The Drake Bulldogs return to Missouri Valley Conference play on Wednesday night with a visit to Missouri State. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five games but coach Tom Davis says his team has not become demoralized. Davis says it helps that a lot of guys are new to what they’re doing. He says if it was something where they were repeating the tough loses year after year, it would be tougher to take.
In the last couple of weeks Drake has lost by two points to U-N-I and dropped a one point decision to Southern Illinois. Davis says the players recognize the league is strong and they’re going to come up short sometimes.
Missouri State is 6-5 in the Valley after winning at Indiana State.
Bears coach Barry Hinson says their confidence is a little bit higher now than it has been. This is the teams second meeting but Hinson says it is always difficult to prepare for Drake’s press. He says there’s so much emphasis on the press, but he says they also change defenses at all times on the floor. The Bulldogs are 4-7 in the Valley and 11-11 overall.