Is Cinderella in Des Moines?

In college basketball when you talk about winning streaks, talent and March Madness the usual powerhouse programs naturally come to mind. We’ve all come to understand and expect that there will always be a run of consecutive victories and exceptional talent in Chapel Hill, Los Angeles, and Lawrence, KS. Year in and year out these programs reload with strong, athletic McDonalds All-Americans, and they will always be the headliners for the big show in March. One thing however, is very clear, when you typically talk about hot spots for great college basketball Des Moines, IA rarely makes that list.

Well folks…Meet the Drake Bulldogs. Sitting atop the Missouri Valley Conference at 11-0, with an overall record of 20-1, Drake has quietly put together a fine basketball season and just may be your 2008 March Madness Cinderella Story. Led by senior sharpshooter Klayton Korver averaging nearly 19ppg, the Bulldogs are ranked 16 (yes, 16th!) in this week’s AP poll, and likely to rise next week with the win Saturday over Indiana St. If the name “Korver” sounds familiar to you MVC fans, it’s because you remember older brother Kyle who starred at Creighton and is now playing in the NBA for the Utah Jazz. They also have another brother Kaleb, currently playing at Creighton. We’re talking about serious family genes here, people.

Finishing 7th out of 10 in the league, with a sub-par record of 6-10 (17-15 overall) last year, the Bulldogs seem to have really turned the corner this year just completing a sweep over conference rival Creighton. A feat they haven’t achieved since the 1994-95 season. There clicking on all cylinders and their only loss this year was at #20 St. Mary’s (a team that is expected to battle Gonzaga for the West Coast Conference title). I know what you Major Conference fanatics are saying…”It’s a Missouri Valley Conference team. The conference is suspect at best.”, but I’m telling you this team looks good, and I think they’re for real. Do not be surprised if they make a run in the tourney. As Dickie V might say, “Are you serious? Drake? This is flat-out wacky. Let’s see if the glass slipper fits, baby!”