The State of the Valley

8-7, not quite the Valley heyday, but a winning record against BCS-conference foes is a great step for a conference who expects an abundance of early-season success.

Once considered the hands-down top mid-major conference in the country, the MVC’s recent plight as a single-bid league in the NCAA tournament could finally end in 2011-2012.

Proving the conference’s worth has become the focus for MVC and league commissioner Doug Elgin (good interview in the Examiner from August)

“I think our people understand that they simply have to prove they are worthy of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, and they cannot accomplish that without playing strong non-conference schedules.  Our teams have to be better than teams from higher-profile leagues, and the best way to make that point it is to schedule strategically… early-season tournaments provide the best opportunity to play NCAA Tournament-caliber teams at neutral sites.”

Solid wins (WSU over UNLV, Evansville over Butler, etc) and a combined 46-23 non-conference clip (through Dec.4), may just push the Missouri Valley conference back toward mid-2000 prominence.

Creighton and Wichita State are carrying the torch, but look who is making an appearance in the top-five of CBS’s early season RPI Report (Sorry Panther fans, but I’m not sure it’s quite deserved).

Irrespective of your feelings on early-season ranks (please see BCS issues), there’s little question that the powers-that-be in the national media are starting to take notice.

Heck, Valley-friendly media like Joseph Book are already throwing out Doug McDermott’s name for All-American contention (Joseph Book’s MVC ranking at the Examiner).

And it’s hard to argue. Not only is Dougie McD in the top-5 in scoring, but his leadership and clutch play have Creighton in the national rankings.

Where the final record falls as conference season draws closer remains to be seen.

Most likely, Evansville will not be able to put-away fourth-ranked North Carolina on the road.

(8-8).

But I do expect UNI to take care of business at home against the lowly Hawkeye (5-3 against a very weak schedule).

9-8.

Missouri State hosting an Oklahoma State team yet to garner a solid win deems this one a toss-up, slight edge going to MSU at home.

10-8. At worst. 9-9 (a vast improvement over last year’s 11-22 mark).

Give the commissioner and the league’s coaches some credit. This year’s MVC is playing at a higher level and certainly giving fans around the Midwest cause for excitement.

Now if only we can Jim Nantz on board…

Game 1: Pound the Peacocks

W: Home vs. Upper Iowa, 83-58

Box Score

POTG (Player of the Game): Jordan Clarke

Jordan Clarke with a tough left-shoulder drop-step finishes for two.

And the 2011-2012 season is underway for the Drake Bulldogs. After a disappointing exhibition loss to DII Quincy, Drake started off the games that count with a victory. It wasn’t pretty, but 1-0 is 1-0.

Slow starters again, Drake remained pretty inconsistent. Similar to last season, a mid-second half lull allowed their opponent back in the game. I know this team is still young, but developing that killer instinct to crush the confidence of lesser opponents is a big step in learning how to win consistently.

The Offense

All the stats look good – 83 points, 52% from the field, 42% from three, but the Bulldogs still have a long way to go.

I am encouraged by the way they started the game, not because they were making shots, but because of the movement. Even better, movement with a purpose. Players were flowing and the ball skipped from side-to-side. It didn’t lead to a lot of points, but this is the type of offense Drake must run in order to compete with better teams.

People often underestimate the importance of everyone getting touches on offense. For guys like Clarke, Kraidon Woods, and Ben Simons, touching the ball everytime down the floor will drastically increase their efficiency.

Look, we know the point guard brings the ball up the floor and Rayvonte Rice is the focal point of the offense. As it should be. But to get more out of the other players, touches are a must.

Simons has a great offensive skill set, but he is a not a shot creator (yet). He’s a flow guy – someone who can get hot and put up 20 in a hurry. How can he do that? Running off screens and staying in the flow of the offense. Shooters need touches. Moving. Getting kickouts. Touches.

Same goes for Clarke and Woods. Neither guy will carry the team offensively, but both provide a mentality and toughness this Drake team needs. Keep these guys involved on the offensive end, touching the ball and actively moving – its funny how offensive rebound totals and efficiency will magically increase.

