1970–71 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=1970–71
|team=Drake Bulldogs
|sport=Basketball
|image=
|conference=Missouri Valley Conference
|division=
|short_conf=MVC
|CoachRank=16
|APRank=18
|record=21–8
|conf_record=9–5
|head_coach=Maury John
|hc_year=13th
|asst_coach1=Dan Callahan
|asst_coach2=Gus Guydon
|asst_coach3=
|stadium=Veterans Memorial Auditorium
|champion=Missouri Valley Conference Champions
|tourney=NCAA tournament
|tourney_result=Elite Eight
}}
{{1970–71 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1970–71 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Drake University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The team was led by 13th-year head coach Maury John and played their home games at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Bulldogs were 9–5 in Missouri Valley Conference play, finishing in a 3-way tie for the league title.
Drake received a bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Notre Dame in the regional semifinal. The Bulldogs would fall one game short of the Final Four in back-to-back seasons, losing to Kansas in the regional final, 73–71.{{cite news |title=21st in Row for Kansas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/21/archives/21st-in-row-for-kansas.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 21, 1971 |access-date=August 5, 2023}}
This season marked the end of a streak {{ndash}} the only time in program history the Bulldogs reached the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons (reaching the Elite Eight all three times) {{ndash}} and the end of an era, as head coach Maury John left to become head coach at Iowa State.
Previous season
The Bulldogs reached the NCAA tournament for the second straight season, advancing to the Elite Eight a season after making the program's only Final Four appearance in 1969. Drake completed the season with a 22–7 record (14–2 Missouri Valley) and were ranked number 9 in the final AP poll.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1970|team=Drake Bulldogs|teamcolors=y|high_school=}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dale |last=Gordon |num=5 |pos=F |ft=6 |in=7 |lbs=205 |class=Jr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Creston, Iowa |link= |dab= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom |last=Bush |num=23 |pos=C |ft=6 |in=8 |lbs=210 |class=Sr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Chicago, Illinois |link= |dab= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jeff |last=Halliburton |num=42 |pos=GF |ft=6 |in=5 |lbs=190 |class=Sr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Rockville Centre, New York |link=y |dab= }}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
|roster_url=
|accessdate=
}}
{{cite web |title=1970-71 Men's Basketball Roster |url=https://godrakebulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1970-71 |publisher=Drake University Athletics |access-date=August 5, 2023}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start
| rank =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Drake Bulldogs}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 1, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 10
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers|title=Wisconsin-Platteville}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 107–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 1, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 10
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Cal State Fullerton Titans|title=Cal State Fullerton}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 101–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 8, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 7
| opponent = Iowa State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Iowa State Armory
| site_cityst = Ames, Iowa
| gamename = Iowa Big Four
| score = 87–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 12, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 7
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Iowa Hawkeyes|title=Iowa}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename = Iowa Big Four
| score = 72–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 18, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Texas–Arlington Mavericks |title=Texas–Arlington}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, Texas
| gamename = Texas Classic
| score = 102–83
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 19, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=TCU Horned Frogs|title=TCU}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, Texas
| gamename = Texas Classic
| score = 79–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 22, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 83–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 26, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Canisius Golden Griffins|title=Canisius}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Buffalo, New York
| gamename = Queen City Classic
| score = 87–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 28, 1970
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 7
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Niagara Purple Eagles|title=Niagara}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Buffalo, New York
| gamename = Queen City Classic
| score = 77–87
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 2, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 7
| opponent = Cincinnati
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Armory Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Cincinnati, Ohio
| gamename =
| score = 59–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Drake Bulldogs}}| Missouri Valley Conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 7, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 16
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Wichita State Shockers|title=Wichita State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Levitt Arena
| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas
| gamename =
| score = 78–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–2
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 9, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 16
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|title=Tulsa}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 60–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–3
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 13, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Bradley Braves|title=Bradley}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Robertson Memorial Field House
| site_cityst = Peoria, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 85–88
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–4
| conference = 1–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 20, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=UMKC Kangaroos|title=UMKC}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 130–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 23, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Louisville Cardinals|title=Louisville}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 81–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–4
| conference = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 28, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=North Texas Mean Green|title=North Texas}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 90–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–4
| conference = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 30, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Memphis State Tigers|title=Memphis State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 93–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–4
| conference = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 2, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=DePaul Blue Demons|title=DePaul}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 93–80
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 4, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Memphis State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Mid-South Coliseum
| site_cityst = Memphis, Tennessee
| gamename =
| score = 72–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–5
| conference = 4–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 11, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Bradley
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 113–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–5
| conference = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 13, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1970|sex=men|team=Saint Louis Billikens|title=Saint Louis}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = St. Louis Arena
| site_cityst = St. Louis, Missouri
| gamename =
| score = 62–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–6
| conference = 5–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 17, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisville
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 52–94
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–7
| conference = 5–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 20, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tulsa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Expo Square Pavilion
| site_cityst = Tulsa, Oklahoma
| gamename =
| score = 87–84
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–7
| conference = 6–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 23, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wichita State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 83–76
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–7
| conference = 7–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 27, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Saint Louis
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 89–85
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–7
| conference = 8–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 2, 1971
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = North Texas Men's Gym
| site_cityst = Denton, Texas
| gamename =
| score = 65–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–7
| conference = 9–5
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Drake Bulldogs}}| NCAA tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 18, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 18
| seed =
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 12
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Levitt Arena
| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas
| gamename = Midwest Regional Semifinal
| score = 79–72
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 21–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 20, 1971
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 18
| seed =
| opponent = Kansas
| opprank = 4
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Levitt Arena
| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas
| gamename = Midwest Regional Final
| score = 71–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–8
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP Poll
| timezone = Central Time
| region = MW
| regionname = Midwest
| notes =
}}
{{cite web |title=1970-71 Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://godrakebulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1970-71 |publisher=Drake University Athletics |access-date=August 5, 2023}}
Rankings
{{main|1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings}}
{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=Random House|pages=778–779|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}
NBA draft
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Drake Bulldogs men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1970-71 Drake Bulldogs Men's Basketball Team}}