Watching the Bulldogs take on the Shockers

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs battle the Wichita State Shockers. The visitors made two out of every three shots in the first half building double digit leads a couple of times in the first half but only took a four point lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Bulldog defense tightened and the Shockers only made one third of their shots count. After tying the score at sixty-seven in the closing minutes, the Bulldogs went on little run and finished the game up 74-69. Josh Young and Adam Templeton, pictured, played key roles throughout the game.

Ringing out 2008 watching Drake take on Missouri State

The men's Bulldog basketball team got their tenth win showing some excellent defense against the Missouri State Bears, 67-49. I've been trying to get images of the team members in some game action this year. By the numbers, 3 is Craig Stanley, 23 is Josh Parker, 22 is Bill Eaddy, and 44 is Adam Templeton. Most of these guys are new to the lineup this year so it's been fun to watch their game develop and how they work as a team.

Checking on the Iowa Energy

Linda and I try to get to at least one game by each of our home town teams each season so we stopped in to see the 2008-09 Iowa Energy NBA Developmental League team. Not being big fans of the NBA, the names weren't familiar but the play was entertaining. It's interesting to see the difference in style of the NBA versus the NCAA games at the Knapp Center. The individual talents that are showcased at the Energy games are impressive while the teamwork and sustained hustle of the Bulldogs draws me in more.

Watching Drake's HyVee Classic First Round Game

Josh Young led the Drake Bulldogs with a 26 point contribution to win 84-73 over Georgia Southern. Josh has been an exciting player the last couple of years and lived up to that reputation in this game. Josh maintained his high caliber of three-point shooting making four of seven from long range as well as ten of twelve from the free-throw line.

Witnessing an NCAA Mens Basketball Record Tying Performance

Linda and I went to see the first round men's basketball game but arrived in time to see an NCAA men's basketball record tied. Ben Woodside of North Dakota State University put on an amazing performance in the early game against Stephen F. Austin University. Woodside put on an impressive display scoring 60 of the Bison's 111 points. Along the way, he MADE 30 of 35 free throws tying the NCAA single-game record set by LSU's "Pistol" Pete Maravich forty years prior! While we weren't aware of the record, we did enjoy the triple overtime game that was in doubt until the final buzzer sounded.

Watching Drake Host Texas Pan American

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs take on Texas-Pan American in the opening round of the Iowa Realty Invitational basketball tournament. The game was hard fought and Drake trailed often and, with under four minutes left in the game, was down 49-56. The 'dogs showed some grit and fought their way back to even the score at 57 before scoring the final basket of the game in the closing seconds. It was quite a game and showed that this team could rally late.

Tipping off the Drake Men's Basketball Season

Last year, the Drake men's basketball team did SO well that Linda and I wondered what the team would be like this year. We finally got to see a game and were treated to that familiar Knapp Center energy. With the Bulldogs winning three of the first four games, the crowd was already enthusiastic. Most of the players were familiar; it was good to see them back on the court. The game was generally close and didn't have the scoring spurts that we'd seen before. Instead, Drake pulled ahead a point or two at a time to ultimately win 75-65. It was good to see the new team and be back at the Knapp.

Watching Drake women in the NIT

Linda and I, in our basketball mood, had just enough time after our lunch / dinner to get over to the Knapp Center to catch the Bulldogs in their National Invitational Tournament opening round game with the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The game was pretty close throughout but Drake closed well and won to move on to play at Illinois.

Watching NCAA Regional Basketball

This year, Iowa State University hosted six opening weekend games of the NCAA women's basketball tournament here in Des Moines. As luck would have it, the Cyclones made the tournament and got to play here as well. With this opportunity being pretty uncommon, Linda and I took advantage and went to the opening round games. Iowa State defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a pretty well played game.

We stuck around for the second game. The inside game of the second seed Scarlet Knights of Rutgers made pretty quick work of Robert Morris. Of course, my photo is of an outside shot... just take my word that the interior game was where the action took place.

Watching Drake host UNI

As is becoming our custom, Linda and I attended another Drake - UNI sporting event. This time, the Drake men's basketball team was hosting and looking to continue to extend a startling streak of sixteen consecutive wins. This year's team is having something of a fairy tale season and interest around the city is picking up. Couple that with the in-state rivalry and the tickets that were once pretty easy to pick up have become harder to secure. Fortunately, we got ours and were on site for what was another very entertaining, well played game.

The visiting Panthers led by four with 5:32 left in the game; unfortunately, they didn't make another basket. Drake scored nine while UNI made one free throw giving a final score of 58-54... and the streak continues!

