Drake basketball coach Eric Henderson says he is close to finalizing a non-conference schedule for his first season as head coach. The slate includes an appearance in the Emerald Coast Classic with a first round game against LSU.

Finding power conference schools willing to schedule home and home series is virtually impossible for a mid-major program and it does not help when you have had a string of success like the Bulldogs, who were 4-1 against power conference schools in posting a 31-4 record last season.

Henderson was a supporter of keeping a 20-game Missouri Valley Conference, even with Missouri State’s exit to Conference USA.