By MVC correspondent Brian Doolittle
ST. LOUIS, MO - The Drake women’s basketball team is poised to make a big splash on the national landscape this season. But the folks in Des Moines, Iowa will certainly not be surprised.
The Bulldogs have seen their fans flock to the Knapp Center over the past few seasons to see one of the NCAA’s rising women’s programs. Given that Drake hasn’t lost a conference game over the past two seasons, the question now is: when exactly will this streak end?
The Bulldogs bring a 40-game regular season Missouri Valley Conference winning streak into this season. They also return their top nine scorers. It’s no wonder expectations are high.
“In all honesty, we’ve never spoken about the streak. We just want to focus on our process and getting better. All we discuss is reaching our potential,” said head coach Jennie Baranczyk. “The players will tell you the same thing.”
Senior guard Sammie Bachrodt added: “You don't hear this a lot, but our program is based on love and having fun. I think you can tell we’re having a blast when you watch us.
“I’m cherishing how special this group is, especially as a senior. It’s fun to play with your best friends, and in this system you get to play your style and have freedom.”
Baranczyk, entering her seventh season, has done a masterful job of putting together a selfless, focused group.
“Our team chemistry is our best attribute, by far. I don’t think any of our players play as much as they should, but they value team above everything else.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to coach this team. There’s something special about this group. We have so many leaders,” said Baranczyk.
Drake defeated Northern Iowa, 75-63, in last season’s MVC Tournament championship game. The Bulldogs earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to No. 4 Texas A&M, 89-76, to finish 26-8.
Opponents tend to wear down from the rotating wave of blue-and-white jerseys coming at them, as Baranczyk plays 10-plus players. Last season, the bench averaged 38.2 points per game. The Bulldogs led the MVC with an 82.4 scoring average on nearly 49 percent shooting.
Baranczyk said: “Our motion offense allows for a lot of reads, which allows a lot of autonomy to our players. You can tell we do a good job of setting each other up. They all know all the positions, and they all set screens and know when to pass.”
It also helps having a raucous, supportive homecourt environment.
“Our fans are amazing, and the best in the conference. The Knapp Center is full, and our fans follow us to road games. They pack the place in Moline (Illinois) when we play the conference tournament,” Bachrodt said.
With a new lighting system and $700,000 of upgrades this offseason, the Knapp Center atmosphere should be even better this season for both the men’s and women’s home games.
The success of the women’s team hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Drake men’s team.
First-year men’s head coach Darian DeVries said, jokingly, that he’s “told them to knock it off. Tone it down and keep our expectations more reasonable.”
He added that “they’ve done an unbelievable job, and they are a blast to work with because they do things right. She’s (Baranczyk) as good as it gets.”
The MVC postseason awards served as a Drake ‘curtain call’ of sorts last season. Junior guard Becca Hittner was the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year. She averaged 15.7 points and shot 44 percent from three-point range.
Bachrodt was the MVC Defensive Player of the Year. She had a team-best 65 steals and had 135 assists, while averaging 10 points per contest. Bachrodt anchored a defense that allowed opponents under 40 percent shooting.
The MVC Sixth Player of the Year was junior forward Sara Rhine. She averaged 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the floor.
Baranczyk was chosen (you guessed it) the MVC Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season. She cited support from Associate Head Coach Allison Pohlman as another key element to the team’s success.
Senior Maddy Dean was named the MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17 points and shooting 10-of-21 from three-point land in Moline. Dean finished last season with 64 made three-point field goals, followed by Bachrodt (63) and Hittner (62).
“Having this much experience and confidence sparks a lot of creativity within our offense. We’ve really kept developing and advancing this offseason,” Bachrodt said.
Other key returning players are junior Brenni Rose (8.4 ppg), and sophomores Becca Jonas (6.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Nicole Miller (6.4 ppg), Maddie Monahan, Katie Van Scycoc and Hannah Fuller.
Five players will likely become members of Drake’s 1,000-point club this season. Bachrodt (865), Hittner (894) and Jonas (842) should join Dean and Rhine.
“It’s easy to let yourself look ahead, but the process of the season is just as beautiful as getting to the postseason. We try to cherish every game. That’s what we lean on,” Bachrodt said.
Drake’s non-conference schedule features several opponents that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will play in the inaugural Vancouver Showcase in late November, which includes defending national champion Notre Dame.
The Bulldogs begin league play at Bradley Jan. 4.
“I really hope this season goes so slow. I love this team, including the staff. I don’t know our potential, but I hope we reach it. But we aren't setting goals for March right now,” said Baranczyk.