As encouraging as the ‘flow’ was in the first half, I was disappointed to see ‘same old, same old’ in the second. We saw perimeter passing, ball screens, and standing.

Passing and ball screens are good, but each player isn’t putting pressure on the defense. Back cuts, movement, and putting people in a position to score exhaust defenses and lead to easy looks. You don’t always reap the benefits in the first 10-12 minutes. Sometimes it takes 30-35 to get those easy buckets.

Game-high scorer Aaron Hawley slams in two of his 23.

Now, true, the Bulldogs scored more points in the second half. As they should. Drake has superior athletes, size, and skill. Against a team like Upper Iowa, it takes time to impose your will. But scrapping movement for 1-on-1 play is almost too easy for a talented DI.

Regardless, I am encouraged. I thought Karl Madison played well. He did the simple things necessary for Drake to win. Kept his turnovers in check, scored a little, played good defense. All great attributes for a point guard. As his career progresses, I’d like to see him create shots for others more consistently. For someone with Karl’s skillset, a three-point bomber like Ben and an athletic big like Kraidon should lead to a plethora of assists.

The Defense

The return of David Smith, Clarke, and Woods proved invaluable on the defensive side of the ball. That being said, I wasn’t overly impressed with how Drake finished possessions.

The Bulldogs forced some turnovers and at times were very committed to stopping the opponent. Unfortunately, periodic breakdowns and mental lapses led to a few easy baskets from inferior opponents.

Again, allowing “bunnies” may not be the difference against a D II opponent. Valley games on the road are a different story.

At least the effort was there. The team stayed intense and wanted to compete on defense. My hope – as players continue to get healthy, defensive focus and intensity will become a mainstay for Phelps’ bunch.

POTG

Eleven points, eight rebounds, three steals (an underestimate IMO) and a whole lot of toughness. Jordan physically imposed his will on both ends of the floor.

He receives my POTG vote, not for his statistics, but the mentality you expect from a team captain.

Outlook

This Drake team has cause to make excuses: injuries, suspensions, adjusting to a new coaching staff, inexperience, etc. Unfortunately, excuses only lead to emptiness and dejection.

What I’m looking forward to is an improvement in attitude. These players have always been part of someone else’s’ team. Two years ago, they rode the Josh Young express. Last year, freshman and sophomores followed Ryan Wedel.

Now, these Drake players look the part. They are bigger, stronger, faster. The starting lineup last night went 5’10,” 6’7”, 6’8”, 6’7”, 6’9”. That is not a mid-major ballclub.

The size and the talent are in place. Yes, there are injuries. Yes, the last two games were unfortunate situations. But if you have a winning attitude, excuses won’t matter.

We saw progress from exhibition 1 to season’s beginning. Continued progress is all we can ask.

Tuesday night will be a great test of the Bulldog’s resolve.

Contest Time

Monday was just a regular day. The sun was shining. The weather was warm (second warmest city in the US that day). I, like many others, was slowly adjusting from weekend bliss back to the workday grind. And the WebMaster? The WebMaster was doing what he does best — scour the internet.

By mid-afternoon, the chase was on. I received an email with a link to a facebook site. (For those familiar with large corporations, facebook is often on the list of unnavigable websites). Knowing this, the WebMaster put together a short description of his find.

“ESPN is hosting a best sandwich named after an athlete contest.”

A true statement, but not exactly descriptive. I asked for a little more detail. WebMaster proceed to tell me that ESPN is hosting a Fanwich facebook challenge. People/restaurants submit photos and a description of their athlete-named sandwich for facebookers to vote a winner. However, he did give me the disclaimer that only REAL athletes had sandwiched posted at that time.

I couldn’t argue with him. The names on the list are a who’s who of professional athletes. I certainly don’t belong in that league. However, the partnership with Jethros and our Man vs Food success means maybe, just maybe our overweight-yet-underdog sandwich has a chance.

What do you think?

Vote here

Check out some great work from Andy Garman (link 1, link 2) and Sean Keeler. Also look to the Jethro’s Homepage for more detail.

Thanks for your support!

