Appalachian State Mountaineers – Sun Belt
The Sun Belt conference tournament was at it again as there were a ton of upsets and the Mountaineers who virtually no one picked to make it to the title game much less win the league has done it. Appalachian State is making its third appearance in school history and first since 1999-2000.
The Mountaineers are another team who can get after it on defense, but their offense is led by a trio of guards. One of those guards, senior Justin Forrest was injured, and it has not yet been discussed if he will play in the tournament. The Mountaineers have no depth as they only play about six guys and if Forrest can’t go that could lead to only playing five guys.
Best Player: Michael Almonacy
The Mountaineers had a great trio of players who did the bulk of their scoring and one of them may be out for the NCAA tournament in Justin Forrest. Almonacy put up his season-high in the Sun Belt championship game with 31 points and he made six threes in that game. The guard can get extremely hot from downtown and can carry the offense along with another star guard Adrian Delph. Almonacy shoots about 36% from deep and leads the team in assists. He is the player who Appalachian State is going to look to get the tough buckets and he usually delivers.
Chance at Upset:
Appalachian State was not a team that anyone expected to make the tournament they made a surprise run through the Sun Belt conference and they are likely going to get a 16 seed in the tournament and get paired up with a one seed. The one seeds this year are extremely strong and any 16 seed is lucky to keep a game within 20 points.
The Mountaineers played Tennessee earlier this year who is a tournament team and get blown out. So Appalachian State is going to need a lot to go right to be in the game. Chance at an upset is zero.
Drexel Dragons – Colonial Athletic Association
1995-1996 was the last time Drexel qualified for the NCAA basketball tournament. This is also the first year they have had a winning record under current head coach Zach Spiker and the first time since 2013-2014. The Dragons made the tournament coming off of two long Covid pauses. They could pose a few problems in the tournament as they are extremely efficient on the offensive end of the floor. They have great ball movement and a great big man to throw the ball into.
The Dragons are a top 25 team shooting the ball from deep and from the line, when they get on a roll they can be overwhelming and can make up a deficit fast with their ability to shoot from deep. They get a lot of scoring from their starting five but don’t have much depth after that.
Best Player: Camren Wynter
Do you like small quick guards who can create their own shot and can flat out get buckets? Then Wynter is the player for you. He was the CAA tournament MVP and he is the best player on the floor most nights. He shoots over 40% from deep, and 83% from deep he is going to get the ball every time down the court as the offense runs through him. Wynter has a chance to have a big night against a top-seeded team and earn his much overdue respect.
Chance at Upset
The Dragons are likely going to be a 16 seed in the tournament meaning they will draw a team that has far more talent than them. Drexel has talent, they wouldn’t have made the tournament if they didn’t but they don’t have the depth to hang with one of the top-seeded teams for 40 minutes. Wynter and double-double machine, big man James Butler will help Drexel keep it relatively close for a while but in the end, the team with the most talent will prevail.
There is always the chance that Wynter gets hot and Drexel catches a team on a bad shooting night that the upset could happen. Chance at an upset at 10%.