Iowa State may have picked up a gift-wrapped first victory of the season in their “official” exhibition win over Simon Fraser, but a Cyclone win won’t be automatic tonight as they tangle with the Drake Bulldogs.

No longer the whipping boys of the Missouri Valley Conference, Drake put up respectable numbers last season and returns their top seven scorers, including all five starters.

“Drake’s going to be a very difficult game,” Cyclone coach Larry Eustachy said. “It’s really too early for us to test this tough a team on the road, but the schedule indicates it’s a game we have to go down and play.”

After a pair of nightmare seasons in which his team picked up just two and three wins, coach Kurt Kanaskie elevated the Bulldogs to double-digit victories in ’98-’99 and will look to build on that momentum this year.

“I don’t think there are many teams in the country that could go into Drake and come out with a win this early in the season,” Eustachy said. “They’ve proven their depth, they’re very well-coached, and they have high expectations for the season this year.”

Matt Woodley and Armand LeVasseur lead the Bulldog backcourt, averaging 12.2 and 10 points per game, respectively, last season.

Woodley, a solid all-around point guard, has respectable assist and steal totals to go with his team-leading scoring.

LeVasseur, the team’s biggest outside threat, needs just 11 treys to set the Drake career three-point record.

With primary post players Paul Shirley and Martin Rancik just returning from injuries, however, the Cyclones are worried more about the Bulldogs’ inside game than their guards.

“They have great perimeter shooters, but a bigger concern to us are their front line guys, who are very difficult to guard,” Eustachy pointed out.

“They have great perimeter players in LeVasseur and Woodley, but those big guys can step out and shoot the three or drive it or rebound the ball.”

Those “big guys” include 6-8 seniors Aaron Deeter and Dontay Harris.

Deeter led Drake in shooting with a .477 percentage, Harris was second in the conference with 7.5 rebounds per game and the cuo combined to score 21.3 points per contest.

More importantly, Deeter and Harris also added an element of physical toughness to the Drake lineup that concerns Eustachy more than anything else going into tonight’s game.

“I think the consensus is that we’re real powerful inside,” Eustachy said. “We’ll become more of a threat inside, but right now, with the injuries, we’re not. They’re going to be very determined, given our rep, to be powerful inside with us.”

The Bulldogs, literally, couldn’t win on the road last year, finishing at 0-10. At home, however, where they’ll be facing ISU tonight, Drake was very respectable at 10-7. Eustachy is optimistic but guarded in his prospects for the game.

“We have a plan,” he said, “and if we can execute that plan, we have a chance to win the game.”

After facing the Bulldogs, it’s off to Hawaii for the Cyclones as they compete in the Big Island Invitational, opening play against host team Hawaii-Hilo.

“We think if we can stay intact and not get hurt, then in a week, we’ll be a much better team,” Eustachy said. “Hilo’s going to be just as difficult as Drake. We’ll just be a much better team after this road trip is over.”

Provided they beat Hilo, the Cyclones will have the opportunity to tangle with Arkansas and perhaps even top-rated Cincinnati in the later rounds.

“I’d like to play the best teams out there, but I’d also like to see this team win early and build some confidence,” Eustachy said. “It would be nice to face some good teams, but I’d also like to see us win. It’s kind of a selfish request, but I want both.”