Drake is headed back to the Big Dance after changing coaches: ‘Better watch out, teams. We’re coming’

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Drake changed coaches and overhauled its roster — but they’re still going back to the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.

Led by first-year coach Ben McCollum, who won four Division 2 national championships at Northwest Missouri State, the Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference’s automatic bid with a 63-48 win over No. 2 seed Bradley.

“Better watch out, teams. We’re coming,” junior guard Bennett Stirtz, who went for 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, said on CBS.

Tavion Banks added 13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists and Cam Manyawu had 9 points and 4 boards for Drake (30-3), which has the fourth-most wins in Division 1 since 2020.

Stirtz was one of four Northwest Missouri State players to transfer to Drake to play for McCollum, who succeeded Darian DeVries after he left to take the West Virginia job.

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁#CultureWins l #DSMHometownTeam pic.twitter.com/hhaGKYYIs3

— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB) March 9, 2025

All McCollum did was lead Drake to a 30-win season and the regular-season and tournament titles in the MVC.

“They’re all special, it’s the memories,” McCollum said on CBS. “When I took this job, I woke up at 3 a.m. and I knew I was going to take it, but [what] put me over the top was trying to make the Division 1 NCAA Tournament. I wanted to make sure that we could do that and we did it.”

Now the Bulldogs are going dancing again — with their new coach and new team.

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