Ray Giacoletti (file photo)
Drake has been a fixture on Thursday night at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament over the years but the Bulldogs would avoid the dreaded play-in round with a victory on Wednesday night.
Drake hosts Loyola of Chicago and the winner locks up the sixth seed and a spot in the quarterfinals. Both teams are 6-10 in the Valley.
“It is a big deal, I am hoping somewhere down the road it is not as big a deal,” Drake coach Ray Giacoletti. He says compared to where they were at at Christmas it would be a big accomplishment. especially after staring Valley play 0-5.
Giacoletti says it would be nice to not play on Thursday, but he says they also have bigger aspirations than to just not be playing on Thursday.
The Bulldogs are 9-19 overall.