(Des Moines, IA) -- Drake University Athletics Director Brian Hardin says the excitement level on campus is high right now, due to the success of the Drake Men's Basketball team. The Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference tourney last weekend, along with an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Tourney.
Hardin says the basketball program is a great vehicle to promote Drake and introduce the university to those who are not familiar with it. He says they've seen a dramatic increase in social media engagement and website traffic this month, and expect more of the same as the NCAA tourney begins. The Drake Men will learn Sunday which team they'll face and where the game will be played.
Drake is the host school for the NCAA games in Des Moines March 16th and 18th. The host school is not allowed to play on the home court. It also comes with some behind-the-scenes responsibilities, but Hardin says they've made some adjustments given that some staff will need to travel with the men's team.
Hardin says the fan turnout was fantastic at the MVC tourney in St. Louis, noting he met many Bulldog fans who traveled from across the country to attend the tourney. He says he expects dedicated Bulldog fans to follow their team in the NCAA as well.
This will be the 6th time Drake's has made the NCAA Tournament. The previous trips were 1969, 1970, 1971, 2008 and 2021.