna be a lot of Iowa State fans here that hopefully support us for the first game and obviously just Omaha people that were able to get tickets and hopefully they’re pro Drake as well. We’ll take all the fans we can get.”

Is Drake the Home Team – Darian DeVries

The elder DeVries was a long time member of Greg McDermott’s staff when Creighton was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and then when the Bluejay program transitioned to the Big East.

Drake’s head coach says coming back to a former, long-term home is truly special.

“I’m excited to be in the tournament again,” said coach DeVries. “Really excited to be here in Omaha as well. It’s one of those things that when our name popped up on the board and there was some excitement in the area from our fans in our team to be able to be this close to home and have so many of our fans been able to get a chance to come over and watch us play.”

He and Tucker spent a lot of time in this arena during his son’s formative years. Darian DeVries knows how special it is to be back.

“We spent a lot of time on this this gym floor when he was growing up,” said Darian. “So it’s a special feeling to be back. We get a chance to play here to play in front of so many people that we have friendships with over the last 20 years.”

The Bulldogs take on Washington State’s Cougars at 9:05 Thursday on TruTV.

Is Drake the home team?

We’ll find out tonight.

Do Good

 

Editor: Go here to hear our exclusive interview with coach DeVries.