Des Moines, Iowa — Drake and UNI resume their Missouri Valley Conference rivalry Wednesday night in Des Moines.
The Bulldogs are 18-1 and coming off their first loss of the season at Valparaiso.
That’s Drake coach Darian DeVries. The pre-season conference favorite, the Panthers struggled after losing Valley Player of the Year AJ Green to a season ending hip injury. They are coming off a split of a two game series against Indiana State.
The rivalry heated up at the Valley post season tournament last season. The eighth seeded Bulldogs stunned the regular season champion Panthers in the opening round.
This is UNI’s first mid-week game in conference play and coach Ben Jacobson says that has made the preparation difficult.
Jacobson on Drake’s start to the season.
Jacobson says the Bulldogs are strong in a number of areas.
Drake is 9-1 in the Valley. The Panthers are 4-8.
