1987–88 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team

The 1987–88 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team represented Drexel University during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Dragons, led by 11th year head coach Eddie Burke, played their home games at the Daskalakis Athletic Center (with the exception of 3 home games that were played at the Palestra) and were members of the East Coast Conference (ECC).

1987–88 Drexel Dragons men's basketball
Conference	East Coast Conference
Record	18–10 (9–5 ECC)
Head coach	Eddie Burke (11th season)
Assistant coach	Pat Flannery (4th season)
MVP	Michael Anderson (4th year)
Captain	Michael Anderson (2nd year)
Home arena	Daskalakis Athletic Center Palestra (alternate, 3 games)

1987–88 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Lafayette	11	–	3		.786			19	–	10		.655
Delaware	9	–	5		.643			19	–	9		.679
Drexel	9	–	5		.643			18	–	10		.643
Lehigh †	8	–	6		.571			21	–	10		.677
Bucknell	7	–	7		.500			16	–	12		.571
Rider	6	–	8		.429			10	–	19		.345
Towson State	4	–	10		.286			14	–	16		.467
Hofstra	2	–	12		.143			6	–	21		.222
† 1988 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

The team finished the season 18–10, and finished in 2nd place in the ECC in the regular season.

Drexel won their game against Manhattan via forfeit when Manhattah Head Coach Bob Delle Bovi took his team off the court to protest the officiating with 8:09 left to play in the second half. The recorded final score of 70–56 was the score at the time of the incident.

On January 6, 1988, John Rankin set the Drexel team record for most points in a single game, scoring 44 points against Rider. Later in the season, Michael Anderson scored 43 and 42 points in games against Lehigh and Rider respectively, which were the second and third highest scoring single game records in team history.

Roster

1987–88 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown F 3 John Rankin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) — Jr G 10 Michael Anderson (C) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) — Sr Carver HS Philadelphia, PA G 11 Todd Lehmann 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) — So G 14 Lou Bucchere 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) — Fr G 22 Chris Arizin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) — RS So F 23 Jimmie Parker 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — Jr F 30 Arthur Clark 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — Fr F 32 Tom Murphy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) — Fr F 33 Jim Hardy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) — So Springfield HS Morton, PA C 34 Brian Raabe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) So C 43 Rob Johnstone  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) — RS Jr New Canaan HS/Navy New Canaan, Connecticut F 45 Mike Staveski 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) — Jr	Head coach Eddie Burke (La Salle) Assistant coach(es) Pat Flannery (Bucknell) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt

Schedule

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 30, 1987* 7:00 pm		Liberty	W 99–82	1–0	37 – Anderson	10 – Anderson	12 – Anderson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,492) Philadelphia, PA
December 4, 1987* 6:00 pm		vs. American Manufacturers Hanover Classic semifinal	W 89–78	2–0	27 – Anderson	12 – Rankin	5 – Anderson	Hynes Athletic Center (2,111) New Rochelle, NY
December 5, 1987*		at Iona Manufacturers Hanover Classic championship	W 99–82	3–0	24 – Rankin	10 – Rankin	6 – Lehmann	Hynes Athletic Center (2,169) New Rochelle, NY
December 13, 1987* 7:00 pm		at Saint Joseph's	W 81–64	4–0	25 – Anderson	14 – Rankin	10 – Anderson	Palestra (3,262) Philadelphia, PA
December 18, 1987*		at California	L 74–89	4–1	22 – Anderson	6 – Anderson	7 – Anderson	Harmon Gym (6,450) Berkeley, CA
December 20, 1987*		vs. Houston Spindletop Blowout Classic semifinals	L 88–91	4–2	26 – Anderson	11 – Anderson	7 – Anderson	Montagne Center (2,888) Beaumont, TX
December 21, 1988*		vs. Manhattan Spindletop Blowout Classic consolation; Forfeited with 8:09 to play	W 70–56	5–2	22 – Lehmann	8 – Raabe	3 – Tied	Montagne Center (5,000) Beaumont, Texas
January 2, 1988*		vs. Saint Peter's Naismith Classic semifinal	L 64–67	5–3	33 – Anderson	5 – Tied	7 – Anderson	Blake Arena (1,171) Springfield, MA
January 3, 1988*		vs. Colgate Naismith Classic 3rd place game	W 59–56	6–3	27 – Lehmann	9 – Anderson	9 – Anderson	Blake Arena (700) Springfield, MA
January 6, 1988 7:00 pm		Rider	W 104–92	7–3 (1–0)	44 – Rankin	13 – Rankin	12 – Anderson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,550) Philadelphia, PA
January 9, 1988* 3:00 pm		Cornell	W 87–83	8–3	26 – Anderson	7 – Tied	8 – Lehmann	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,087) Philadelphia, PA
January 13, 1988 7:00 pm		Delaware	L 85–88	8–4 (1–1)	25 – Lehmann	13 – Rankin	9 – Anderson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,190) Philadelphia, PA
January 16, 1988 7:00 pm		Towson State	W 93–62	9–4 (2–1)	18 – Rankin	7 – Tied	7 – Anderson	Palestra (2,671) Philadelphia, PA
January 19, 1988* 9:00 pm		Marist	W 76–67	10–4	29 – Anderson	8 – Anderson	8 – Anderson	Palestra (7,179) Philadelphia, PA
January 21, 1988		at Lafayette	L 71–80	10–5 (2–2)	25 – Anderson	8 – Anderson	3 – Tied	Kirby Sports Center (1,439) Easton, PA
January 23, 1988		at Lehigh	W 91–85	11–5 (3–2)	43 – Anderson	8 – Murphy	6 – Anderson	Stabler Arena (4,125) Bethlehem, PA
January 25, 1988* 7:00 pm		King's College (PA)	W 89–55	12–5	23 – Rankin	8 – Rankin	11 – Anderson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (755) Philadelphia, PA
January 27, 1988		at Hofstra	W 58–43	13–5 (4–2)	20 – Tied	13 – Rankin	7 – Anderson	Physical Fitness Center (1,293) Hempstead, NY
January 30, 1988		at Bucknell	W 104–92	14–5 (5–2)	36 – Rankin	12 – Rankin	7 – Anderson	Davis Gym (2,140) Lewisburg, PA
February 6, 1988 3:15 pm		at Delaware	W 77–76	15–5 (6–2)	22 – Lehmann	8 – Tied	6 – Anderson	Delaware Field House (2,193) Newark, DE
February 10, 1988 7:30 pm		at Towson State	L 64–74	15–6 (6–3)	19 – Rankin	7 – Tied	8 – Anderson	Towson Center (1,231) Towson, MD
February 13, 1988 9:00 pm		Lafayette	W 55–48	16–6 (7–3)	20 – Lehmann	9 – Rankin	7 – Anderson	Palestra (5,209) Philadelphia, PA
February 17, 1988 7:00 pm		Lehigh	W 94–86	17–6 (8–3)	35 – Anderson	9 – Anderson	7 – Lehmann	Daskalakis Athletic Center (3,000) Philadelphia, PA
February 20, 1988 2:00 pm		Hofstra	W 86–56	18–6 (9–3)	21 – Anderson	8 – Rankin	9 – Lehmann	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,382) Philadelphia, PA
February 22, 1988* 7:30 pm		at Villanova	L 73–90	18–8	14 – Tied	9 – Arizin	3 – Tied	John Eleuthère du Pont Pavilion (6,500) Villanova, PA
February 24, 1988 7:00 pm		Bucknell	L 89–98	18–9 (9–4)	36 – Anderson	13 – Rankin	7 – Anderson	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,340) Philadelphia, PA
February 27, 1988 8:00 pm		at Rider	L 90–97	18–9 (9–5)	42 – Anderson	7 – Tied	12 – Anderson	Alumni Gymnasium (1,988) Lawrenceville, NJ
ECC Tournament
March 5, 1988 5:00 pm	(2)	at (7) Towson State Quarterfinal	L 67–74	18–10	17 – Rankin	10 – Rankin	5 – Lehmann	Towson Center (1,214) Towson, MD
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time.

Awards

Michael Anderson

• ECC Player of the Year
• ECC All-Conference First Team
• United Press International All-American honorable mention
• Sporting News All-American honorable mention
• United States Basketball Writers All-District team
• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award runner-up
• Preseason ECC All-Conference First Team

Tom Murphy

• ECC All-Rookie Team
• Lawrence Grassi Award (most improved player)

Todd Lehmann

• Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award

Brian Raabe

• Dragon "D" Award (team's top defensive player)

John Rankin

• ECC All-Conference Second Team
• "Sweep" Award (team leader in rebounds)