Jeff Rutter – Growing Bulldog Confidence

(St. Louis, MO) – In the six weeks that Jeff Rutter has been Drake’s basketball coach, the transformation has been amazing. On December 6^th the Bulldogs were 1-7, had not scored as many as 80 points in any game, and their only win was over Division 3 Simpson College.

The Bulldogs were snake-bitten. All seven of their losses were by 11 or fewer points and six of those defeats came by six or fewer points. Head Coach Ray Giacoletti resigned and Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb, selected Rutter as the interim head coach.

Drake lost its first three games under Rutter, but almost immediately the team looked like a different squad. They were scoring more, playing faster and the team seemed energized in a fresh way.

Since those first three losses, the Bulldogs have won five of eight games and are tied for third place (4-3) in the Missouri Valley Conference race. Rutter joined the Drake staff with Giacoletti four seasons ago, and brought previous MVC experience with him as a former assistant at Northern Iowa.

One of his fellow assistant coaches at UNI was current Panther head coach Ben Jacobson, who says he knew Rutter would do a good job and enjoy success in Des Moines.

 

 

The improvement has been obvious. Not only has Drake won games, but they are scoring more points and the players are having fun. Twice the Bulldogs have topped the 100 point mark. Six times they’ve reached the 80-point mark, and they’ve won five straight games in the Knapp Center.

Long time friend, and Indiana State coach Greg Lansing says Rutter works hard and the team is much better.

 

 

After Wednesday’s win over Southern Illinois, guard Ore Arogundade said he’s having more fun than he has ever had playing basketball. Rutter said he is enjoying watching his players grow in confidence and in their abilities to make what he calls ‘winning plays’.

 

 

(video excerpts used by permission of godrakebulldogs.com)

Part of Drake’s success is tied to the emergence of Arogundade and transfer De’Antae McMurray. Arogundade scored a career high 19 points in Wednesday’s win over SIU. After reaching double figures in scoring one time in the first 11 games, Arogundade has reached that level in seven of the Bulldogs last eight games.

McMurray who averaged 6.6 points per game during non-conference games, is averaging 13 points per game in Valley play.

Drake faces a stiff test and a good measuring rod Saturday when they travel to first place Illinois State. The Redbirds lead the Valley in most of the defensive statistical categories and the Bulldogs are 0-9 away from Knapp Center.

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