Mike Mahon of Drake sends word that McDonald, a 6-6 junior guard who has been battling foot problems this season, will own Iowa’s all-time Division I record for three-point baskets all to himself if he makes one against Wichita State.

The Bulldogs (8-16 overall and 3-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference) play Wichita State (14-8 and 9-4) at 7:05 p.m. at the Knapp Center.

McDonald is now tied for the state Division I lead with Chris Kingsbury, who played at Iowa from 1994-96, with 226 three-pointers.

In third place with 214 is Kent McCausland, who played at Iowa from 1996-99. Dedric Willoughby, who played at Iowa State in 1996-97, had 190; Armand LaVasseur, who was at Drake from 1996-2000, had 177, and Nick Nurse, who played at Northern Iowa from 1985-89, had 170.

"Josh pulled himself out of the Indiana State game (last Wednesday) in the first 5 minutes, and has not practiced," Kanaskie explained. "He didn’t go with us to Illinois State for Saturday’s game."

Robinson, who had started eight consecutive games, is averaging 4.4 points. Sean Tracy, another freshman, will start in his place against Wichita State.

Kanaskie said McDonald, who is averaging 13.2 points, also continues to have foot problems.

"He’s got a problem with each foot," Kanaskie said. "He’s not moving as well as he has in previous years. He took time off from practice and his playing time was reduced in a couple of games.

"He didn’t practice yesterday, but we anticipate him practicing today. He’s a tough guy and is trying to fight through the pain. Those two guys are definitely hurting."

Wichita State is coming off an 80-74 upset Saturday of a Creighton team that was then ranked No. 12.

A reserve forward for the Shockers is 6-8 sophomore Rob Kampman of Forest City, Ia. He’s averaging 8 points and 4.4 rebounds. Wichita State beat Drake, 69-61, last month in Wichita.

"I was really impressed with them the first time we played them," Kanaskie said. "I think they’re athletic, and they play as a team both offensively and defensively. They can score in a variety of ways, and it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve continued to win a lot of games."

Most of you know that I’ve been carrying on a campaign in this column for a couple of years to get the local paper to treat Drake’s basketball program with more respect.

No thought at all is given to the fact that Drake is the hometown school, has a strong basketball tradition and is continually fighting an uphill battle these days because of tough academic standards for athletes.

Whenever the Bulldogs lose a few games in the Missouri Valley Conference, the paper quits sending a reporter on the road with them. Coverage is reduced to "Special to the Register," which is phony and costs the paper nothing.

If that’s not bad enough, the paper reached a new low last Saturday when it didn’t even carry an advance story on Drake’s game at Illinois State. The only pregame coverage was a listing of the probable lineups and a few notes.

And it was in that game that the Bulldogs ended a six-game losing streak and a 10-game road skid.

"No, I must have missed that announcement," I said. "But I’m glad you told me. I can barely contain my excitement."

It’s not unusual for the Cyclone TV Network to have one Big 12 game a season that it can’t or doesn’t want to carry, and Wednesday’s game has never been on the 2003 schedule.

And if you think for one second that I believe other Texas Tech players voted to bench Valdez and Emmett—leading scorer in the Big 12 Conference with a 21.5 average-- forget it.

As for missing the late-morning practice, obviously Knight had no one in his traveling group try to find out where Emmett and Valdez were. I’ve traveled with many major-college teams over the years, and the usual scenario when a player is late for the bus is for the head coach to send a student manager or an assistant coach to find him.

Everything points in the direction of Knight not having any interest in doing that when Emmett and Valdez didn’t show up in Austin. Texas won the game Monday night, 77-65.