What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/22/2025

3/22/25 NIT NOTES--Staring at the Floorboards

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Just a few quick NIT notes as an appetizer for today’s NCAAT second round action…

Bradley survived the opt out drama with ease against UNA, who turned out to be down their only floor spacer in Ortiz. The Braves now hit the road for the ferocious hard hedge of GMU, who will take the ball out of Duke Deen’s hands by and large....

Bradley basketball vs George Mason score today: NIT live updates, game highlights--Peoria Journal Star

March Madness games today: Breaking down eight men's NCAA Tournament matchups--USA TODAY

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Drake
Time/TV: 6:10 p.m., TNT
Like low-scoring rock fights? This is your game. Tech isn't as proficient on defense but still is able to limit opponents. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are second in fewest points allowed – a product of their ball-possession game reliant on screening. JT Toppin is the top option for the Red Raiders after a breakout season. Drake will counter with star guard Brandon Stirtz in his first season with the team after following coach Ben McCollum from Division II.

Quick Takes: Top 5 storylines from the NCAA tournament’s first round--Bracketville

Three double-digit seeds advance
McNeese and Drake are the real storylines, as red-hot Colorado State was a trendy pick to knock out Memphis. Regardless, McNeese and Colorado State (12-seeds) and Drake (11-seed) remain alive with a chance to create a more lasting legacy by reaching the tournament’s second week. Drake systematically handled Missouri, while McNeese held off a late Clemson rally to advance. Colorado State led for much of its game against the Tigers.

The Breakfast Buffet: March Madness Edition--College Hoops Today

On The Side

Four of Drake’s starters — Bennett Stirtz, Mitch Mascari, Isaiah Jackson, and Daniel Abreu — played Division II basketball last season. Today, they’ll play against Texas Tech for the right to go to the second weekend of March Madness. Anarchy? Nope. Just college basketball.

Can McNeese, Drake keep marching to the Sweet 16? Here are their upset chances.--The Athletic

No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 11 Drake Bulldogs
Upset Chance: 26.4 percent
While we were relaxing on our couch at Bracket Breakers Central, TruTV cut to an interview with Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland. And something deep in the recesses of our stats-saturated (stats-urated?) brains clicked.
McCasland came to Lubbock from North Texas, where he famously led the Mean Green to a 13-4 upset of Purdue in the first round back in 2021. That team combined a plodding pace with a disruptive defense that forced turnovers on 21 percent of opponents’ possessions. That’s an unusual marriage, as pressure defense is typically associated with a fast tempo. But now, four years later, he’s about to meet an underdog that features a more extreme — and better — version of that North Texas scheme: Drake
Of course, it all makes sense. McCasland is close friends with Drake coach Ben McCollum and tried to get him to join his staff in Lubbock after landing the job in 2023. Instead, he stayed at Division II Northwest Missouri State before jumping to the head job at Drake this year. The Bulldogs, fresh off an upset of Missouri, play at the nation’s slowest tempo, yet generate the 10th-highest turnover percentage (22.2 percent). They don’t run a full-court press or overplay the passing lanes. Instead, they switch every exchange, help quickly and effectively and wall up inside, forcing discombobulated offenses to drive into a crowd or to throw ill-advised passes. It’s beautiful to watch, and it’s their best route to an upset.
Not beautiful? Drake’s offense, which struggled to run anything effectively against Missouri and was fortunate to score at the end of the shot clock off several broken plays. That won’t cut it against a Texas Tech team that is better defensively than the Tigers were and also adds a strong dose of offensive rebounding (34.3 percent) to protect against poor shooting.
Drake’s pace and defensive commitment should keep the Bulldogs in the game, and our model also loves their underrated offensive rebounding (36 percent). That’s why Slingshot gives them a better than one-in-four shot of reaching the Sweet 16. But they’ll have to generate better looks on offense and shoot better than 12-of-24 at the line (their mark against Missouri) to beat a really good Texas Tech team — even if the Red Raiders don’t get Chance McMillian back from injury.

Men’s March Madness 2025: What to watch for on Day 3, including St. John’s-Arkansas, Purdue-McNeese--The Athletic

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Drake
6:10 p.m. ET on TNT
This game will be decided by who dictates the pace. Drake plays at the slowest pace in college basketball, while the Red Raiders love to space the floor and shoot 3s.
Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin and the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz will showcase their skills in this matchup, but whose impact will give their team the edge?
The Red Raiders shot 46 3s in Thursday’s win over UNC Wilmington but only made 13 (28.3 percent). If they shoot that poorly again, they will be in trouble. Tech must find Toppin early and often in the low post. He can play in and out of double-teams and score at will. If the Red Raiders want to advance to their first Sweet 16 in the Grant McCasland era, letting Elijah Hawkins and Darrion Williams operate in the pick-and-roll is key.
As for Drake, it’s comfortable playing late into the shot clock, which causes defensive breakdowns. The Bulldogs rank in the top 40 in adjusted defensive efficiency as they are adept at forcing turnovers and limiting possessions.
I expect the Bulldogs to mimic what UNC Willmington did and throw multiple bodies at Toppin, forcing him to make decisions.
McCasland and Drake coach Ben McCollum are close friends and know each other’s tendencies. Who will go deep into his coaching bag and exploit the other’s weaknesses?

3/22 SATURDAY NCAAT 2ND ROUND NOTES--Staring at the Floorboards

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3 TEXAS TECH vs 11 DRAKE (Wichita)

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Drake vs Texas Tech men’s basketball how to watch, odds, injuries, series history, and prediction--Busting Brackets
Secret Scrimmage & National Stage--Valley Hoops Insider
3 things to watch ahead of Drake basketball vs Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament--Des Moines Register

Illinois State basketball opens play in CBI against Presbyterian--The Pantagraph

Illinois State women grateful for opportunity to extend season--The Pantagraph

ISU studying athletic facilities, program needs, first-year president and AD say--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Creighton assistant Ryan Miller to take over Murray State program--Mid-Major Madness

Five women’s mid-major players to watch in NCAA Tournament--Mid-Major Madness

Katelyn Young, Murray State

Young is also a top scorer, ranking 11^th in the nation at 22.2 points a game. The graduate forward has six 30-point games this season, including in the Missouri Valley semifinal and championship games. She poured in 34 points on a blistering 13-for-18 shooting night in the title game against Belmont. She also dished out seven assists. One day earlier, the program’s all-time leading scorer tallied 30 points, six assists and six rebounds against Drake. All the Racers can score the ball as they lead the country with 87.8 points a night.

Murray State brings high-octane offense to Big Dance--The Next
Murray State relying on unsung heroes in hopes of deep NCAA Tournament run--WPSD Local 6
Thomas continues to impact Murray State after season ending injury--WPSD Local 6
Heiden scores 15 as sixth-seeded Iowa routs No. 11 Murray State 92-57 in first round--WPSD Local 6
Learn dabs her way to the Big Dance--RacerBasketball.com
It's the 'Ride Home' after Murray State's 92-57 loss to Iowa in the NCAA Tournament--RacerBasketball.com
Iowa ends Racers' magical run, 92-57--RacerBasketball.com
Record Season Ends For Racers at NCAA Tournament--goracers.com