Visiting the Roundhouse

Having seen Hilton, it was time to stop by another noteworthy venue for a basketball game. The Railsplitters of Des Moines Lincoln play at the Bowden Roundhouse Arena and I'd never stopped by to see them play; Linda and I set out one evening to change that. The Roughriders of nearby Des Moines Roosevelt were visiting so we expected a spirited game.

When we entered the building, we were on the outer circuit of a walking / jogging track just inside the exterior wall. We followed the crowd and soon saw the startlingly impressive sight of a great domed basketball arena. Linda and I both paused and remarked that we were both pleasantly surprised at how bright and maintained the space appeared; we were glad to have made the trip.

The girls were wrapping up a Roosevelt blowout so we were mostly looking forward to the boys taking the court. Spirited cheers from both sides of the court and a trio of students in street clothes doing dances from the fifties and sixties in front of the Lincoln band playing a Credance Clearwater Revival song set the tone. This was going to be a fun evening out.

The first half started slowly but both teams found their respective range and rhythm and we had a game. Lincoln played with deliberate confidence most of the time punctuated from time to time by displays of athletic grace and power. Roosevelt was scrappy, rarely yielding an easy shot, challenging nearly every pass. With three and one half seconds left in the game, Lincoln went to the free throw line up by a point. The first shot fell through putting them up by two. The second fell off the rim to a Roughrider. They passed it to midcourt and put up a high arching shot. As the ball began it's descent toward the basket, the buzzer went off. The ball bounced off the rim harmlessly and Lincoln won a close one. We later learned they'd not lost a game yet this year. We had a good time and got to see another interesting part of Des Moines.

Experiencing a little Hilton Magic

Hilton Coliseum houses home court of the Iowa State University Cyclones and has a reputation for providing a little magic for the home team. This evening, the Cyclones were hosting the University of Albany from Albany, New York. Pregame festivities were entertaining and enthusiastic reminding me of our trip to see the football team play in the fall. Unlike the football game, there were fan participation games during long time outs.

One of the crowd pleasers was a race between two teams of two participants building a simulated hamburger with everything. The two team members wore big floppy outfits and were the buns. The bottom bun basically got aligned on the "plate" and helped pile the patty, bacon, lettuce, tomatoe, etc on top. When all was in place, the top bun made a leap to the top that a professional wrestler could have envied.

The Great Danes stayed with the Cyclones through halftime but, after a 15-0 run by the home team, fell too far behind to recover. In the end, the score was Iowa State 76, UAlbany 64.

Watching the Drake Men win their Regency Classic Tourney

Linda and I stopped by the Knapp Center to see the Drake Men's basketball team in the championship game of the Drake Regency Classic. Coming into the game at 8-1 with a win over Iowa State, the Bulldogs were on a roll. Texas-Pan American, 6-5, had won their opening round game and would meet the 'dogs.

The game was fairly balanced but Drake did manage to pull away on a few turnovers converted to three point shots. Over the course of the game, Drake maintained an advantage in every statistic and, predictably finished leading in the most important stat, score, 83-55.

I expect that Linda and I will be stopping in to see these 'dogs again.

Cats and Dogs

Saturday night, Linda and I went to our first Drake men's basketball game as they hosted the University of Northern Iowa in a Missouri Valley clash that could go a long way toward determining the mythical state championship. The Panthers and Bulldogs both had beaten Iowa and Iowa State so a win here would be a big step toward the title. Because these two face each other once more, tonight wouldn't settle it.

The game was closely contested throughout the first half with the advantage probably going to the Panthers. After a very high energy, highly entertaining drum and dance company, the Bulldogs began a methodical series of possesions that produced points and stingy defense that denied UNI. As the minutes wound down, the Drake lead crept further ahead. In the end, the 'dogs won 74-61 and the students stormed the court to celebrate with their coach, Dr. Tom Davis, and victorious team.

The Knapp Center was filled to the rafters and rocked with cheers for either team. It was one of the most entertaining games we'd seen.

Drake - UNI Women's Basketball

Saturday afternoon, Linda and I went to Drake's Knapp Center to see the women play. As before, the crowd was good and the play was better. With two former starters injured, the Bulldogs are struggling and scrapping and, unfortunately, often coming up just a little short. That was the story Saturday afternoon. The University of Northern Iowa Panthers got off to a quick start but Drake rallied and led most of the first half and well into the second. In the end, it was mostly a case of time just ran out and UNI was in the lead.