Drake Basketball Coach Breaks Down Loss to UNI

Eric Henderson discusses team's defeat on Sunday

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Drake University men's basketball head coach Eric Henderson spoke to reporters after his team's loss to the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) on Sunday, February 15. Henderson provided his analysis of the game and discussed areas where the Bulldogs struggled.

Why it matters

As a key in-state rivalry game, the Drake vs. UNI matchup is an important contest for both programs. The outcome of this game could impact the teams' conference standings and postseason aspirations.

The details

In the postgame press conference, Henderson acknowledged that his team made too many mistakes and failed to execute their game plan effectively against the Panthers. He cited turnovers and defensive breakdowns as primary factors in the Bulldogs' defeat.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Eric Henderson

The head coach of the Drake University men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We just didn't play our best basketball today. UNI came out and executed their game plan better than we did ours.”

— Eric Henderson, Head Coach, Drake University Men's Basketball (Des Moines Register)

What’s next

The Bulldogs will look to rebound from this loss when they face Loyola Chicago on the road on February 22.

The takeaway

This defeat serves as a learning experience for the Drake basketball team, who will need to make adjustments and improve their performance in order to remain competitive in their conference and contend for a postseason berth.