2024–25 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team

2024–25 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record12–1 (2–1 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Josh Sash
  • Bryston Williams
  • Connor Wheeler
Home arenaKnapp Center
Seasons
2024–25 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Bradley 3 – 0   1.000 12 – 2   .857
Northern Iowa 3 – 0   1.000 9 – 5   .643
Drake 2 – 1   .667 12 – 1   .923
UIC 2 – 1   .667 9 – 4   .692
Indiana State 2 – 1   .667 8 – 6   .571
Evansville 2 – 1   .667 5 – 9   .357
Murray State 1 – 1   .500 7 – 6   .538
Belmont 1 – 2   .333 9 – 5   .643
Valparaiso 1 – 2   .333 8 – 6   .571
Illinois State 0 – 2   .000 8 – 5   .615
Missouri State 0 – 3   .000 7 – 7   .500
Southern Illinois 0 – 3   .000 5 – 9   .357
† 2025 MVC tournament winner
As of January 1, 2025

The 2024–25 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Drake University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, play their home games at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). It is the first season since 2018-19 that the Bulldogs will play without Darian DeVries as head coach.

Previous Season

The Bulldogs finished the 2023–24 season 28–7, 16–4 in MVC play to finish in second place. In the MVC tournament, they defeated Evansville, Bradley, and Indiana State to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West region, where they narrowly lost to Washington State in the first round.

On March 24, 2024, it was announced that head coach Darian DeVries was leaving the school to take the head coaching job at West Virginia.[1] Subsequently, most of the roster entered the transfer portal.[2] On April 1, the school named Division II Northwest Missouri State head coach Ben McCollum as the team's new head coach.[3]

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Kyron Gibson 0 G 6'1" 198 Sr Alexandria, LA Graduated
Kevin Overton 1 G 6'5" 180 Fr Oklahoma City, OK Transferred to Texas Tech
Brashon Hall 2 G 6'1" 185 RS So Roswell, GA Transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson
Colby Garland 3 G 6'1" 183 Fr Magnolia, AR Transferred to Longwood
Conor Enright 4 G 6'0" 180 RS So Mundelein, IL Transferred to DePaul
Patrick Bath 9 F 6'9" 210 Fr Plymouth, MN Transferred to North Dakota State
Atin Wright 10 G 6'1" 185 Jr Hawthorne, CA Transferred to North Texas
Bennett Fried 11 F 6'7" 170 Fr La Crosse, WI Transferred to Augustana (SD)
Tucker DeVries 12 G/F 6'7" 210 Jr Waukee, IA Transferred to West Virginia
Carlos Rosario 13 F 6'7" 180 RS So Santo Domingo, D.R. Transferred to Oral Roberts
Chico Johnson 20 G 6'3" 180 Fr Toledo, OH Transferred to USC Upstate
Elijah Price 22 F 6'9" 195 Fr Long Beach, CA Transferred to Fresno State
Ethan Roberts 23 G 6'5" 195 So Arlington Heights, IL Transferred to Penn
Eric Northweather 35 F/C 6'10" 225 Jr Jefferson City, MO Left Program
Darnell Brodie 51 C 6'10" 275 GS Newark, NJ Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Cam Manyawu 3 F 6'8" 230 So Kansas City, MO Transferred from Wyoming
Isaiah Jackson 4 G 6'3" 180 GS Independence, MO Transferred from NW Missouri State
Eli Shetlar 10 G 6'6" 190 So Wichita, KS Transferred from Indiana State
Kael Combs 11 G 6'4" 190 So Nixa, MO Transferred from Wyoming
Bennett Stirtz 14 G 6'4" 180 Jr Liberty, MO Transferred from NW Missouri State
Mitch Mascari 22 G 6'5" 200 GS Geneva, IL Transferred from NW Missouri State
Daniel Abreu 54 F 6'6" 220 GS Springfield, MO Transferred from NW Missouri State

2024 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaia Howard
SG 		Plattsburg, MO Plattsburg 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) May 2, 2024 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Joey Matteoni
PF 		Overland Park, KS Blue Valley Northwest 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Apr 9, 2024 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Tavion Banks
SG 		Kansas City, MO NW Florida State College 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) May 3, 2024 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 156  ESPN: —
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

Preseason

The Bulldogs, as the defending Arch Madness champions, were picked to finish fifth in the conference's preseason poll.[4] Forward Cam Manyawu and guard Bennett Stirtz were selected to the Preseason All-MVC third team.[5]

Roster

2024–25 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 3 Cam Manyawu 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Wyoming
Staley 		Kansas City, MO
G 4 Isaiah Jackson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) GS NW Missouri State
William Chrisman 		Independence, MO
G/F 6 Tavion Banks 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr NW Florida State Kansas City, MO
G 10 Eli Shetlar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Indiana State
Andover 		Wichita, KS
G 11 Kael Combs 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Wyoming
Nixa 		Nixa, MO
G 14 Bennett Stirtz 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr NW Missouri State
Liberty 		Liberty, MO
G 21 Andrew Alia (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS So St. Joseph Kenosha, WI
G 22 Mitch Mascari 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS NW Missouri State
Geneva 		Geneva, IL
G 23 Isaia Howard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Plattsburg Plattsburg, MO
F 24 Nate Ferguson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Lemont Lemont, IL
F 44 Joey Matteoni 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Blue Valley Northwest Overland Park, KS
F 54 Daniel Abreu 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) GS NW Missouri State
Willard 		Springfield, MO
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 14, 2024

