Drake is on the road in the Missouri Valley Conference to take on Indiana State. It is the team’s second meeting in a week. The Bulldogs beat the Sycamores 76-59 last Wednesday night in Des Moines but Drake coach Tom Davis expects to play a team that is better prepared for their pressure defense as he says every team that sees them the second time is better prepared.
Four of the next five games are on the road for the Bulldogs who have actually shot the ball better away from home. Davis says usually it works the other way around, but he says the team seems to be putting more pressure on themselves at home. Davis hopes more game experience will make that more normal.
Indiana State coach Royce Waltman hopes having played against Drake’s press just a week ago will give his team an advantage. Waltman says he thinks that does help as Drake plays a different type of game than other teams.
The Sycamores got off to a great start this season but have struggled since leading scorer David Moss has been sidelined with an injury. Waltman says his team will be better when he comes back, but he says it’s important to win some before he comes back. Drake is 3-4 in the Valley. Indiana State is 1-6.