Call letters that mean something – KXNO

In case you missed it, I was fortunate enough to co-host KXNO’s morning show from 6-8 this morning. Matt Perrault and I had a great time and would love to hear your feedback.

Conversations ranged from personal updates, to Iowa’s four division-1 college basketball teams, college football, and of course – athletes taking inappropriate pictures of themselves that land on social media.

Check it out

Be sure you write/call in to the station – let them know what you think. I’d love to hear your comments as well.

Thanks for listening!

Food wins!

The verdict is in.

At a packed Jethro’s BBQ in the Drake area it was pure jubilation. When the premier began everyone in the restaurant was clapping and cheering. I’ve never seen so many people united for such an event in a restaurant.

(Thanks again to everyone for being there to enjoy the moment. Check out some DSM Register and Drake photos (article). And to the 12 people taking the challenge after the show – all valiant efforts, including one within a few bites of glory. Sadly, the end result is more pictures on the Wall of Shame. Sorry guys, better luck next time.)

 

Delicious meat awaits the 12 contestants after the Man vs Food viewing part at Jethros

 

The show went well, but there was certainly more to the filming than meets the eye.

For instance – the real Adam Richman.

I’m not insinuating what you see is a fake Richman, but off-camera is slightly different than when you tune into the Travel Channel. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was he going to be funny? Serious? Light-hearted? A plain and simple get-after-it eater? Maybe a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants fun-loving guy?

Instead, I saw a TV professional. Not in a bad way, but it certainly wasn’t his first rodeo. He had a very calculated approach to the show. He considered every step in the process. The setup. The end result of camera shots. What to say. When to say it. And even though he threw in his share of improv and witty comments, this was a TV production.

Before the taping began, Richman appeared from his mobile home (like any other TV/movie star) to address the crowd. I’m not actually quoting him, but here’s the general idea of his opening comments–

“Everyone. Thanks for coming out tonight. I’m so excited to be in Des Moines and wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you. My fans have been awesome and really given this show a life of its own.

That being said, I wish I had the chance to spend time with all of you. I am going to take pictures and talk to you as much as time allows before we begin.

However, I am asking you for your consideration afterwards. This is a lot of food and I probably will not be feeling well. So please understand if I am not available. And please do not slap me on the back. That does not feel good.

So thanks again everyone for coming out. I appreciate your patience and excitement.”

Not an exact quote, but you get the jist of it. The man was about to eat a five-pound sandwich. This is his livelihood

Understandable though. I mean, if you were eating five pounds of food, how would you be feeling afterward.

Richman retreated to his trailer as we waited for sandwich assembly and the production crew to set up. They informed the audience of the “rules” – Clap. Be loud. Show excitement. But when we get the sign, Richman will be speaking.  Transition into the golf clap – low noise, no talking.

Just another one of those things I never saw coming.

When Richman reemerged from the shadows, the place went crazy. It still wasn’t time for the challenge. Ipod in hand, Richman took his seat while rules came again.

Richman retreated to the trailer one last time, before coming back 10 minutes later. Finally, it was time.

Action.

Full of energy, Richman sprints through the crowd. Slapping hands. Dancing.

He sits down.

Here comes the monstrous mound of meat. Pandemonium in the ranks.

The challenge begins.

Chants . Lots of clapping. Yelling.  Cheering to encourage Richman’s eating frenzy.

Every few minutes, we went into the golf clap as our Man vs Food star gave his state-of-the-challenge addresses.

Various people were summoned to speak with the producer, and asked to offer a few words of encouragement. Even a kiss on the cheek (this didn’t make the final cut apparently).

The trend continued for the first 10 min of the competition.  (By the way, clapping and cheering for that long continuously is exhausting. Ask anyone who was there. I’m glad I wore # 15 in college and not 40.) At the 5 min mark, I was asked to come up and offer support. Receiving direction from the producers, I made my entrance, said my line, and sat my butt down.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite time for that. Too much background noise made it difficult to hear on film. Fantastic. I get a redo.

Back through the previous process. A slightly different form of encouragement. Regardless, the second try made the final cut.

After that? Well you know the rest. Two pounds remained on the plate. Food wins.

