Drake junior guard Kaite Dennebier has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Dennebier averages 18 points and seven assists for a Bulldog team that will bid for a second straight Missouri Valley Tournament title this weekend in the Quad Cities.

The Bulldogs are the top seed after winning the Valley regular season race with a 19-1 record.

Despite a 26-5 overall record the Bulldogs most likely need to win the tournament this week to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Drake opens the tournament Friday afternoon against the winner of today’s game between Southern Illinois and Indiana State.