The 2007–08 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Drake University in the 2007–08 college basketball season. The team was led by first-year head coach Keno Davis. In 2006–07, the Bulldogs finished 17–15 (6–10 in the Missouri Valley Conference). Drake improved upon their first winning season since the 1986–1987 season, making their first NCAA tournament appearance since their run to the Elite Eight in 1971 and their first postseason appearance since their National Invitational tournament appearance in 1986. Preseason The preseason Missouri Valley Conference Coaches' Poll picked the Bulldogs to finish ninth. No Drake players were voted to the preseason first or second teams. It is also noteworthy that Drake only returned one starter from the 2006–07 team that won 17 games, namely shooting guard Josh Young. Drake's starters were so lightly regarded on paper that ESPN.com reporter Adam Rittenberg remarked just before the 2008 NCAA tournament that they "not long ago looked better suited for the scout team than the starting lineup": Point guard Adam Emmenecker was a three-year walk-on who only received a scholarship two days before his senior season, and had career totals of 64 assists and 57 points entering the 2007–08 season. Power forward Jonathan "Bucky" Cox was, like Emmenecker, a former walk-on. Shooting guard Leonard Houston was a three-year reserve who had 193 career points entering the season. Small forward Klayton Korver missed the 2005–06 season after microfracture knee surgery; while he came back to be a starter at the beginning of the 2006–07 season, he had lost his starting job by season's end. Even returning starter Josh Young was not highly regarded coming out of high school; all of his 30 scholarship offers were from mid-majors. Regular season On November 9 and 10, Drake competed in the Saint Mary's Tip-Off Classic. They defeated UC San Diego and lost to Saint Mary's College in the championship game. On December 1, 2007, Drake won the Iowa Realty Invitational with victories over North Carolina Central and Duquesne. On December 8, 2007, Drake won the Drake Regency Classic with victories over Chicago State and Texas-Pan American. On December 14, 2007, Drake broke a 20-year winless streak at Iowa with a 56–51 victory. With the victory Drake improved to 9–1 for the first time since the 1979–80 season. On December 17, 2007, Drake received 6 points in the AP Top 25 poll. That had them ranked T-37th in the nation.