End result – I have a new appreciation for Mr. Richman and his chow-devouring prowess. He’s not a freak-show. He is a professional. That’s why the show has been so successful. That’s why it now has a cult-following. And that’s why I was so excited for the show to come to Des Moines.

Richman was funny. He had a lot of energy and made the show fun. But at the same time, do not dismiss him as being some clown/amateur/frat guy living on a couch going around eating ridiculous amounts of food with a camera in his face. He knows what he’s doing.

Hours after the show, I experienced another side of Richman. Since I did not get a chance to speak with Richman prior to the taping, he asked if we would hang around for a few minutes afterward.

The crowd dispersed and a few people remained. But, true to his word, he came out to talk. The hour approached 10 PM, nearly 12 hours after they setup shop at Jethro’s. Richman was obviously a little tired after a long day of filming and a full belly. He signed a menu and took a few pictures.

He was very genuine in conversation. He talked about wanting to take his mom to a restaurant in Alaska. Asked about where to get Drake merchandise for his nephew. Still witty and enjoyable, but he was just a normal guy.

Thanks again Man vs Food. Thanks for opening my eyes and helping me gain a newfound respect for your star and show. Thanks for treating everyone so well. For your gracefulness in making all these new people feel like your friends. And thanks for earning a new cult-follower.

 

Adam Richman and I pausing for a photo after the show. He signed a menu for me. I presented him with a Drake basketball T.

 

True Blue

 I’m often asked what it’s like being involved in Drake athletics. What are the coaches like as people? What is the atmosphere?

The Drake Athletics Marketing Department has been working on ways to publicly display these personalities. More involvement. More interaction. All with the goal of having Drake athletics become the face of the Des Moines community.

In the video below, the Drake men’s basketball coaches reach-out to recruit a new type of contributor. The fans. Recruiting the people of Des Moines to support the Bulldogs at the Knapp Center.

Staying true to their promotional strategy, the Marketing Department wanted to go in a different direction to kick-off the semester. At the annual Drake Corn Feed, a gathering of fans, volunteers, contributors, coaches, and staff, they were looking for a new way to get people excited about the upcoming athletic year. Naturally, producing a coaching-staff-centered rap video topped the list of ideas.

Though I do not have the finished product , this outtake video gives a pretty good indication of the behind-the-scenes personalities represented in the Drake offices.

Rapping. Singing. Barking. These are all things you will find on a daily basis in interatctions with the Drake coaching staffs. And you thought their jobs weren’t exciting…

Willie McCarter Update

Willie is out of the hosptial and has been moved to a rehab facility in Grand Rapids, MI. Surrounded by family, he is still using a feeding tube and cannot speak. However, he is able to answer yes/no questions. He’s even walking with help.

In the words of his son Toby – “There’s not much movement in his right arm. But he’s as stubborn as ever”.

Willie and I during the 2007-2008 season

The family’s appreciated the kind words and people reaching out with best wishes. Keep Willie in your thoughts. As he’s proved time and time again, he will keep fighting.

Congrats again, Mr. Templeton

Fear the Deer disappoints. I neglect posting. The world is unfair. Get over it.

This weekend I travelled to Michigan to briefly visit the fam, taking advantage of a down cycle in plane ticket fluctuation. How they actually determine the costs of tickets, and why every single person on the aircraft pays a different rate is beyond me. Regardless, I snuck in at the right time and was fortunate enough to be able to visit the parents.

Coming back to a barrage of emails ranging from Tigers articles (Detroit not the golfer) to loan information, I also received a link to the prestigious Rapid City Journal. Who else could be in the news, but one Adam Templeton.

Tisk, Tisk. Just one year too late Temp

As if the kid hasn’t done enough. Recently married and within a few days of graduating from Drake, Templeton has also been named the 2010 Rapid City College Male Athlete of the Year for his hustle, hard-work, and determination displayed for the Drake men’s basketball team. Quite a busy close to a college career.

