MVC Basketball: Conference tournament preview and predictions

By Doug Winkey | Mar 1, 2016

Mar 8, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Northern Iowa Panthers head coach Ben Jacobson reacts in the game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Northern Iowa Panthers during second half in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournament at Scotttrade Center. Northern Iowa Panthers won 60-69. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 9, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Reed Timmer (12) dribbles the ball in front of Wichita State Shockers guard Ron Baker (31) during the first half at Knapp Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

9: Drake Bulldogs

Drake miserably finished last in the MVC with a record of 2-16. They take on seventh-seed Missouri State, a team that beat them twice during the regular season. Where Bradley is terrible, Drake is just bad.

The Bulldogs are 275th in KenPom, 192nd in adjusted offense, 321st in adjusted defense, and 298th in RPI. They do have the luxury of three players averaging double figures in Reed Timmer, Kale Abrahamson, and Graham Woodward. Timmer in particular could make the conferences second or third team when postseason awards are doled out.

Drake shoots a nice 39% from three, and while it is hard to lose to the same team three times in one year, I’m not sure they have enough beyond their big three to beat Missouri State. They will have to rely on their outside shot and hope that Abrahamson can use his versatile size to frustrate the Bears in their third meeting.

Even if Drake pulls it out over the seven-seed, they will get to play a potentially dominant Evansville team in the quarterfinals as their reward. One tourney win is all this team gets this year.

Next: 8: Missouri State Bears