When Iowa visits Drake Saturday night the Bulldogs will be trying to snap a losing streak in the series that is nearly three decades long. Drake’s last win over the Hawkeyes was back in December of 1978 and since then the Hawkeyes have won 27 straight games.

Bulldog coach Tom Davis has been on both sides of this series and says the lopsided nature begins with talent level. Davis says he doesn’t suspect over the last 20 years that there’s been a player on the Drake roster that’s been offered a scholarship at a Big 10 or Big 12 school. Davis says that leads to competing against 13 scholarship players who’re considered better than your players.

Davis says a program like Drake has to overcome the difference in talent level to be successful. Davis says you can sometimes do that in basketball, as you only play five at a time, and have the home court advantage. Davis says they talk in recruiting about how seldom does a player go to a school other than the biggest school that recruits them.

Drake has already beaten Iowa State this season and Davis says a victory over the Hawkeyes would help boost the program’s image within the state. Davis says it has really surprised him how little interest the local recruits have in Drake. Davis says he’s been well aware of the interest in Iowa and Iowa State, but somewhat amazed that the in-state kids aren’t more interested in Drake.