Something few people may know about Temp is that I constantly badger him. No, not in a negative way. But, he came one year late. He decided one year to late to transfer to Drake from UC Irvine. If he would have been one-year earlier he would have been an instrumental piece to our 2007-2008 Drake Bulldog puzzle. Such a talent. He missed by one year. He would have been a joy to play with. Too bad he had to redshirt and didn’t come the year before. Did I mention that I tease him about coming a year too late?

Anyway. Pile up the awards Mr. Templeton. They’re well-deserved.

And PS, For those unaware that Saginaw, MI can actually benefit society (ie fellow Michigander Brent Heemskerk), here’s a link to something positive from my hometown and former elementary school.

Willie McCarter

It has recently come to my attention that former Drake great Willie McCarter is currently in a Kalamazoo, MI hospital in serious condition after suffering multiple strokes.

Not only the leading scorer of Drake’s Final Four team in 1968-1969, McCarter became a great mentor for me during our run in 2007-2008. Though he was not able to attend games in person, I knew through messages relayed by Dolph Pulliam, that he was watching.

The most touching moment of that season for me occurred with McCarter in attendance, sitting courtside. After a close victory, I had the chance to talk to him for a few minutes and will never forget it. Willie talked about how much our team reminded him of the Final Four team. He said he followed us all along and was proud of what we accomplished.

After talking for a few minutes we got on the subject of our shared number 15. I said it was an honor to wear the same number as one of the greatest Drake players of all-time and hoped it would be retired someday. Humbly, McCarter insisted that he was just proud to watch me on the floor, representing the school, representing the basketball program, and representing his chosen number.

We exchanged a few more stories and some kind words from both parties before departing. All told, our conversation probably lasted around 25-30 minutes because everyone had cleared out of the gym. Willie left me with an envelope and said he wished us the best.

I went through my regular postgame routine – training room, ice bath, shower. After I changed into my regular clothes, I sat in the lockerroom alone and opened the envelope. Inside was a letter from Willie. He talked about the similarities between our two teams. He talked about our current season. He talked about me. Behind the letter was a card from Willie’s days in the NBA. He signed it and wrote “Adam, the best #15” signed Willie McCarter. Taken aback, I had no idea what to think. Here’s a man who is one of the school’s all-time leading scorers, led his team to a Final Four, and even played several successful seasons in the NBA. I was blown away.

I will always remember this moment because of Willie’s selflessness. He didn’t have to come to the game. He didn’t have to speak with me. And he certainly did not have to give me the card, or say such nice things. I am honored to wear the same number that bears his name in the Knapp Center rafters. I am, and forever will be touched to have met Willie McCarter.

To contact he and his family, you can call the hospital at (269)266-7000. Willie is in the ICU. The receptionist should transfer you accordingly and allow you to leave comments for he and his family. Keep fighting Willie, you’ll always have a special place in my heart and will always be THE #15 in Drake history.

Mailbag!

Lyonel Trandor (19:18:31) :

How do you feel about Ali being said to comparatively be the next You? What does being the next Adam Emmenecker entail? Is it possible? How can one get a sandwich named after them

Lyonel, thanks for the comment. To be honest, I’m pretty flattered that people are discussing similarities between Ali and myself. I think we play drastically different styles, but the thing I’ve been most impressed with is his ability to make plays late in games. No matter the situation or how well/poorly he played through the first 38 minutes, he is going to help his team win in the last two. You have to respect that. People across the country now saw what anyone who watched UNI over the last two year’s already knew: Ali Farokhmanesh (yes I put a link to his name to make sure I spelled it right) is one of the best late game players in the country. Period.

As far as being the next Adam Emmenecker… I think thats the furthest thing from Ali’s mind. Playing in the Sweet Sixteen is something I never accomplished. Two NCAA tourney appearances, likewise. Shoot, even starting for two years gives him a leg up on me. The only thing making my situation special (yes this is referring to the sandwich) is having the support of the Drake community. Since our success was so well documented for a variety of different reasons (down year for basketball in the state, it’d been awhile since Drake played in the postseason, etc), it opened up a lot of doors. I’m not sure anyone will put a Farokhmanesh on a menu, but if it happens, just like the Emmenecker, I bet it will be a mouthful.