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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the unbeaten teams that aren’t ranked in 2020-21

By Ryan Kay

Arkansas guard Desi Sills (3) during a basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC Basketball Tournament held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.Sec Tourney Vanderbilt Arkansas Bp Jpg
Arkansas guard Desi Sills (3) during a basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC Basketball Tournament held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.Sec Tourney Vanderbilt Arkansas Bp Jpg /
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Garrett Sturtz Drake Bulldogs(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Garrett Sturtz Drake Bulldogs(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

5. Drake Bulldogs

Team: Drake

Conference: MVC

Record: 9-0

Victories: North Dakota, Chicago State, @South Dakota, Air Force, @Kansas State, South Dakota (neutral court), Omaha, McKendree, and St. Ambrose.

KenPom ranking: 95

Leading Scorer: ShanQuan Hemphill is averaging 14.1 points per game.

Why they are undefeated: Their defense has been spectacular and possibly the best among all mid-major programs. They have held three teams to 53 points and they have had two other games where they have held those two opponents to 57 or fewer points. Their best defensive effort being against Mountain West’s opponent Air Force and holding them to only 53 points.

In seven of their nine victories, they have stopped their opponents from scoring 66 or fewer points. Drake has played well away from their home court going 3-0 on the season. They also won at Kansas State to open their season.

Reasons to be Pessimistic:  They have two victories over non-division one teams and those wins are not impressive and the victory against 0-9 Chicago State is not very impressive. Drake has not faced tough and quality competition this season as a whole. The Bulldogs will have Southern Illinois to challenge them for the conference championship but they do not any ranked opponents remaining on their schedule.

Next Opponent: @Indiana State on 12/27

453. . 5-0. . Mustangs . 4. team

Team: SMU

Conference: American

Record: 5-0

Victories: East Carolina, Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-CC, Sam Houston State, and @Dayton

KenPom ranking: 46

Leading Scorer: Kendric Davis is averaging 20.4 points per game.

Why they are undefeated: Their offense early in the season and their defense of late. In their first three games, they averaged on the offensive end 96.6 points per game. In their last two games, their defense stepped up big time limiting their opposition to 64 and 55 points. The Mustangs proved they can win on the road as they went to Dayton and defeated the Flyers. Dayton is a very quality win as the Flyers have defeated two SEC schools in Mississippi and Mississippi State.

They have dominated four out of their five opposition opponents averaging a winning margin in those games of 27.2 points. Two of the victories against East Carolina and Dayton were those two teams’ only losses as combined those two teams have a record of 11-2. SMU has an opportunity to be ranked if they can defeat No. 6 Houston a week from today.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: They have only played one road game and to their credit, they won but they play at Temple next, and then in late January they play in three out of four road games and will be tested there and have opportunities to prove themselves further.

Three out of their five opponents do not have winning records but they will play quality opponents in conference play. The Mustangs don’t give too many reasons to be pessimistic about them but time will only tell if they can remain undefeated.

Next Opponent: @Temple on 12/30

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