Schedule and Results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
November 4, 2024*
6:30 pm, ESPN+ 		York (NE) W 93–41  1–0
  30 – Abreu   12 – Manyawu   7 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (2,514)
Des Moines, IA
November 10, 2024*
1:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Stephen F. Austin W 66–51  2–0
  26 – Mascari   5 – Manyawu   5 – Jackson  Knapp Center (2,627)
Des Moines, IA
November 16, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Florida Gulf Coast W 63–61  3–0
  25 – Stirtz   7 – Stirtz   4 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (2,862)
Des Moines, IA
November 21, 2024*
11:00 am, ESPN2 		vs. Miami (FL)
Shriners Children's Charleston Classic Quarterfinal 		W 80–69  4–0
  21 – Stirtz   10 – Abreu   6 – Stirtz  TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
November 22, 2024*
10:30 am, ESPN2 		vs. Florida Atlantic
Shriners Children's Charleston Classic Semifinal 		W 75–63  5–0
  22 – Mascari   10 – Jackson   6 – Stirtz  TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
November 24, 2024*
7:30 pm, ESPN 		vs. Vanderbilt
Shriners Children's Charleston Classic Final 		W 81–70  6–0
  18 – Manyawu   11 – Manyawu   11 – Stirtz  TD Arena (2,119)
Charleston, SC
November 30, 2024*
5:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Georgia Southern W 61–47  7–0
  15 – Abreu   7 – Abreu   6 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (3,061)
Des Moines, IA
December 5, 2024
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Valparaiso W 66–60  8–0
(1–0) 		 29 – Stirtz   10 – Manyawu   4 – Stirtz  Athletics-Recreation Center (1,488)
Valparaiso, IN
December 12, 2024*
7:30 pm, ESPN+ 		St. Ambrose W 90–35  9–0
  15 – Banks   7 – Manyawu   7 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (4,919)
Des Moines, IA
December 17, 2024*
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		vs. Kansas State
Wildcat Classic 		W 73–70 OT 10–0
  25 – Mascari   8 – Jackson   8 – Jackson  T-Mobile Center (9,210)
Kansas City, MO
December 21, 2024*
5:00 pm, MC22/ESPN+ 		Green Bay W 72–62  11–0
  21 – Jackson   12 – Jackson   6 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (3,418)
Des Moines, IA
December 29, 2024
1:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Belmont W 65–46  12–0
(2–0) 		 20 – Stirtz   8 – Jackson   4 – Stirtz  Knapp Center (5,231)
Des Moines, IA
January 1, 2025
2:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at UIC L 70–74  12–1
(2–1) 		 30 – Stirtz   12 – Manyawu   12 – Stirtz  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,200)
Chicago, IL
January 5, 2025
2:00 pm, ESPN2 		Murray State       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
January 8, 2025
6:00 pm, CBSSN 		at Bradley       Carver Arena 
Peoria, IL
January 11, 2025
5:00 pm, MC22/ESPN+ 		Evansville       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
January 15, 2025
8:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Illinois State       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
January 18, 2025
TBA, ESPN+ 		at Indiana State       Hulman Center 
Terre Haute, IN
January 22, 2025
6:30 pm, MC22/ESPN+ 		Valparaiso       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
January 25, 2025
3:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Missouri State       Great Southern Bank Arena 
Springfield, MO
January 29, 2025
6:00 pm, ESPN+ 		Northern Iowa       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
February 1, 2025
TBA, ESPN+ 		at Southern Illinois       Banterra Center 
Carbondale, IL
February 4, 2025
7:00 pm, TBD 		at Murray State       CFSB Center 
Murray, KY
February 8, 2025
TBA, ESPN+ 		Indiana State       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
February 12, 2025
8:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Illinois State       CEFCU Arena 
Normal, IL
February 16, 2025
TBA, ESPN+ 		Bradley       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
February 19, 2025
6:30 pm, ESPN+ 		UIC       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
February 23, 2025
3:00 pm, ESPN2 		at Northern Iowa       McLeod Center 
Cedar Falls, IA
February 26, 2025
7:00 pm, ESPN+ 		at Evansville       Ford Center 
Evansville, IN
March 2, 2025
TBA, ESPN+ 		Missouri State       Knapp Center 
Des Moines, IA
Conference Tournament
March 6, 2025
TBA, TBD 		vs. 
Arch Madness Opening Round 		      Enterprise Center 
St. Louis, MO
March 7, 2025
TBA, TBD 		vs. 
Arch Madness Quarterfinal 		      Enterprise Center 
St. Louis, MO
March 8, 2025
TBA, CBSSN 		vs. 
Arch Madness Semifinal 		      Enterprise Center 
St. Louis, MO
March 9, 2025
1:15 pm, CBS 		vs. 
Arch Madness Final 		      Enterprise Center 
St. Louis, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Source[6]

Rankings

See also: 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP———RVRVRVRVRVRV—
Coaches———RVRVRVRVRVRV—

References

  1. ^ Hertel, Alyssa. "Drake AD Brian Hardin details Darian DeVries' departure, looks ahead to coaching search". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "DeVries departs Drake, takes over at W. Virginia". March 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Drake names McCollum as men's hoops coach". ESPN.com. April 1, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Wheeler, Wyatt D. "2024 MVC preseason poll is out. See where Missouri State basketball was ranked, all-MVC picks". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "Bradley Picked as MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Favorite". October 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "2024–25 Men's Basketball Schedule". Drake University Athletics.