What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/20/2025

Under The Radar – Feb 19th--Hoops HD

After that, we run through the other 21 UTR conferences and discuss ... Drake is trying to hold on to a spot inside the bubble in the Missouri Valley.

College basketball Cinderella factories: Mid-majors whose champs you don’t want to meet in March--The Athletic

1. Missouri Valley
Record in the last five tournaments: 3-6
Over the last 15 years, the Missouri Valley has lost some key programs via conference realignment: Creighton (Big East), Wichita State (American), Loyola Chicago (Atlantic 10). New members have stepped into the void, though, and Bradley and Drake now stand as the conference’s model basketball schools.
Bradley has won at least 20 games in six of the last eight seasons, and 10th-year coach Brian Wardle’s veteran squad is once again a threat to win Arch Madness in St. Louis. The Braves have typically done it with defense, and this year’s team can still get after it on that end, but it is the flamethrowing offense that should frighten potential opponents.
The Braves lead all of Division I in 3-point percentage, knocking down 40.7 percent of their treys as a team. Only one player in the rotation, seven-footer Ahmet Jonovic, is not a deep threat, meaning Bradley can constantly spread the floor with four or five shooters.
Drake is a balanced squad with a terrific story. Division II coaching legend Ben McCollum (395-91 overall record and four national titles) finally made the step up to D-I, and he brought four starters with him from Northwest Missouri State. Those up-transfers have been the backbone of a squad that frequently frustrates opponents while playing at the nation’s slowest pace.
Neither member of the Bennett Stirtz-Mitch Mascari guard duo ever leaves the court, and their complementary games put immense stress on defenses. Stirtz is a tough-as-nails point guard with size; a huge portion of the Drake offense is built on his brilliant playmaking. Mascari, meanwhile, is a pure gunner who has buried 80 triples this season at a scorching 45.5 percent conversion rate.
The Braves and Bulldogs split their regular season meetings. A Bradley win in the MVC tournament would give the league a chance at two bids; Drake sits firmly in the at-large mix at 23-3 overall with key wins over Kansas State and Vanderbilt. Two extremely well-coached squads lurking on the No. 11 or No. 12 seed lines would certainly present a challenge to the teams that draw them on Selection Sunday.

Men’s college basketball bubble watch: TCU arrives, SEC hopefuls take hits in stretch run--The Athletic

The Rest

Locks: None
Should Be In: Gonzaga, Memphis, New Mexico, Saint Mary’s, Utah State
In the Mix: Boise State, Drake, George Mason, San Diego State, San Francisco, VCU, UC Irvine, UC San Diego
On the Fringe: Bradley, Dayton, North Texas, Santa Clara

In The Mix

Drake
Profile Strengths: Gaudy overall record, two key power conference wins, sparkling road/neutral record.
Profile Weaknesses: Two Q3 losses, limited big-game opportunities.
Looking Ahead: Drake’s home loss to Bradley on Sunday hurt its chances to solidify its standing in both the at-large picture and the MVC title race. Fortunately, though, it was not a death blow to either aspiration. The Bulldogs needed to bounce back against UIC on Wednesday, and they did just that. Their resume metrics are still very much that of an NCAA Tournament team, and that’s likely where they are headed if they win out to the MVC title game. Sunday offers a Q2 opportunity on the road at a feisty Northern Iowa squad.

Women’s college basketball bubble watch: Will Arizona miss the tournament? Is Nebraska in?--The Athletic

Mid-majors

Locks: None

Projected in: Albany, Ball State, Columbia, Fairfield, Fairleigh Dickinson, FGCU, Gonzaga, Harvard, Hawaii, High Point, Grand Canyon, Green Bay, James Madison, Lehigh, Lindenwood, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, Montana State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina-Greensboro, Richmond, South Dakota State, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas Southern, UNLV, UTSA

On the bubble: Drake, George Mason, Green Bay, Missouri State, Murray State, Northern Arizona, Portland, Princeton, Purdue Ft. Wayne, St. Joseph’s, South Florida

Team Record NET SOS Quad 1 Quad 2

Belmont

16-9

59

70

0-6

3-1

Drake

17-8

70

94

0-2

2-2

Murray State

16-7

64

108

0-2

2-2