[January 4, 2026] Indiana State (8-7) at Drake (7-7)

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

Jason Svoboda

The Bird Level
Administrator
i
vs.
i


Indiana State Sycamores (8-7, 1-3) vs. Drake Bulldogs (7-7, 1-2)

Knapp Center - Des Moines, IA
Sunday, January 4th, 2026
Tip: 3:00PM EST
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Drakes leading scorer is a guy we recruited out of high school and went to Loyola originally.

They also have Eli Shetlar, who replaced SIU's Trent Brown as @SycamoreStateofMind's favorite Valley player.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
All I ever wanted was us to split this Iowa swing... So if we can get a win here it will have been a successful road trip. Play like you did in the first half against UNI for 40 minutes and you win by double digits.
 
image_handler.aspx


DES MOINES, Iowa – Indiana State men's basketball looks to get back on track during the backend of the Iowa swing trip, playing Drake on Sunday afternoon.

More...
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Haslametrics has Drake a 76-71 winner.
ANALYSIS:
Per this website's calculations, Drake is somewhere between an average to slightly above-average D1 ball-club. Haslametrics has them ranked 160th overall (out of 365) in All-Play Percentage, and the team holds a record of 7-7. They are also ranked by this site as the #7 team (out of 11) in the MVC (average ranking 133.5).

Drake will likely rely on their offense more than anything else to win games. The team is ranked 146th in offensive efficiency and scores more than 110 points for every 100 trips upcourt vs. AO. Drake will likely shoot a fair share of three-pointers each contest. The team ranks 93rd in ratio of three-point attempts to total field goal attempts. When it comes to actually making their three-point attempts, the squad shoots a so-so 35.2% from beyond the arc vs. AO. If Drake does have a weakness offensively, it would have to be the team's difficulties obtaining second-chance opportunities from offensive rebounds. The squad only has a rating of 11.32 vs. AO in potential points off of second chances, which ranks 45th-worst in college hoops.

Drake plays at roughly the same level defensively as they do offensively. The team ranks 162nd nationally in defensive efficiency, allowing about 108 points every 100 trips upcourt vs. AO. Drake does a bang-up job preventing the opposition from draining jumpers in between the three-point line and the low post. They're ranked 15th in Division I in defensive mid-range field goal percentage, allowing AO to make good on only 30.0% of their attempts from that distance.

On the road, Drake performs somewhat better than their norm, as the squad is nationally ranked 41st in our away-from-home metric.​


 
It’s game day and I have to wonder…

Is Drake a shell of their former self?
Or are they not to be underestimated?
Are we most like last game’s first half team or last game’s second half team?
Or is the truth somewhere in the middle?
How long will Hunter remain “out” on the injury report?
If Sterling Young remains his consistent self coming off the bench, could he be named MVC Sixth Man of the Year?
Will it be the same officiating crew as that of the UNI game?
How many more free throws will Drake shoot compared to us?
Will free throws decide the game?
When will Ian Scott have a dominating “take control” type of game in MVC play?
Could today be that game?
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Going 1-1 in the Iowa road swing is typically the goal in 90% of the seasons. This one is no different. Just get it done Sycs!
 
Back
Top